Page 62 of The Final Battle

Cassarah

Hunched low on Vasin’s back we flew as fast as his wings could carry us, while Jade had us hidden from sight. The world of gray just added to the tone of those around me. It was time for this to end, I would destroy the heart and then if Henry managed to survive that, I’d free him from the life he hated so much.

The ground below us sped by but I trusted Vasin to follow the pull of the cursed object, taking us in the right direction. I could feel it tugging at me but my magic cloaked me in a shield of power, fending it off the best it could. Everyone was asleep, the town only visible from the few flickering lantern lights outside a tavern where a man stumbled out of, heading home. No one would have a clue what was about to happen, but the fate of our world as we know it hung in the balance.

“Cass, trust in the fates. They knew this day would come and gave you everything you need to be able to right things. Trust your heart, not your head, the Lost King can’t manipulate that part of you.“

“He has no heart, he tore it out alongside his dragon’s. A man can’t live like that so I will set him free.“

“We will set the world free.“

“That is my hope, with all this manipulation and lies no one knows who to trust any more. Soon, we will show them there is a different way, I just hope they will accept it.“

“One battle at a time, dear Cass.“

“Wise advice as always, my dearest friend.“

Breaking away from the town, we found the church and the graveyard not far off. Headstones in orderly rows representing the lives that have been lost over the years. Further in the back were small stone huts, the mausoleums we were searching for. It wasn’t hard to guess which one it might be, with an army of men surrounding it, along with a handful of dragons circling the air above. It seemed that the Lost King hadn’t lost his whole mind yet but it didn’t matter what fight he put up. I wasn’t going to let him win.

“Fly directly over it and I’m going to drop in. Jade still has us hidden so when he drops the shadows they will be more focused on what’s happening out here then what I’m doing.“

“You know they will hate that plan.“

“Then I will beg their forgiveness when this is over.“

Vasin let out an irritated growl but he did as I asked, dropping low and slowing enough for me to drop with ease. My wings flared, letting me float safely down, landing right in front of the mausoleum’s doorway. Then the world was once more filled with color, just as I let my wings disperse.

“They’re here!“ someone cried out.

Glancing over my shoulder, I spotted the horde of dragons appear out of thin air, flames bursting from their mouths taking out the front lines. The enemy dragons dove into the fight from above but my people were skilled fighters, having spent their entire life training for this moment. The moment the mercenaries leave their mark on the world.

The mausoleum door was made of thick heavy stone and I wasn’t sure how to get through it. Then I remembered the time that I freed Vasin from the roost so long ago. This time, instead of using an arrow, I manifested a dagger and poured power into the tip of it before slamming it into the stone. It exploded, sending me flying back into the fray of the battle.

“One got inside! Keep your eyes open, they blasted through the door!“

A man reached down and helped me up, clearly thinking I was on his side. Before he could yell as he noticed my arm glowing the mark of my Birthright bright in the darkness, I slipped the knife between his ribs.

“May your mind and spirit be set free,“ I whispered in his ear before guiding him to the ground where he died.

The chaos of bodies around me tossed me in all directions as I tried to get back to the mausoleum. Dragon riders dropped out of the sky, leaving their dragons to fight while they handled things on the ground. One landed in front of me and I realized it was Dayson, his ax flashing in the moonlight as he cleared the space around me.

“Cassy-Bear, I don’t know what you’re up to but you’re not doing it alone,“ he snapped, using the handle of his ax to shove people back.

“I need to get to the mausoleum,“ I shouted as I drew my own sword, fending off an attacker. “I blew the door open but it sent me flying, I got swept up in fighting.“

With another powerful stroke of his double bladed ax, people fell away. “Then let’s get going.“

I grabbed onto his belt using him as a shield while he cleared us a path. The sound of swords clashing had me spinning around to find Izel with his dual blades blocking a huge man with a double handed broadsword. With a swift move, Izel kicked the giant man in the balls and dropped him to his knees, where his head was quickly lopped from his neck.

“I’ve got your back, keep going Day!“ Izel shouted.

“Hold, Cass, Tahir is coming to aid you.“

“Stop!“ I yelled pulling on Dayson’s belt. “Tahir is coming.“

The red dragon let out a roar announcing his presence, before a stream of fire burst from his mouth. The heat of the dragon fire was intense, but it wasn’t close enough to burn us just enough to clear a path straight to our goal.

“Run!“ I ordered, shoving Dayson into movement.