Chapter 9
Kyrin continued to watch preparations but her mind was far away in the city. She couldn’t help but think about Alric’s selfless act to save a pregnant woman. A new feeling emerged and she tried to push it aside, but it grew stronger. She started to panic when she realized that she had feelings for Alric, feelings that could get her punished by Daemionis.
When the sound of the battle horn rang out through the valley, the knights rushed to their horses. The Minotaurs had been spotted by the outlook high on the mountain. Kyrin stood quickly, not sure why she was even contemplating going with them. This wasn’t her fight, and she fully planned on shifting out of Paragoy Dimension the second she saw a Minotaur.
She felt a panic when she realized that Alric was in the town alone, and the knights weren’t going to make it before the Minotaurs cleared the city streets. She didn’t care about the townsfolk. They weren’t her concern. The alarm she felt was for Alric.
Kyrin knew she could make better time with her speed boots that Creteloc gave her. The horses had to stick to the winding roads leading into town but she could go through the trees. Without another thought, she flew into the forest toward the town of Valhara.
The smell of the Minotaur hit her first, a familiar scent that brought terror into her. She ran harder. She had to get to him. He had no way to defend himself against that amount of Minotaurs, and she hoped her flail would aid him. When she hit the town, the people she passed were surprised at her speed and watched in shock as she headed for the crashing sounds coming from the front gate.
She knew Alric would be there. He wasn’t smart enough to run. He would face them head on instead of leaving the townsfolk to fend for themselves, like most kings would have.
When she got there, the Minotaurs were already past the gates and flooding into the city. Alric stood alone before them with his sword drawn.
The front Minotaur walked forward and looked down on the small human. Alric stepped back defensively, and the fight between them began. The Minotaur was too big, and his natural defenses were too strong. Kyrin flew at them and arrived just as Alric fell unconscious at the massive hooves of the Minotaur.
He had blood pouring from his head, and she couldn’t tell if he was breathing. The Minotaur smelled deeply and crouched down, ready to devour the flesh of the king.
“No!” Kyrin screamed, and brought her hands together in a clap above her head. Red balls of light began to swirl around her, gaining speed and splitting rapidly until she was engulfed in their light. Hundreds of orbs whirled around her faster and faster as her anger grew.
The Minotaur stood up from Alric and watched her in horror as her black eyes met his.
“Nosfomora,” she whispered, and her hand shot out toward the lead Minotaur. Orbs began to fly off of her toward the now running enemies. Her other hand flew out toward the Minotaurs on her other side, and red orbs shot from it also, chasing down the Minotaurs and sending them to the ground in a lifeless heap.
She fell to her knees and lowered her head when the Minotaurs were dead. Such power drained her, and she was exhausted and afraid of what she’d just done. When she finally made it to her feet again, she leaned against a fencepost and then spun at the quiet sound behind her.
Her breath was knocked out of her when she saw that the knights had arrived and seen her magic, along with almost every townsperson. She took a step back when Finn met her eyes.
A crack of thunder sounded, and the gathered crowd began to rush backwards when Daemionis appeared behind her.
His scaled green skin was in harsh contrast to the bright light of day around him. His gaze sent terror into the hearts of Valharans as he took a step toward Kyrin. She looked up at him, and her eyes were pleading for him to help her. She’d broken the laws of magic in front of knights, who devoted their lives to honoring the laws and enforcing them.
Daemionis reached down and seized a Minotaur in his hand, and then grabbed Kyrin and they all disappeared with a flash of light.