CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT #4
Halfway across the expanse, Evylin landed on another rock as the Guardian bellowed and charged after her, its claws extended. As it neared, she slashed up with the Night sword, striking its paw. It screeched in pain, then circled the sky to try again.
Deckard sent another streak of black crystal after the Guardian.
It grazed the feathers of its wing as it swooped toward Evylin.
She ducked as the sharp claws closed around half of the stone chunk.
The rock tilted in the beast’s grasp, and she began to slide down the side.
Without anything to grab onto, Evylin dropped into the clouds.
Thom and Rafferty called out as they scrambled forward, but Deckard screamed her name, his vision turning dark.
He charged to the edge of the platform, casting his hand out before him.
The crystalline shadows knew his thoughts even better than he did, arcing through the air.
They spiraled together, forming a bridge of shimmering, coal-like rock.
Evylin hit the bridge with a thump. She nearly rolled over the side before catching herself. She pulled herself up and stared back at Deckard, eyes wide.
“Go!” he ordered.
Without hesitation, she ran, the crystal cloud forming the path as she went. Deckard could feel every step like an imprint in his mind. He focused every ounce of his will to ensure the shadows remained solid.
The Guardian swooped down again, ready to attack, and Deckard felt his attention slip. He pressed his lips together, reinforcing the bridge as he closed his eyes. He would trust her to make it across the expanse. Raising his other hand, he centered his attention on the bridge.
Somehow, Deckard could feel the pulse of the Night sword in Evylin’s hand as she ran.
He latched onto it, accepting whatever magical connection they shared.
He held the bridge until her feet leaped free.
He opened his eyes as she landed on the dais.
She sprinted across the platform, her fingers closing on the Wind Relic.
When she lifted it from its pedestal, it glowed with swirling silver light. Then it shifted into a double-ended sword.
Deckard’s jaw dropped at the same time as Evylin’s.
“Evie, look out!” Thom called from the rock path. He and Rafferty were closing in on the dais, but the Guardian was already there.
Auden, Deckard, and Ethenn sent their attacks with renewed focus. Golden light and dark crystals struck the beast, while the arrows merely ricocheted off its hide.
In one fluid motion, Evylin turned the Night sword back into a Relic to hang around her neck and spun with the Wind sword twirling in her grasp.
She struck at the Guardian’s paws. It flapped its wings as it stomped at her, its claws scraping the dais floor.
Evylin rolled away, coming up on her knees as she swiped up.
Thom and Rafferty finally leaped onto the platform, charging with their swords raised.
Ilain instantly sighed, releasing the rock bridge. The chunks fell out of sight. “Auden,” she said weakly, “I need help.”
In a heartbeat, Auden was there. He grabbed her hands and drew her close. They both closed their eyes, focusing their efforts on defeating the Guardian.
Evylin sliced open one of the Guardian’s digits, and it lashed out, screeching in pain. Its violent kicks knocked Thom back. Rafferty caught hold of him, keeping Thom from tumbling into the clouds.
An arrow finally stuck in the Guardian’s side. Then Ethenn turned to Deckard. “That’s it,” he said, motioning to the empty quiver at his back. “I’m out.”
Gritting his teeth, Deckard focused on the Guardian. “Defend Auden and Ilain,” he said. “If that creature comes for them, we can’t leave them unprotected.”
Ethenn nodded, drawing his sword as he hurried to the Calders’ sides.
“I can’t focus,” Ilain said, her voice frail.
Auden squeezed her arms. “Come on, Lain,” he said encouragingly. “We’re almost there.”
She shook her head, face taut with effort. “I’m too tired,” she murmured.
Deckard sent more shadows to distract the Guardian.
It roared in protest, but its injuries could only irritate it.
Guardians were defeated by connecting with the resource, not by killing it.
The troop’s attacks kept it from coming for the Mages alone.
Unless Auden and Ilain harnessed a strong enough connection with Wind, the Guardian would remain.
“Jonn,” Auden called, “we need help.”
“I’m not an Elemental Mage,” Deckard said, focus split between protecting Evylin, Thom, and Rafferty and watching out for the Calders and Ethenn.
Auden’s pleading gaze locked with Deckard’s.
The Mages were failing. Ilain had expended too much energy, and she couldn’t keep it up any longer.
If they didn’t end the Guardian now, she would black out from exertion, and they couldn’t carry her unconscious body back through the Keep with Shades attacking from all sides.
Deckard made his decision a second too late.
“Auden,” Ilain mumbled just as her knees buckled.
But it wasn’t Auden who caught her.