34. Will
Chapter thirty-four
Will
You’d make a worthy general
F or the next several hours, Arthur, Hal, and some others helped those planning to fight go over sword skills and fighting stances. They talked over strategies and tactics as well, placing the little chess pieces and a few other little figurine models to represent certain landmarks on the Chessboard, then watched how the battle would play out with different setups. We wanted to end this with as few casualties as possible, and they were determined to find a way to make that happen.
There was a heavy dose of trepidatious excitement in the air as Nana and I had moved around the campground to cast magic orbs of light around as much of the perimeter as possible, especially after everyone was forced to acknowledge this was real. I hated that they’d been forced into this. I knew Arthur and my family felt the same. We’d joined this cause of our own volition, but those here had been trapped and were now going to have to fight for their lives.
But my family, Arthur, and I would fight for them too. And that would have to be enough.
The enemy forces had retreated once they’d discovered my barrier was too strong to break through, but we kept people on watch duty over the mists because we knew they’d be back. But when they did return, we’d be ready. Or, as ready as we could be.
Since the LARPing event had been scheduled to end before noon today, they’d only planned enough food for breakfast and had quickly run out of supplies. Luckily, we’d had a solution and had retrieved the Horn for drinks, the Hamper for large amounts of food, and the Crock and the Dish for specialty meals, especially for those with food allergies or other dietary restrictions. Before long, we were able to provide enough sustenance for everyone. My dad and a few other volunteers helped hand out the food and drinks to everyone—though he’d quickly been demoted from using the Horn after too many people complained about being served V8 juice—and Dorothy worked alongside some of the employees from the event to check over the weapons we’d be using today to make sure they’d hold up well in a fight.
Despite the aid from the Treasures the grounds were still cloaked in shadows and flooded with water. My family and I had done our best to form a moat around the grounds with our magic and direct the water there, but there were still several inches lapping at our ankles. People were wet, cold, and more than a little miserable.
Oh, and scared. That only increased since Gerry had requested aid from his siblings through a summoning circle—even Jessica, Gerry’s 55th-least-favorite sister had been relieved of fishsitting to assist us—and now we had 883 cat-snake-demons from Hell, including Gerry, causing havoc around the grounds. They’d even brought extra weapons, though most would melt human flesh if touched, which definitely alarmed everyone.
I tried to remain optimistic, but I’d seen Morgana’s army, knew the difference in our skill sets. Even with the aid of Gerry’s family, I didn’t feel confident in our victory.
My muscles ached after helping out where I could, and the cold had seeped into my bones. So I returned to our tent to retrieve the Coat, the Mantles, and the other Treasures not already in use. Even though the tent had been flooded with water, the book remained dry thanks to the runed rock inside my satchel.
Pulling it out, I started retrieving the Treasures from its pages and setting them on the chair to protect them from the elements.
The tent flap opened then, and I turned to look.
“Will, can you help us real quick?” Dorothy called from the opening, watching me with a wide smile.
An odd feeling started up in my stomach, making my heart race for absolutely no reason.
I shook it off and offered a smile in return. “Sure thing. What’s up?”
“Arthur needs you.”
Wading over, I eyed her nice clothes with a raised eyebrow. Her shirt was a flowery button-up and her pencil skirt was a simple gray. And her shoes . She wore a pair of tall, wedged heels that sank into the wet ground.
“You look nice,” I said as that uneasy feeling flowed stronger.
She glanced down at her clothes with a shrug. “Just because we’re staying in squalor doesn’t mean I need to dress poorly.”
I nodded slowly. “What was it you said you needed help with?”
“Arthur needs help with something.” She turned to leave. “Come on.”
When she turned to leave, I snagged Tegau’s Mantle that I’d draped over the chair.
“Wait, you almost forgot your cloak,” I said, offering it to her.
Dorothy paused and laughed. “How silly of me. You’re right.”
But when she rested it over her shoulders, the hem retracted. Something it didn’t do for Dorothy.
My magic sprang to my fingertips while she frowned in confusion at Tegau’s Mantle.
But before she could escape, coils of air wrapped around her body, pinning her arms to her sides.
She gasped in alarm, her eyes wide. “Will, what are you doing?”
“You’re not Dorothy,” I said, tightening the restraints around her. “So who are you?”
The mask dropped in an instant, and the imposter grinned. “What gave me away? The cloak?” I nodded, and she sighed. Then her skin began to shift and darken, her hair lengthening and graying until Tyronoe appeared. “Well-done, sorcerer.”
I stepped closer, fury raging like fire in my veins. “Where’s Dorothy? If you hurt her... ”
Tyronoe grinned. “No need for threats. Your mommy is fine. She’s waiting for you.”
“How do I know you’re telling the truth?”
She shrugged, though the coils made it hard. “You don’t. I suppose you’ll just have to take my word for it.”
When we stood toe-to-toe, I held Tyronoe’s gaze. “You made a mistake coming here.”
“And why is that?” she tutted. “We both know you’re not going to kill me, sorcerer.”
“He won’t,” a voice said just before the Knife appeared from behind her, pressing to her throat. “But I will.”
Tyronoe stilled, her attitude shifting at the sound of my dad’s voice. She hadn’t even noticed him slip into the tent. “I didn’t touch her. I was only here to lure Will out, I swear.”
My dad’s furious gaze found mine over Tyronoe’s shoulder. “You and your queens have spilled so much innocent blood in a war you created.” The Knife pressed harder, nicking her skin until a drop of her blood trickled down her neck. “You already stole Lydia from me, and like hell am I going to let you or anyone else kill any more of my family.”
Tyronoe started to speak, but before she could, my dad slashed the Knife across her throat.
Her wide, ageless eyes stared at me in terror as her blood poured down her front and soaked into the floral patterns of her blouse. A gurgle left her as the light in her eyes faded.
Tyronoe splashed to the ground when I released her lifeless body from my magic, and for a moment, my dad and I just stared at where the blood diffused into the puddles and wet ground around her.
“Dad,” I whispered, rushing over to him and throwing my arms around his shoulders.
He trembled against me, no doubt guilt and fear coursing through him. Arthur pushed into the tent then, his eyes widening when he saw Tyronoe’s body.
“We’ll find her. Don’t worry. But right now, we need to find the others and make sure they’re okay,” my dad said, releasing me and sheathing the Knife in his belt.
“Go. We’ll catch up,” I said, and with another glance at me, he fled the tent.
“What happened here?” Arthur said as I dropped low to touch Tyronoe’s body.
I pushed my magic forth, watching as her body began to transform until all that remained was a patch of brilliant flowers like the ones from her blouse.
“Morgana. She has—”
But even as I spoke, a sickening crack whipped through the campground, followed by the ringing of alarms from those on watch.
When I met Arthur’s gaze, I knew exactly what that meant.
The barrier had fallen.
Before we could move, Morgana’s voice echoed throughout the dome, aided by her magic.
“Come out, little sorcerer,” she cooed. “Come fight for your king. If you think you can.”
Arthur’s hands tightened in my shirt, his gaze flickering red.
But this was what she wanted. She wanted him to lose control here, where he could cause so much harm and destruction to these people.
But I wouldn’t let that happen. I wouldn’t let her win this.
Cupping Arthur’s face in my hands, I met his eyes, watching as the sclera shifted back and forth between red and white. His frantic breaths filled the space between us, his chest brushing up against mine with each shaky inhale.
“Will, I can’t,” he breathed, fear lacing his words. “The beast is too close to the surface. I can’t. Not here... There are too many people, and I—”
“Sh,” I murmured, sliding one of my hands up the side of his face and into his long hair before anchoring it into the strands at the nape of his neck. His nostrils flared as I held his worried gaze. “Remember what I promised you that night on the rooftop, okay?”
Licking his lips, his hold on my shirt tightened to the point I was sure it would rip. “I remember, but... ” The dragon’s roar came again, and he stiffened, eyes widening. Pinpricks of pain skittered over my chest, and I saw that I was losing him to the curse. And I knew if I didn’t calm him down soon, he’d be lost to the demon. I just needed to distract him.
Using my grip in his hair, I tugged his face closer until I was all he could see, all he could focus on. He strained against me, the panic attempting to overtake him. But I wouldn’t let it. “No, look at me. Arthur, what did I promise you?”
He was breathing heavily again, only this time, the curse seemed better under control as he stared deep into my eyes. This close, I could count all the freckles on his nose and cheeks, could distinguish the blades of grass in his irises.
When the next dragon’s roar thundered through the camp, he didn’t even flinch. His attention remained solely on me, flicking between my eyes, then down to my lips.
“You said you wouldn’t let me break,” he rasped, lips nearly grazing mine with each word.
My thumb caressed his cheek. “And I keep my promises.” With a quick kiss, I stepped back and held out my hand. “It’s time to show her we’ll meet whatever challenge she puts before us. That we won’t let her destroy us.”
His palm was near scorching as it settled against mine, and he squeezed my hand softly. “You’d make a worthy general.”
My mouth tipped up in amusement. “You think so?”
Grinning back, he nodded. “I do.”
The ground rumbled, making the people outside scream.
“So, General William, what do you suppose we should do now?”
My gaze drifted to the tent flap, eyeing the design painted there. “I think I might have an idea.”