Chapter 5
Darrow
The sun had nearly faded in the sky as I made my way between pig pens and chicken coops at the rear of the keep. My nostrils burned from the unpleasant mixture of animal waste and the metallic tang from magical attacks.
Booms regularly shook the ground as the dark elves tried to break through the high stone walls, and flashes of light lit the air from various spells as they sought to bring down the wards.
Frostdar and fae stood on the ramparts, working together to hold the enemy at bay, but the Karganoth army outnumbered them.
I doubted they’d last through the night. Though I found it regretful, I couldn’t save them. We all had to do our duty. I needed to protect the royal line at all costs, even if it meant turning my back on the brave soldiers on the wall.
Through the fading light, I couldn’t miss the shiny glint of Lavender Castle, clearly named for the hue of its stones.
It wasn’t a natural shade, but rather, the result of a protection spell gone awry.
I didn’t know the whole story behind it.
Only that it had happened over a thousand years ago, and while the magic did render the structure stronger and more resistant to powerful attacks, the color refused to change.
Even fresh paint didn’t last more than a day before melting away.
Many lords had tried various methods to alter it, and failed—to their utter annoyance.
Only Jacthor didn’t seem to mind its appearance, but he didn’t like wasting time on petty matters.
I’d almost reached the castle when a pair of guards stopped me.
They eyed my black-tipped ears and moved to attack.
One lifted his sword, while a female raised her hands as blue electric charges built across her fingertips.
While I couldn’t blame them for seeing me as a threat, I didn’t have time for explanations.
I used my powers to knock their heads together, rendering them unconscious. Their bodies thumped on the ground.
Stepping over them, I continued forward until reaching a rear entrance from the kitchens.
I pounded on the heavy wooden door and announced myself with a shout.
The protection magic on it was impressive.
With as much power as I had thrumming through me, I could have dissolved it, but that would have completely drained me.
I needed all my power to teleport the princess and her daughter away from danger.
Several minutes passed as I pounded and announced my identity multiple times.
I assumed the guards inside scurried to ask the princess what to do.
Only a few people here were aware of the contingency plan in case something like today ever happened, so I understood the delay. That didn’t make waiting any easier.
Finally, it opened to the princess’ personal guard—a tall elf with broad shoulders and a stoic expression. He gave me a once-over before speaking. “Watchword?”
“Catastrophic.”
He nodded and gestured for me to come inside. They couldn’t be too careful with the various magical ability types, and I appreciated him following the rules. We rushed through the corridors to the main hall.
It was chaotic and crowded. A few people were studying maps at a long trestle table at the far end, while others worked spells over weaponry, such as swords and archery items. Many more paced the floor or huddled together in fear.
The castle was the last line of defense, protecting many innocent people within its walls.
The soldiers who remained here had to wait for the fighting to reach them.
That wasn’t easy while watching their brethren die on the ramparts.
I found Princess Lillian and her thirteen-year-old daughter, Hadrien, holding hands as they stood side by side in front of a large window.
Bright rays of their power beamed through the glass toward the front keep wall a few hundred feet away, where the Karganoth invaders attacked with a vengeance.
Both ladies used their shielding magic abilities to bolster the defenses, as the wards had nearly depleted.
Lillian’s chestnut locks flowed down her back in loose curls, while Hadrien had her silver hair in a tight braid.
Both were tall and curvy, but the mother’s skin was beige, and her ears were finely pointed like all elves.
Her daughter’s ears were almost fully rounded like the Frostdar with only a slight upturn at the top, and her skin was pale with a light bluish tint.
Regardless of those differences, they both stood with a similar proud bearing.
As I moved closer to them with the royal guard by my side, I noted sweat on their brows and that both trembled with the effort to continue funneling magic into the massive shield they’d erected over the keep.
The younger lady, especially, would not hold out much longer.
She’d only had her magic about eight months more than Rynn.
The elf guard cleared his throat. “Your Royal Highness, Darrow is here to take you to safety.”
“I can’t…” She sucked in a breath, keeping her gaze locked outside. “I can’t leave my people like this.”
One thing I could say for King Worden was that he’d raised loyal and brave offspring.
I took a step closer. “As much as I hate to be the bearer of bad news, Your Royal Highness, Porrine was attacked this morning, hours before the dark elves arrived here. They have taken over the palace.”
The elf who brought me to the hall shot me a horrified look. I had decided to wait and inform everyone at once, rather than tell them individually. It was easier and faster that way.
The princess let out a choked cry. “My parents?”
“I’m afraid they were among the first to fall. I was able to rescue your brother and have taken him to a safe location, but now I must get you there as well,” I said, attempting to inject some sympathy into my voice. It wasn’t easy with god magic coursing through me.
Lillian dropped her arms and set one hand on her daughter’s shoulder. The beams of light they’d been projecting disappeared. She understood that the line of succession was at stake, and sacrifices had to be made with the entire realm threatened.
She swallowed and appeared to collect herself. “My husband and son?”
“I don’t know where they are, but I will do my best to find them once you are safe and secure,” I said, taking a step closer.
Two maids ran toward us, each carrying overstuffed bags. The older one curtsied when she came to a stop. “Ma’am, we have packed some things for each of you to take.”
At least the staff were on top of things. With the fighting growing louder, and some spells beginning to breach the wards—if the increasingly loud blasts were anything to go by—then we had even less time than I’d first estimated.
The princess and her daughter took their baggage before Lillian returned her attention to me. “How will we escape?”
“I will teleport you both out.” Enough of the defenses were down that all we needed to do was step outside to circumvent the castle’s protections that remained intact.
She studied my eyes, undoubtedly noting the strange glow coming from them at the moment. “You have taken the God of Wrath’s powers.”
“It was the only way I could successfully reach your brother,” I said, though I wouldn’t have gotten to her without it, either.
Lillian clutched the handle of her bag tightly and lifted her chin. “Very well. I suppose there is no help for it now. We are ready to leave whenever you are.”
She was wise enough not to ask where we were going in a crowded room. Some of the people around us might end up tortured or even have their minds read, depending on who accompanied the Karganoth forces to conduct interrogations. We couldn’t risk the information getting out.
“If you’ll follow me,” I said, bowing before turning and heading back the way I came.
The royal guard who’d escorted me came with us, unwilling to let the princess out of his sight until absolutely necessary. I’d interacted with the elf enough to know he would die to protect her, so I didn’t argue.
As we neared the abandoned kitchens, I opened the path inside myself for more of the God of Wrath’s power to fill me.
It flooded my body so strongly that static energy crackled, jolting my muscles, and I had to blink to clear my vision.
With that much magic, I could even add another person to transport from here.
Once we stepped outside, I took the hands of both ladies and turned my gaze to the tall elf. “Join us. I have enough power that I can take one more.”
We’d need everyone we could get if we wanted to prevent the royal line from being eradicated. The guard with us would be perfect. He was strong, loyal, and one of the best fighters I’d ever seen. We could not afford to lose him to a falling city.
He hesitated. I understood since it was unheard of for anyone to teleport so many, but they truly had no idea of my strength at the moment. My body vibrated with so much magic that I felt as if I might explode if I didn’t release it soon.
“But I…” he began.
“You’re sworn to protect the princess, which means coming with us. It’s that simple,” I said bluntly.
That had him moving. A moment later, everyone had joined hands.
I sent out my power to link us together before I imagined the woods nearest to the portal where I’d arrived in Hartoll.
With any luck, Jax, Loden, and the others would reach that point soon because I was going to be drained for a while after doing this.
I sucked in a deep breath, then sent the four of us there.
Hot static raced through my veins as I pushed myself harder than ever before to maintain the connection between us as we sped across the distance.
It wasn’t more than six miles away, but it felt like an eternity of travel with such a heavy load.
Finally, we returned to solid form in the middle of the dark woods.
Sharp pain shot through me from my head to my feet.
I crumpled to the ground in complete agony, shaking from hot sparks that twitched my muscles.
I’d almost completely drained myself with only the tiniest trickle remaining to keep me from complete burnout.
The ladies fell to their knees, heaving from nausea, the same as my sister when I teleported her.
Only the royal guard managed to maintain his bearing. With him watching over us, I allowed myself a moment to close my eyes and try to breathe through the pain. I couldn’t have moved a muscle in that moment if an assassin with a blade came racing toward me.
I’d only begun to stop trembling ten minutes later when the elf stiffened. “Others are coming this way.”
“Are they ours?” Princess Lillian asked, rising to her feet.
He shook his head. “I have no idea, but I’d suggest you ladies get behind me.”
My senses were still muddled, but I had a bad feeling it wasn’t our allies out there.