23. Timas
Chapter 23
Timas
T he bark on the tree I am leaning on is digging into my back, and my neck is starting to feel stiff. Garrick’s snores fill the air as we wait for nightfall. I’m not sure how long it’s been, but it feels like we have been waiting for days.
“It’s time.” Neeve’s voice breaks through the silence that has been filling the forest. Garrick jumps at the sound of her voice, sucking in air through his nose, making an even louder noise.
“Oh, for pity’s sake, Garrick, really! You fell asleep?” Milori glares at him.
“I wasn’t sleeping, just checking the inside of my eyelids.” Milori just stands there staring at him.
“We are on an important task to rescue Emilia and you fell asleep!” Garrick stands up, walking into Milori’s space, face starting to turn red with anger. This is going to get out of hand.
“Are you saying I don’t care about my sister? About rescuing her?!” Milori takes a step closer to Garrick. Garrick is a bit taller than Milori, but they spar often, and it would be a messy fight if I let this continue, so I stand up .
“Well, you certainly aren’t holding a silent vigil while you wait!”
“ENOUGH!” I let a little of my power pulse around us to get their attention. When their gazes turn to mine, I see a fog on them, but they shake it off. “What is wrong with you?”
“Garrick… I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.” Milori takes a step back, rubbing his forehead.
“No, no, I’m sorry. I know you care about Emilia.” Garrick says.
“I know you would do anything for her,” Milori replies.
“It’s the forest. The longer we are outside of the protection spells, or just simply in this forest, the more our minds will warp and bend. When we were exiled here, the first thing my grandfather did was put up protection spells to keep the forest’s magic at bay. Let’s get moving before we all go mad.” Without another word, Neeve starts to walk heading, I can only assume, towards the Night Court’s city.
Flexing my hand, I feel my magic being pulled from inside me after using it to stop the fighting between Milori and Garrick. Normally, the power that lives inside only comes when I call it but this is an entirely different sensation. It’s as if the forest is pulling my power from me in little waves. This forest has old magic, that is clear; the sooner we get out of here, the better. Neeve crouches a bit lower and looks behind to indicate we should do the same. We are all scattered among the bushes, crouching from what, we don’t know. Neeve points up, and I can just see the bottom of a platform or maybe a walkway. We discussed earlier that the Noble Guard and those with the ability to fly will go up first. those who cannot will wait for a Noble Guard to lower the platform. There was talk of the Guard carrying some people up but we decided that could pose more risk than needed. The Guard wouldn’t be able to fight back with someone in their arms and seeing as we don’t know what we will face when we fly through the canopy, this is the safer option. It’s not ideal, and it means our forces will be at a disadvantage until the rest can get up there, but it’s all we could come up with, considering the circumstances.
Garrick joins the group that will be waiting on the platform, while Milori and I join the Noble Guard and Neeve. Surprisingly, Neeve’s companions are nobles as well, which shocked me when I first found out. As soon as we make our first move, the fight will be on, and we will need to eliminate the King’s circle as fast as we can.
We walk out into the clearing, and I can faintly hear talking coming from above. A canopy of leaves covers the city above, so you can’t really see it. Neeve said it was necessary because the ground is infested with vicious animals at night, so it was safer to build the city in the trees.
Suddenly, I feel a tugging at my chest, and I know it’s Emilia; I can’t wait anymore, I need to find her. My wings explode out of my back, and with one hard pump, I am airborne. The sound of other wings being expelled fills the space, and we all break through the canopy to see the Night Court City .
Houses dot a large area, each one attached to a tree and walkways connecting them from the bottom level all the way to the top. Our entrance has not gone unnoticed, as we expected. Two guards are standing by the platform, which looks to be how we will get the rest of the group to the city level. Two of the Noble Guards break off and head for them. Vines from the trees snap out, restraining the Night Court guard while my guard lunges forward, slitting his throat cleanly. The other guard is grabbing at his throat as my guard takes the very breath from his lungs. The Noble Guard is efficient; there is no reason to further someone’s pain and draw out a fight. I know they will let the platform down and bring up the remaining soldiers.
People are running every which way, children are screaming, and mothers are crying. My Guard knows not to hurt the innocent so they avoid them, going for the Fae that have drawn their weapons. A lot of the people are racing to their homes. Something tells me they have been tipped off that we would be coming. One of the angry-looking Night Court Guards is trying to force an innocent man to fight, shoving a weapon in his hands. The man can’t be older than one hundred; he is young, but he looks deathly ill. He shakes his head no, and the guard backhands him, the wrong move. Milori watches it all unfold as he dives at the guard. Milori’s hands light with fire, the flames climbing up his arms. The Night Court Guard must not be noble because he shows no signs of power. Milori grabs him around the throat. Milori says something to him which causes his face to pale, and before he knows what happened, a knife cuts his throat as well. Milori leans down to help the young man up and sends him off to safety.
Looking around, I can tell that the higher the houses, the better they look. Up towards the top, I can see more Night Court Guards, these ones dressed far better than the ones on the lower level; they must be part of the King’s circle. Neeve points up, indicating I had the right thought, so I take off, flying up towards the upper levels. Halfway up, an arrow goes swirling by my shoulder, just nicking it. Looking around for the archer, I find him standing on a lower walkway, getting ready to notch another arrow. I land on the walkway in front of him and let out the fury that has been building inside me. Bolts of energy escape my body, hitting half a dozen Night Court soldiers, killing them instantly. The trees shake, causing the buildings to tremble and the walkway to swing wildly.
“You think a pathetic arrow will take down the Day Court King?” I don’t hide the dark power that lives inside me. My markings glow brightly, and the man who foolishly shot an arrow at me stumbles backwards, trying to escape. Before I can get to the pathetic excuse of a Fae, a green hand grabs him by the collar and hauls him up, tossing him over the walkway. His scream echoes and soon fades as he falls to the hard ground.
“Your eyes are creepy when they go all black like that.” I want to hurl Garrick off the walkway, but that is just an impulse.
“He was mine.” I practically snarl. My magic is so raw that I am not thinking clearly but I know he is a friend.
“Go get the tougher ones up there and we will take care of these guys. Go find Emilia.” Her name is like a balm to the raging storm inside me. My flower . Looking up, I see the Noble Guard fighting alongside Neeve. Shots of fire and electric light whirl past buildings and trees alike. Strong winds move the trees, and rocks fly in all directions. The stronger Fae are above. Garrick is right, I will be more useful up there. I feel a strong pull from above; Emilia must also be above surrounded by stronger Fae. With a quick nod, I ascend higher in the trees. A gust of wind hits me hard as I try to navigate to the upper landings. It knocks me off balance, making me flip in the air, but it isn’t strong enough to cause any real issue, and I am able to correct myself. The Fae who hit me sneers in my direction. Neeve lands a few feet away from him with white and blue mist swirling around her; she shoots her hand out as an ice dagger soars through the air and lands in his chest. His face contorts in pain and shock as he falls to the ground. A large building looms in the distance. My guess is that the King resides there, it’s a much better-looking building than the others around.
Flying up to a nearby walkway, I land, the building in sight. Just as quickly, a man lands just in front of me. Brown hair and evil eyes.
“I’m surprised it took you so long to get here. Emilia was convinced you’d show up to rescue her. I had my doubts.” His nonchalant behaviour isn’t fooling me because there is fear living behind those eyes. My power has been simmering at the surface for the past several days. He isn’t going to enjoy this fight he has decided to take on.
“Are you the one who stole my spirit bond?” My voice doesn’t sound normal, it sounds like an echo of unrestrained power. I can see this man trying to maintain his ‘tough’ exterior but I don’t miss the fear he lets bleed into his eyes. But that doesn’t last long because he replaces any fear with rage.
“I did have the honour of retrieving her, such a delicate thing, she bruises easily.” I snarl and lunge for him. He tries to pull the air from my lungs, but he forgets that I am far more powerful than he is. I send a lightning bolt, and it hits his arm, causing his skin to turn black because of the burn. His shocked expression is satisfying, his powers all but forgotten as he reaches for his sword at his side. Before he can even raise it, I slam my hand into his chest, sending current after current of electricity through him. He can’t scream, so his mouth falls open with empty gasps. Gripping his clothes, I pull him close.
“Wrong move,” I growl. I hurl him over the side, his body still convulsing as he falls to his death.
“Call off your dogs, King Timas. “ I look up, following the voice. Standing in front of the large building I have been trying to get to, is none other than the ‘King’ of the Night Court. This man looks deranged, like he is losing control, but what draws my attention is the arm wrapped around my Emilia’s neck.
“If you know what’s good for you I suggest you let her go.” My words are calm but filled with power. No fear crosses this man’s face. He is focused on me, and I suspect he will do what he needs to win this fight.