“We took out as many as we could,” he says, breathlessly.
“That doesn’t matter right now.” I let go and examine his body. “Are you hurt?”
“I’ve been worse,” he responds. “I’m fucking tired, to be honest.”
Silas and Oak laugh, but my gaze doesn’t relax.
“I’m okay, Briar. I promise.”
I push Larkin’s chest. “You fucking scared me to death.”
“Sorry, I’m late.” He straightens up, dusting the sand off his body. “But, we need to get ready.”
“We are,” Silas says.
“It’s bad, Silas. That boat is covered with the resurrected beings. With everyone I killed, I felt like I was surrounded by three more.”
“We’re outnumbered,” Oak says.
“There is something beneath the ship. Growls I’ve never heard before were coming from below, and it made my skin crawl.” Larkin’s gaze shifts toward the dark barrier that separates us from the ship.
“It’s Figgawen and other creatures. Not just Wielders,” I begin to explain, but before I can continue, the wall pulses forward.
Silas widens his stance and glares at his forcefield. The wall pushes inward, causing it to curve. He grinds his molars, keeping his magic focused forward. Screams and growls that could fuel nightmares begin to seep from the other side of the wall, and my stomach rolls.
I glance at Silas, and he’s not speaking. His face is pained, and I know he’s barely keeping that wall up with everything he has.
“It’s like they are all pushing against it,” Silas whispers. “I can’t keep this up much longer.”
We all nod and draw our weapons. I turn to the Kingdom of Andorwood. The civilians before me look as horrified as the men on the ship.
“Fight,” I yell over the crowd. “Fight for your family, your honor, and your kingdom. We can take them. We will rest when the last one dies.”
The crowd screams into the air as I turn back to my friends, waiting for the dam to break.
“I can’t hold it,” Silas rasps.
I touch his shoulder, and he peels his gaze from the wall to mine.
“Let go,” I whisper. “It’s okay.”
For the first time, fear fills his bright green eyes, and we stay locked in this moment for a second longer.
“Don’t go far from me,” he pleads, groaning against the power being drained.
I nod, and smile. “Silas, let go. We’re ready.”
Silas inhales deeply, letting the magic swirl around us for a second longer before it fizzles out, like a candle in the breeze. The shadowy wall falls like a curtain being torn down, and myeyes widen. Hundreds of creatures and resurrected Wielders stand on the opposite side. Their razor-sharp teeth gnash together, and they all lower their heads, like hunters poised to pounce on their prey.
“Don’t stop for anything,” Larkin tells me, Oak, and Silas. “Tonight is a test of what’s to come.”
The world pauses.
Silas whispers, “Tonight, we will genuinely fight for our lives.”
“Together,” I whisper, and Silas cuts his eyes to mine.
“See you bastards when this is over,” Oak says, as we all take off into a sprint toward the resurrected.
