He resisted the urge to run ahead of his warriors, knowing that more enemy soldiers waited out of sight. Waiting for direction from their Lord, to attack. Rionan would not provoke that order.
As he scanned the horizon, there was a huge red flash in the near distance, and a silhouette appeared. Close enough that he could see them. Make out their shape.
See their slow, menacing walk as they made their way towards him.
Rannirr stopped a short distance away from Rionan. His fingers glowed with a red, smoky energy, and he tapped at Rionan’s shield, which began chipping away in its weakened state.
Rannirr tutted.
His voice came out as smooth as silk. Low, and mocking.
“My, my, Rionan,” he started. Rionan let out a snarl as he balled his fists. “You have done a fantastic job of running so far, haven’t you? Not very Lord-like at all.”
Rannirr slammed his palm into Rionan’s shield. A dull noise sounded out, red energy skittering over Rionan’s shield, as the last of it crumbled away. Rannirr did not move.
Rionan’s soldiers gathered around him defensively. They all knew that they could not stand against Rannirr if Rionan himself could not.
“But,” Rannirr continued, “you’re here now, and you are back. A wonderful final display from your Stormbringer, ifyou don’t mind me saying. My condolences, of course. He was a fine member of your council, was he not?”
Rionan bristled, his chest heating with an anger that swirled in him like a violent sea of chaos.
“We couldn’t let him stay up on the top of your palace forever, you see, old friend. He did far too much damage to my numbers last time. Thankfully, many of the Amassa came to our aid. They feel I have a lot to offer this Realm, you know. We agreed that there was no way your Stormbringer could stay focused on the ground and on the skies. So, we chose to keep most of our Amassa allies held in reserve. Until he unleashed himself fully, and his attention was divided. The plan seemed to work fantastically, don’t you think?”
Rionan did not speak. He knew that Rannirr was trying to get him to make the first move. He was baiting him – and he would not give in.
If he could give Alianna a few more moments by holding out here, then he would.
Ali.
As he thought of her, somewhere amongst that anger in his chest, he could feel something else: sadness. Guilt. Determination.
His Ali. He resisted the urge to look up to the ramparts. To the turret that was so close now.
Rionan heard the sound of a sharp inhale as Rannirr took in a deep breath through his nose.
The battle overhead continued raging on.
The next swarm of enemies began running towards them, getting ready to swallow Rionan and his men where they stood.
“Oh, Rionan, you’ve been keeping a little secret from us all, haven’t you?” Rannirr smiled, his silhouette taking a step towards Rionan. “How very rude of you.”
Rannirr clapped his hands together and raised his voice in a mocking tone.
“My friends and allies – Rionan, our Lord of the West, is bonded. My sincere congratulations. Where is the lucky individual?”
Rionan cursed at himself, panic flooding his senses. Alianna. Thinking of Alianna had changed his scent – brought their bond forward amidst his rage and focus.
Rionan bared his teeth, knowing that his power was not strong enough to do anything but provoke Rannirr.
“Oh, I know,” Rannirr crooned, his voice seeming to reflect a smile that was now on his face. “They’re up there, aren’t they? Now that the wind has died down, pardon the pun – the scent of you carries down from there. I should go and introduce myself.”
There was a flash of red.
Rionan shot a bolt of yellow out into the dark, but the silhouette was no longer there.
Rannirr was gone.
42
