How could I say I was unworthy of anything after that? I couldn’t. No one could. Well, they could say the words, but I’d no longer believe them.
A different sort of laugh, proud and savage, escaped me as I flashed into the sky again to bring down another dragon. With yet another gone, Koar had the upper hand.
Thanks!Koar sent to me telepathically. Then he roared and redoubled his vicious fight against the dragons around him, who suddenly didn’t know how to handle what should have been an easy fight.
And as I dragged this second dragon to the ground, I caught Izzy’s fight with Valnea, which was far different nowthan it had been before. Izzy had been hurt and probably used a lot of her power to resist the attacks till now, but it didn’t matter. She was a beast and Valnea had no chance.
I swooped low. I’d help free the other guys first, then I’d return to Izzy, if she needed me.
IZZY
I was vaguelyaware of Myel’s triumphant badassery, mostly through our bond, and the righteous might which surged through it into me.
I owed the man my life. I owed him everything. I’d been on the verge of giving up. Valnea’s relentless attacks with earth and sword had me straining my healing and losing, bloody and broken, on the verge of blacking out. Then suddenly, Valnea’s attacks had stopped.
I’d surged my healing taking advantage of the lapse, even though I didn’t know why she might have ceased when she was on the verge of defeating me. I’d been so wounded, so befuddled, I couldn’t even see straight. But once healed, I’d used my earth sense to figure out the truth of what was going on around me. I’d sensed Valnea fighting someone and known instantly, by his footwork and our bond, that it was Myel. I’d sensed others nearby, barely touching the ground, a mistake. Sylphim could fly but liked to show off by dancing so very lightly over the earth. Two claps of earth later and I’d killed two of those trying to break my mind. That had been enough to clear my head and go after Valnea.Then Myel had finished off the other sylphim nearby, ensuring I could focus on the false queen.
And now, with no mental attacks hindering me and using all my strength, I found out just how strong Valnea was. The woman was a true elven warrior, strong in earth and body, but even with me digging into my reserves, she was no match for me.
“Wait!” she called as she stumbled back, her earth magic failing her, her sword flying from her hand.
I wouldn’t wait, I’d end her now… but she did the last thing I expected.
“Your men!” She pointed.
Fuck!
And that’s when all the sensations in the back of my mind and spirit caught up with me.
I kicked Valnea in the head to keep her down as I quickly checked on my guys. The situation was dire. Myel was on his way to help them, but I didn’t know if he’d make it in time. Vyns was lost to delusions and being torn apart by elven warriors as sylphim laughed around him. His spirit wavered, giving in, and once that was gone, he’d have nothing left to keep him going. Bayn was doing better, but only by virtue of his natural toughness and endurance. He too was starting to falter. Rook fought but seemed only half-aware. And there was something wild in his attacks. I sensed his thoughts.
You killed her! I’ll tear you apart. I’ll take you with me. I’ll take as many of you as I can with me when I die!
Yikes!
I needed to help them now!
And I knew exactly how.
Like Vyns had done so many times for me, I bolstered his spirit through our link. I gave him the strength to carryon, to keep fighting, and hopefully enough of a boost to shake off his visions and see the real threat before him.
I shouted into Rook’s mind; it seemed the only way to overcome the delusions from which he suffered.I’m here, I’m alive. Look to your left. See me. By all means keep being a badass and slaying those around you, but please don’t die!
Izzy?
He seemed so lost and desperate. He thought I was dead. How could I convince him it was me and not some vision…
I’m here… Inky!
Izzy!
Rook hesitated, blinking.
Hopefully that was enough.
Bayn wouldn’t have had any connection to me…ifI’d managed to remove my binding on him before now. I shouted at him as loud as I could and at the same time, tried to connect with him through my binding, similar to how I could connect with Myel. It wasn’t the same, but there wassomethingthere. I pushed at it as hard as I could as I hoped my words reached him.
“I command you to ignore those fucking Sylphim!”
