It was time.
She knelt on the ground, cut her hand, and drew three symbols. Pressing her palm to the earth, she closed her eyes, visualizing each location they’d decided on, and steadily fed her magic into the earth.
A tingle crept up her arm and spread to the rest of her body, a gasp escaping her lips as it overtook her, the pressure on her flesh reaching its peak. She released her hand and scooted to her right, repeating the process to make another. Minutes later, after finishing the final portal, she stood and inhaled a deep breath.
Three portals stood before her. At the top of the wall sat three more—one in the center, the other two at each corner—their blue-black glow stark against the onyx stone.
Maeryn raised her sword. “There is no time for a rousing speech.” Her voice carried as she scanned their forces with determination in her eyes. “So, all I will say is this: Do not hold back! Reclaim what is ours! Give them your ferocity!”
Amidst the din of battle cries, the four of them stepped through the center portal, followed by their forces.
Ava winced through the floating sensation, a force pressing against her before the pressure released and her feet landed atop the walkway. She stepped aside as their army poured through, charging down the stone stairs to the ground below.
The iridescent armor of the stone fae shone in the morning light, swords raised as they barreled forth. Bright orange lava shot across the courtyard from the palms of the Igneothenians as they fought for their home. Vines and roots burst from the ground, snatching daemons as the earth fae threw themselves into the fray.
Three kingdoms fighting as one against their common enemy.
Ava unsheathed her sword and followed Casimir along the wall. Half a dozen daemon soldiers charged forward. Casimirraised his sword, but with the flick of her wrist, Ava entrapped all six of them in a giant flower.
“Burn it,” she said.
Casimir shot a ball of starlight at the blue petals, instantly catching it alight. The daemons inside screamed as they were incinerated in seconds.
“We need to get downstairs and head to the castle to find those weapons,” Casimir ordered.
Another group of daemons burst from a door at the far end of the walkway, bows in their hands. Before they had a chance to move out of the way, a volley of arrows shot for their group.
Ava cursed as one nicked her shoulder. Maeryn ran forth, raising her hands and drawing lava out of the river below in two giant waves. She clapped her palms together and engulfed the group of daemons, melting them.
They sprinted across the wall to the doorway where the daemons had emerged and down a set of stairs. Daemons and fae were locked in a battle of weapons and magic while navigating the treacherous streams of lava flowing beneath the bridges throughout the city.
“Maeryn, you lead,” Casimir said.
“It is my honor to lead you to my home.”
Though Maeryn had never seen Igneothenia, her resolve was contagious, and Ava found herself even more determined to help.
They threw themselves back into battle. Ava ducked as a sword slashed through the air, headed for her neck. Her vines yanked the enemy down before she jammed her own weapon into his throat. Beside her, Casimir battled with another daemon, their swords locked in an ‘x’.
“Behind you!” Raine called out a warning.
Ava whirled, her sword ready, as stone erupted from the ground beneath an oncoming daemon. Her vines twisted around his head and body, snapping his neck. She met eyeswith the Saxumdale soldier who had helped and they nodded at each other before resuming their assault.
It didn’t take long before they broke away from the battle at the front of the city, Maeryn leading them between a group of buildings. They paused in an alley to take momentary refuge, sunlight reflecting on the dark stone of the surrounding structures. Ava leaned against a wall and took several deep breaths. Though the battle was brutal, they seemed to be making progress—if the number of daemon bodies strewn about the streets was any indication.
Maeryn pushed off the wall. “Together, yes?”
“Let’s go,” said Casimir.
They wound through the city, the sounds of battle fading as they emerged into the town square. A fountain of lava sat in the center of what appeared to have once been a bustling market. Crumbling stalls sat forgotten, broken signs dangled from former businesses. Buildings had been ransacked, their doors ajar.
Maeryn paused, grief on her face at the state of her home. “The daemons have destroyed everything.”
“This will happen to all the kingdoms if we lose,” Raine whispered.
“So we won’t lose,” said Ava.
As she took in the devastation around her and the sorrow on Maeryn’s face, Ava made a promise to herself. No matter how terrified she may be, even in her moments of doubt—and she knew she would have them—she would not hesitate when she faced the daemon queen. She would not balk.
