Chapter Forty-Five – Mira #2
The shifters closest were immediately incinerated, but the rest were packed together so tightly that soon most were ablaze, agonised howls and keening wails rending the air – along with the smell of burning flesh.
Through the strange russet flames, I saw Roran’s forces advancing.
Trapping the shifters between them and the pulsing wall of fire at their backs.
I didn’t need to look at Aric to know this was a disastrous situation.
The shifters were supposed to break through Roran’s lines – but burning and weakened, Roran’s soldiers were butchering them, cutting them down without honour and dignity.
Tears welled in my eyes as winged shifters spiralled down on burning wings.
The ones that weren’t burning were being shot out of the sky by Roran’s archers.
I reached for my locket – then dropped my hand, remembering that it was now little more than a pretty ornament.
Summoning my natural magic, I tried to connect with the wall of fire – to diminish it somehow. But as soon as my mind connected with it, a wave of dizziness and lethargy overcame me.
Draining me. It was draining me somehow, sapping my strength and my magic.
Panic clawed at my chest. I can’t release it –
Hands came down on my armoured shoulders, shaking me. I opened my eyes to see Scarlett’s glacial blue ones. ‘Don’t try that again,’ she warned. ‘Whatever that fire is – it isn’t natural.’
As I stared at it, the fire seemed to waver – until I saw a fox in the flames, watching me with eerie golden eyes. Familiar golden eyes.
The fox disappeared as a group of burning shifters lurched through the flames, bellowing and howling in agony. Screams sounded as some of the shifters attempted to turn back into human form, the fire devouring their skin just as easily as it devoured their hide.
Despite Scarlett’s warning, I tried to connect with the fire again – to bend it to my will.
Nothing happened.
I reached out towards the harbour next, but the water was too far away to summon, and when I tried to reach for air–
The flames only increased, licking at the shifters’ blistered and blackened skin. No screams now – only moans of pain. I crouched at their side, wanting to ease their suffering but not knowing how.
‘Mira, the shifters are already doomed.’ Scarlett’s voice was choked. ‘We have to get out of here.’
‘Scarlett is right,’ Cassius said, his horse veering in front of me. He swung down from the saddle, forcing me to look up at him – and not at the burning shifters. ‘This is the trap we were expecting, and if we don’t get clear of it soon, we won’t survive the fallout.’
A faint whistle warned me as the next hailstorm of arrows hit. Fire arrows.
They streamed down like a deadly rain. Cassius’s shield arched overhead as he crouched at my side, protecting me from being sliced to ribbons. Others weren’t so fortunate.
My stomach constricted as I listened to the pained groans around me. How many more had been lost?
Pushing Cassius off me, I angled my shield over my head and rose to my feet – searching for Aric and Scarlett.
My heart sank as I saw that Ferox had taken an arrow to his throat and was lying in a crumpled heap in front of Conall, who was mercifully unharmed – though I could sense his anguish from here.
Aric had managed to reach Scarlett in time, and had shielded her like Cassius had shielded me. But we couldn’t stay here much longer.
Sending my awareness out in front of me, I shifted my focus to the earth beneath my feet.
To my relief, I could feel it – could sense it just like any other natural element.
I gritted my teeth in concentration as I instructed the earth to stitch itself back together – forming a walkable path through the fire.
Scarlett’s expression was difficult to read. Not concern exactly – but something close. ‘You really should retreat.’
‘I’m not retreating. None of us are.’ I raised my chin, turning my stare on the others.
‘Roran believes that our army is stuck – but there’s a chance he doesn’t know I killed his archers in the forest. Scarlett and Cassius, take a force through the forest and encircle Roran from behind.
Aric, take the bulk of our army to higher ground, and be ready to mount an attack on my signal. ’
‘It’s a sound plan,’ Aric said, ‘but if we can’t get through the fire–’
‘Let me take care of the fire.’ My voice was steel. No hint of the uncertainty I felt – or the knowledge of who those golden eyes b elonged to. ‘You have your orders. I need to trust you to follow them. And you need to trust me to see my part through.’
The next stream of arrows forced me to duck under my shield. My arm buckled under the onslaught but held.
Smoke clogged my lungs as I sucked in a desperate breath and surveyed the damage. Most of my army had taken cover in time – but not all. I couldn’t afford to wait another moment.
‘Mira!’ Cassius grabbed for me a second too late. And there was fear – real, undiluted fear in his eyes as I approached the wall of flame.
‘Go,’ I shouted back without turning my head. ‘That’s an order!’
I didn’t hesitate to see what they decided. I strode forward – into the fire and its searing heat.
Where I knew Fennec would be waiting.