Chapter 23 #2
A gust of wind lashed rain into my eyes, blinding me, but I couldn’t drop my hands to wipe it away. Instead, I rubbed my face into my shoulder. “Your husband and his warriors should be able to handle that many, right?”
“Oh, yes. They can certainly finish them with no problem,” Lillian agreed, hair plastered to her cheeks.
“Just keep a close eye since they might try to go after us.”
I returned my attention to several vessels ahead, bobbing toward us over the massive waves generated by the storm.
Whoever controlled the weather had significant power.
They’d begun to fight against my funnel by shifting the elements, sending it wobbling across the sea.
I’d lose it entirely if I didn’t stop them.
My gut told me they were on one of the ships headed directly for us.
I broadened my senses and detected thicker magic pouring from that direction.
After a few more seconds, I could pinpoint its source.
Pulling from deep within myself, I kept a hold of the wind vortex while sending a narrow blast of targeted air at the lead boat where a dark figure stood at the bow.
They flew backward, with the resistance that had been slowing my progress dropping away as they faded from view.
I rushed to expand the funnel and move it over a ship, ripping its mast and sails, and then over to the other, repeating the process.
I didn’t have time to completely demolish them with the fleet getting close, so I settled for damaging them enough that they’d sink. One by one, I struck each of the remaining ships at sea except the two that had made it down the beach.
The sounds of battle drifted our way, with sparks of light filling my peripheral vision.
Even as I went back to finish demolishing the damaged boats, a few spells flew toward us.
The princess expanded our shield to block them, but she left room near the top for me to continue working my magic.
The way she could shape and maneuver her shield was incredible.
Most fae with that ability couldn’t do it so precisely and quickly.
For that matter, many could only create a fully sealed bubble.
Perhaps ten percent could do other shapes and leave gaps, so offensive spells could still be deployed.
My vortex hit the last few small boats, picking them up and tearing them apart. They were so close that some of the debris flew our way. I spotted several planks and a dark elf sailing in our direction.
“Look out!” I screamed.
The princess raised the shield completely over us.
It blocked my magic, but it didn’t matter since I didn’t have any targets left at sea.
One piece of wood bounced off the barrier in front of me, making me jolt at the close encounter.
The others struck the sand a dozen or so feet away.
The elf landed on top of our bubble with a hard splat.
His flattened face with terrified eyes looked down at me as he slowly slid off to my left and crumpled to the ground.
I pulled a dagger from my belt. “Make an opening.”
“Be quick,” she said as a magic spell struck on the right side.
The shimmering disappeared next to the dark elf.
He tried to raise his hand, but I stomped on it with my boot.
Then, I grabbed him by his thick, dark hair and lifted his head.
Our gazes met, and his hardened. Power crackled as he began drawing magic into himself.
I didn’t want to know what special gift he had, so I plunged my blade deep into his throat.
Slicing necks was great for theatrics, but it took longer to die.
If I wanted to finish someone quickly, I needed to stab all the way inside and twist the knife hard so there was no chance of healing.
Blood spurted everywhere, but I held onto him tightly until the life left his body a few seconds later.
I’d destroyed half his throat with it gaping open. The sight was gruesome. Though he’d needed to die, I shuddered at what I’d done. It was easier when I didn’t have to look my victims in the eyes like that.
As I let him go and stood, the sounds of battle died. I glanced up the beach to find the Frostdar sorting through still bodies, occasionally stabbing one with a sword. They must have been checking to see if any of the dark elves remained alive.
Lillian released a sigh and dropped her shield. “Well, that was exciting.”
“At least we won,” I said, smiling at her.
She nodded, but worry filled her eyes. “They didn’t expect us to put up this much resistance for a small village, or for you to use a new skill against them. The next battle may not go so easily.”
“I know,” I said, though I hoped they didn’t have any more people with weather elemental powers that strong. I’d nearly drained myself to destroy the boats.
Jacthor and Bindthor jogged up to us, with the Lord stopping to look over his wife before speaking. “All the dark elves who reached us are dead, but I will leave a few of my warriors on the beach for the night in case any of them remain alive in the water and manage to swim to shore.”
The storm clouds had begun to disperse since I took out the weather wielder.
Most likely, I didn’t kill them with the wind burst I sent to distract them, but the storm magic stopped altogether once the funnel tore apart their ship, so I doubted the dark elf lived through that. The calming sea indicated as much.
“Posting guards is a good idea.” Lillian frowned at her husband’s blood-splattered clothing. “Were you injured?”
“Only a small slice that is already healing,” he reassured her, then glanced between us. “You both did very well. We hardly faced any challenges with so few of the enemy reaching us, and some of my warriors are grumbling that you could have allowed another ship or two to reach the beach.”
It was too bad I’d been busy because I’d never seen the Frostdar in battle aside from training with the Andalagar, which wasn’t the same since they couldn’t kill, but I’d heard they were fierce. “I’ll remember that for next time.”
“We would appreciate it,” Jacthor said with an amused gleam in his eyes. “For now, rest and recover your powers while we dispose of the bodies on the beach. I don’t want to leave those for the villagers to handle, with there being so many.”
Since we had no treaty with Karganoth, we didn’t have to return the corpses as we did between lands in Zadrya.
He’d probably have them piled together and then light them on fire.
The native races of this planet preferred burial, but the fae usually preferred burning on a special pyre.
We didn’t care what the dark elves wanted, but it was the easiest way to handle so many dead.
“Do you want me to portal us back after you finish?” I asked.
He nodded. “Will you be ready in about two hours?”
“Yes.”
“Good. We’ll leave then,” he said, then gave his wife a warm kiss before walking away.
I drew in a deep breath and looked at Lillian. “At least we’ll make it back to Darynia a few hours before dawn.”
On the other hand, I’d be sleeping in Darrow’s room for the first time—alone.
I should have been relieved that I could keep my distance, but a part of me already missed my incorrigible husband.
I’d have to rebuild my defenses against him after how we emotionally connected while the gods forged our bond.
His strongest feelings during our coupling had faded away after Wrath left his mind, but I had no such luxury. Even now, I could feel the string binding us tugging in the direction of Radoumar. At least I didn’t sense him hurt or in danger. Hopefully, he’d be fine there.