Chapter 15
Days later, Ava stood before Torvak’s towering onyx gates with Casimir, Raine, and Maeryn, the rest of their forces armed and ready behind them.
Torvak was enormous, the buildings made entirely of obsidian. A monstrous volcano sat in the center, lava flowing down the dark mountain and splitting into dozens of rivers.
Ava focused on staying in tune with her magic, reviewing the symbols in her head in an effort to keep calm.
“I hope I have enough magic to make three…” she mumbled to herself.
“You do,” said Raine. “You and Jorrar have practiced this. Don’t forget that.”
She took a deep breath and prepared herself.
They waited for the sun to crest the horizon in silence. The only sounds were the rustle of armor, soft whispers of their forces, and the rumbling of the volcanoes as they spewed their molten contents.
At last, the world awakened as the sun greeted the day. Casimir gave Ava’s hand a squeeze.
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. Casimir raised 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 eyes with 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.
For the fae were clinging to peace. Happiness. Freedom. And Ava refused to allow their enemies to take any more.
“We’re close to the castle,” Casimir said. “Let’s keep going.”
Maeryn led the way through more shops and buildings, then over a wide bridge crossing a deep chasm of boiling lava.
The heat was almost unbearable, even with the second potion they’d all consumed the night before.
The only one of them who wasn’t drenched in sweat was Maeryn, not bothered by the environment at all.
On the other side of the bridge, they passed through a black metal gate, leading to the castle.
Hewn from the deepest obsidian, dozens of tall spires reached to the sky, embellished with a rainbow of stained glass windows.
Ava’s breath caught as she studied the craftsmanship, the detail carved into every surface.
Dark gray trees with bright orange and red leaves lined the path leading to the intricate front doors.
“Those are fireoaks,” Maeryn said. “They only grow here.”
“They’re beautiful,” Ava said, touching a velvety leaf.
“When they reach the end of their life, they burst into flames and a new one grows from the ash,” Maeryn explained.
Though Ava had lived in Eorhan for months now, she was still in awe of the magic around every corner. The unique beauty in each kingdom had her falling more in love with this world with each new experience.
Passing through the tunnel of trees, they approached the steps leading to the stained-glass double doors when horrific screeches resounded far behind them. Ava whirled around and her heart bottomed out when she saw the source.
Monsters.
So many monsters.
There had to be at least a couple hundred, perhaps more.
Giant humanoid daemons with bat-like wings flew through the air—similar to the ones they battled on the ship.
Helwraiths—exactly like the one she had killed after escaping her imprisonment—scurried on four unnaturally wide and bent legs, their teeth dripping with venom.
The creatures descended on the army in the middle of battle. Fae soldiers shouted in surprise as they fought the monsters—monsters who had the ability to suppress magic should they bite any of the fae.
“What do we do?” Ava cried.
“We continue our task,” Casimir said. “We talked about this. Everyone knew it was a possibility.”
“He’s right,” said Maeryn. “We must keep going.”
The others ascended the steps, but Ava didn’t follow. She didn’t feel right leaving the rest of her loved ones to face the new threat without help.
“Wait.” Ava grasped Maeryn’s arm. “Do you have animals that live in this area?”
Maeryn thought for a moment. “Mostly just birds and a few species of small reptiles but…there is one other, though it was rumored they went into hiding many years ago.”
Ava glanced back at the army. The daemon creatures continued to descend, many fae now fighting without their magic. What if they couldn’t fight against them on their own?
“Ava,” Casimir said. “I know what you’re thinking. There’s no guarantee they’ll come if you try to summon them.”
“Summon them?” Maeryn asked.
“She was able to summon ocean drakes while we were on our way back from Saxumdale,” Raine said.
Boots pounded on the earth as Quinn and Pax, who had blood running down his shoulder, dashed toward them with panicked looks.
“Where’s everyone else?” Casimir asked. “Jorrar and the others?”
“They’re fighting,” said Quinn, out of breath. “There are too many creatures. We had the upper hand, but now I’m not so sure.”
Maeryn said to Ava, “Then you must try. Try to summon them. I don’t know how many are left or if they even exist, but try anyway.”
“What are they called?”
“Fyreleopards.”