Chapter 52 #2
Karganoth soldiers slowed to look behind them.
They still weren’t close enough to make out their expressions, but their frantic body language spoke volumes.
As they tried to maneuver to safer places, Aella hit them with harsh winds.
She held her hands out in front of her, rapidly gesticulating as she scanned the area and guided the gales in various directions.
Dark elves went flying backward, right into the boulders' paths, and screams rent the air just before loud crunches cut them off.
She showed no mercy, and the sight of her taking down our enemies made me hard.
For the next few minutes, I worked on my side. Sometimes, I knocked my targets down so they couldn’t avoid getting crushed fast enough. In other cases, I nudged the boulder to guide it onto the path that would take down the most Karganoth soldiers.
When I had a moment, I checked on Aella’s progress.
She was doing well for someone whose abilities weren't as precise as mine. To compensate, my wife had begun blowing wind into groups of soldiers, piling them on top of each other as the boulder headed straight for them. She took out five at once with a slight smile on her face as they were smashed into the ground. Through our bond, I sensed her amusement and satisfaction. It might have been terrifying if I didn’t appreciate it so much.
Still, some of the elves eluded her because there were too many for her to manage within her zone.
I’d known all along she couldn’t possibly get them all.
As some rushed toward our line, her brows furrowed in frustration.
Aella worked her wind magic, throwing more and more enemies into boulder paths with terrified screams echoing across the mountain as groups of two and three were crushed simultaneously.
Despite her growing body count, she couldn’t get enough.
Then, when the elves were perhaps five hundred feet away, we heard a strange sound.
Squeak! Squawk! Squook!
“What is that thing?” Zelthor asked, pointing partway up the mountain.
I narrowed my gaze and spotted an enormous purple-and-green chicken.
It was the same one I’d seen at Ivory Castle, except huge now.
Its sharply-clawed feet kept pace as it ran on top of one of the boulders.
When a dark elf dodged out of the way, the bird leaped off and attacked its prey.
Screams rang out as it pecked its victim to death.
“Oh, gross. The chicken is eating that dark elf’s intestines, and he’s not dead yet,” a centauress to my left said with disgust.
While an impressive archer, she was also known for having especially keen sight as a magical ability. She could see long distances much more clearly than the rest of us. Her herd lived not far from here, so they always volunteered to help when battles broke out near their territory.
Aella’s hands shook from exertion. “Did that chicken actually follow them over the mountains?”
The last time we’d seen it was weeks ago.
“It appears that way,” I said, chuckling as the strange creature stopped eating and began racing across the forest to frighten dark elves into running into boulder paths. It seemed rather intentional, which disturbed me. Why would this unusual chicken seemingly work for our side?
Even with its help, dozens were getting uncomfortably close along our line.
Mine and Aella’s powers were weakening from use and wouldn’t last much longer.
I ordered the archers to loose their arrows now that the enemy had come within range, though I cautioned against aiming near the colorful poultry.
We didn’t need that bird to become angry with us.
The projectiles took out some of the invaders, but many either dodged them or had magical defenses that prevented penetration.
Zelthor looked at me once some of the Karganoth soldiers reached the designated distance I’d given him. I nodded my assent, and he began unleashing the yellow frogs. They spewed forth from his hands and hopped directly toward his targets while making croaking sounds.
“No!” Aella cast a terrified look their way. “The odd chicken I can handle, but not those.”
“He’s ordered them to go after our enemy. They won’t harm you.”
She glared. “You better not let them get near me.”
Our enemy slowed as they caught sight of the frogs, but the boulders were also catching up to the dark elves in the lead.
They had nowhere to go to avoid danger. One worked their magic, raising a patch of ground, so the incoming massive rock rolled around them.
Others attempted to attack the frogs with fire magic.
The flaming spheres were easy enough for the venomous amphibians to see and avoid.
The cracks of broken trees and sounds of crunching bodies grew louder as the boulders drew near. I’d been saving some energy to stop them. Their high velocity and massive weight would make them harder to manipulate and require more power than I’d usually need.
I grabbed the closest boulders first, where they’d reached flatter land, guiding them up in the air and then splatting them on nearby enemies. Again and again, I did that while Aella continued pushing wind at those farther behind, brutally knocking them into the trees that remained standing.
Zelthor unleashed more frogs, able to do so because of a nearby lake full of them.
I didn’t only choose this section of the mountain to lead the defense because my aunt’s home was close, but also so the half-Frostdar would have a plentiful resource nearby.
He’d been able to do the same in Porrine because of two large ponds within the capital city and the rivers that ran through the area.
With a sigh of relief, I stopped the last of the boulders. Aella had killed or rendered unconscious the dark elves from farther out, while the chicken chased a large group back up the mountain until we lost sight of them—and hopefully the bird, forever.
Zelthor’s frogs and my soldiers attacked the few enemy troops who made it to our line.
We watched in fascination as the ones hit with venom died screaming and clutching at their chests before abruptly falling silent.
The boy did a good job guiding his little yellow friends, but they lost focus after they found no more enemies to target.
Two hopped straight for Aella and me. Zelthor was busy rounding up others to send back and didn’t see the problem. My wife leaped into my arms when the pair came within ten feet, squealing in terror.
“Kill them, Darrow,” she pleaded.
I chuckled, enjoying her in my arms for the first time in weeks. “Why would I murder such beautiful creatures?”
It was tempting to let them hop all around me just to keep her body close.
“They’re deadly!”
I lifted a brow. “It wasn’t that long ago that I saw you feeding frogs to your plants, yet here you are hiding from these.”
One came within a few feet of me, hopping and croaking but not threatening.
“Those weren’t venomous, Dare,” she said, burying her face in my neck.
Her intoxicating floral scent filled my nose. “Give me one nice, sweet kiss, and I’ll send them away.”
Was I taking advantage of the situation?
Absolutely, but I couldn’t help myself. She’d leaped into my arms, unconsciously seeking my protection despite all that lay between us.
While I had saved her before, she’d never asked me to do it until now.
Perhaps Aella did trust me a little. I was an ass, though, and couldn’t help wanting something more out of it.
My wife stared at my lips, a hint of longing in her eyes. I suspected she’d been suffering through this separation as well, but that confirmed it. Would she finally relent and give me what I desperately wanted?
“Fine.” She met my gaze. “You can have your kiss.”
I crushed my lips to hers like a man starved.
At first, it was wild with the burning need between us, but then I slowed it down.
I poured all the tenderness I was capable of giving into it, gliding my tongue against hers in a sensual dance.
Aella clutched at me as much as I clung to her.
I lost all sense of time. Only my sister clearing her throat behind me forced my attention away from my wife.
“Zelthor has sent all the frogs back, and we’re gathering the surviving dark elves now,” she said as I reluctantly pulled my mouth from Aella’s.
I shot her a look. “You couldn’t have waited a little longer to tell me that?”
“You were kissing for five minutes. I thought my patience was quite admirable when I really wanted to interrupt you much sooner, brother.”
That was a fair point. “Very well. Take the Karganoth troops to the prison in Siggaya, so Father can use them to bargain for some of our people back. You can use the other channeler and however many of our soldiers you need to escort them.”
Aella wiggled out of my arms, forcing me to let go of her. She’d verified all the frogs were gone first, of course. I made a mental note to tell Zelthor to leave a few hopping around next time.
Faina looked at my wife. “Do you have enough power left to get everyone else home?”
“No, but I shouldn’t need more than an hour.”
A familiar woman shuffling toward us through the woods caught my eye. “I think we can find a way to pass the time until then.”
My sister followed my gaze toward Durelle. “You’re due for a visit anyway. Have fun!”
She left us, heading toward our aunt to hug her before going about her duties. As the two of them spoke, Aella turned toward me, and the look in her eyes told me I wouldn’t like what she said next.
“I hope you enjoyed that kiss because that’s the only time I’m allowing you to be that soft with me.” She took a step closer. “But whenever you get tired of waiting for me to change my mind, I’ll be more than happy to welcome your dark elf side.”
Then she walked toward Zelthor, who would likely get an earful about allowing his frogs to get too close to her. I considered intervening, but my aunt finished with my sister and headed my way.
“You tore up my forest, Dare,” she said accusingly.
“The Karganoth soldier’s blood will help enrich the soil so it all grows back, and we need the firewood for winter, anyway. The blight has ruined too many forests in recent months.”
She rolled her eyes. “It will take years to regrow, and you know it.”
I pulled her into a hug, having missed her since my last visit months ago. “How are you doing, Aunt?”
“Getting slower by the day, but otherwise, not bad.”
“You should move to Darynia. Either the castle or I’ll find a suitable home on one of the other islands,” I said, though I’d made this argument many times. “Winter in this area is never kind, and I don’t like you being alone.”
Amusement danced in her eyes. “Come to the cabin. I packed my things while you were out here throwing boulders at people.”
“Really?” I asked, taking a step back. I might have been able to throw large rocks, but she had thrown me without lifting a finger.
Durelle shrugged. “I’ve been bored, and now that your wife is in residence there, I suspect it isn’t dull in the castle anymore. Also, I’d like to see where Rynn is with her healing. I should at least make sure she’s using my magic properly.”
That explained her change of heart. My aunt had never been fond of my father, but she would put up with him if the conditions were right. I wished I’d come to see her right after bringing Aella and her cousin to the city, but I had been busy.
“We will be happy to have you.”
She swatted my arm. “Of course, you will. I’m an absolute delight.”
I laughed deeply.