“We need a plan.” I said.
“I can charge Atropos. Darasin can back me up and Maywen you can hide and say the spell.” Amersa said.
I had to admit it was a good plan.
“Can you change us back now?’’ Darasin whined.
“No!” Amersa said sternly.
“We need something to camouflage ourselves so we are not seen.” I said.
Then we were ambushed and encircled by a group of grotesque warriors with axes and swords pointed straight at us.
“Mantorqs.’’ Amersa whispered fearfully.
Maywen didn’t know what a Mantorq was but it sounded evil.
One of the guards raised his voice. It was a horrible sound like the sound of glass being crushed magnified a thousand times.
“Come out of your hole human please.’’
We stepped out of the hole. One of the guards saw me and his eyes were filled with bloodlust. Maywen saw the Mantorqs almost looked like goblins they were rough grey skinned barrel-shaped creatures with yellow reptilian eyes and small horns on their heads. They were dressed in bits of chainmail and red cloth with weapons at their sides.
“The Queen of Night will be pleased to hear we have found her fresh blood.’’
Then he saw Darasin and lowered his ax.
“Thank you for holding up your end of our agreement.’’ Said the Mantorq.
Maywen stared at him confused but he looked away. The Mantorq put chains on all of us. We trudged up the mountain with axes and swords pointed at our backs until we reached the top. I saw a woman floating on top of a black flame. She wore a ring on her right hand that was shaped to look like a black serpent coiled around a pearl. She had black hair and blue eyes that when she blinked they changed from normal human eyes to reptilian slits. Her dress was black as night with no design on it. She was both beautiful yet terrifying. Maywen realized this was the face of the person who killed her parents.
“You finally come to join your parents Maywen.’’ Her voice was like silk but I could hear the magic and deception woven it as well.
I felt so angry! I pointed my ring at my chains and the chains disintegrated on all of us. In rage Amersa charged but Atropos waved her hand and a burst of black energy blasted on my friend. She fell down but she struggled to stand back up. Now she focused on me, my eyes filled with a combination of hate and fear. I blasted energy from my ring at her but she only waved her hand and it deflected right off her as if she was in an invisible magic bubble.
“You cannot stop me! Not even Ingraine’s potion could contain me.’’
I wondered what spell Atropos was talking about then I realized she was talking about the ensnarement potion. I put the petals in the vial of death and the concoction turned gold. Atropos eyes widened with fear and she blasted her black magic at me. I stood in horror thinking I was dead but then someone put their sword in front of me and the magic shattered the blade. I heard Darasin scream. Part of his blade had pierced his arm. Amersa was passed out so it was only me. In rage I charged at Atropos as she kept blasting energy at me but I sidestepped all her attacks. As I came closer to her, I blasted green energy from my ring but she deflected it again.
“You are weak just like your parents. Easy to manipulate, easy to kill … ’’ then while Atropos was paused I heard my mother say something to me:
“Use it well Maywen’’
I took the lioness pendant of the dagger and rubbed it and put it on the hard rocky ground. I thought nothing would happen but instead in front of me a silvery gray lioness with gold eyes stared back at me and charged at Atropos.
“Did Ingraine ever tell you the story of how Lunna created pets out of stars?’’ Atropos asked slyly.
I nodded fearfully.
“Well, this is my pet.’’ Atropos said evilly and tapped her snake ring and it turned into a sleek black snake.
It lunged at the lioness. I thought the lioness would be dead but instead the snake’s fangs passed right through the lioness as if it were a ghost. While the snake and lioness fought Atropos looked at Darasin while finishing what she said:
“And easily betrayed.’’ Atropos added.
I looked back at Darasin, he froze.
“That’s right Maywen. I forced your friend to bring you to your death, but he was strong but unfortunately for you he brought you here.’’ Atropos said with a malevolent grin.
I looked back at him one last time but as I was distracted Atropos shot a blast of black magical energy at me. I crashed into a black rock.
Darasin was the only one left so he ran to Maywen. His arm was still bleeding. Maywen was pale and her eyes were closed but she was still breathing. As Darasin knelt down near Maywen he must not have seen the vial of death and drops of his blood fell from his arm to the vial. It glowed bright red. Atropos screamed. Darasin turned around to meet the witch and then he heard a small ping: the glass test tube that held the concoction had broken. The red liquid seeped on the cracks of the floor and turned into red mist. Atropos looked at Darasin.
“You might think you were lucky boy, but you have failed to trap me and that will be your undoing. Mark my words, you and your friends will die by my hand’’ Atropos warned then she pointed at Maywen.
“She will be the first.’’ Atropos vowed.
Then she disappeared in a flash of smoke and the black flame extinguished itself. Maywen and Amersa awoke as soon as Atropos left. Maywen looked startled at the fact that the evil witch was gone.
“Did you trap her?’’ Amersa and Maywen asked.
“No, the test tube broke and she disappeared.’’ Darasin tried to answer with a relived tone but he couldn’t.
“Darasin what Atropos said about her forcing you to bring us to our deaths was that …. .’’
Darasin’s face turned pale
“Yes, she was telling the truth.’’ Darasin answered.
Then I looked behind me and saw swarms of Atropos’s troops coming up the to the mountain’s peak. Some of them wielded bows and shot arrows at us while the main force charged and surrounded us in a thick circle of the grotesque warriors. I blasted magic beams at the troops and Amersa changed into a fox and jumped on the warrior’s faces scratching and biting them. Meanwhile Darasin had no weapon. Then pain surged through his body and he felt he was losing blood. He saw that his hand was on the ground near him that was when he passed out. He saw a bright light so he was even more positive he was dead. It was pitch black but there was a light that was bright orange, like a moving fire until in front of him was a colossal flaming bird: a phoenix. Darasin covered his eyes until the bird’s fire dimmed.
“You have a role to play in many battles from now. ’’ the phoenix said.
“But you need this.’’
The bird dipped it’s head towards Darasin and touched where his hand used to be. Darasin thought he would burst into flames. He closed his eyes and saw taking the place of his hand was metal, bright gold metal. In the other hand which was not bleeding anymore, was his sword remade so it was intact. The metal hand could do all the things of a normal hand but when Darasin put it in a fist it burst into flames. He opened his hand again and it returned to golden form.
The spirit of the phoenix lies within you, both its sides, the phoenix said.
Then the phoenix was gone. Darasin opened his eyes and he was back on the mountain in the middle of a battle scene. Darasin stood up as a Mantorq slashed at him but with new powers he could quickly slash his sword and deflected the monster’s strike. Sparks flew on the impact. The force of the strike caused the monster to fall back and hit his head on a rock. He laid there unconscious.
“Darasin help!’’ Maywen screamed.
Maywen was surrounded by a group of monsters. She was running low on energy and started waving her dagger trying to make them fall back. Darasin ignited his hand and ran into battle sparks bursting. Darasin fought the monsters and one by one the Mantorqs turned t
o ashes. Maywen stared at him and then at his hand in shock.
“How did you… ’’
She never finished that sentence because more Mantorqs kept coming then Darasin thought of an idea.
“Follow me and get ready to jump.’’ Darasin warned his friends.
Then Darasin ran to the edge of the cliff and jumped. We followed. Darasin had transformed into a phoenix. He could tell his friends had jumped only because he could feel their weight.
“Darasin.’’ Maywen looked around.
“Yes?’’ Darasin asked.
Maywen was horrified not because of the height but because she was riding Darasin. Amersa had the same expression.
“How can you do this? ’’ I asked.
Darasin then told them about his chat with the phoenix and his arm.
“I guess she must think your special.’’ this was the first thing Amersa said since the battle.
“Wait the phoenix is a she?’’
“Yes, what you did you think she was.’’ Amersa said sternly.
“Where are we going to go? We still have to fight off King Dervindell’s army?’’ Maywen asked.
“We could go to my village. No one could find us there.’’ Amersa answered.
“Great…. I don’t know where that is.’’ Darasin said.
I turned my head Amersa gave me a look like can you believe him. I was about to say something when Amersa started yelling out orders like turn left, turn right etc. until we landed in a forest. Trees were everywhere like we were in labyrinth. There was a hole under one of the trees.
“We can’t fit in that hole and I already changed into an animal twice today.’’
“We’re not going in the hole!’’ Amersa screamed
Amersa walked up to one of the trees. It had huge ribbons and wind chimes were tied to its branches. Amersa touched the tree with her hand; an orange fox glowed on the tree. Then the tree split in half and inside was a flight of stairs that led to underground tunnels.
“This is Ariedun, my home.’’ Amersa said cheerfully.
Chapter 12
Royals and Warriors
Amersa lead us down the wood and gold stairway lit by will -o’- the- wisps and sparks. It was a long way down before we reached the bottom floor which was flooded with bright light, low music and singing softly touching the ears of the weary travelers. When Amersa walked into the lit room, the music stopped and everyone bowed. There were people, foxes and hybrid people with fox heads and human bodies. One of the fox hybrids stood up to proclaim:
“Praise King Anglaczar, Queen Diana…’’ he paused and he looked at Amersa.
“And Princess Amersa.”
Darasin and I just stood there in shock. I mean I knew she was a fox spirit but royalty that shocked me. Though her royal life must be the origin of her strict behavior.
“Where are my parents Reynar? ’’ Amersa said calmly to the fox hybrid called Reynar.
“In the throne room, your highness,’’ Reynar said.
“Do you want these two eliminated?’’ Reynar questioned and almost let out a snarl and got ready to pounce on Darasin and me.
Darasin rolled up his sleeve, revealing his gold hand then he ignited it.
“I don’t think so,’’ he said angrily.
Everyone backed away from us.
“Stop fireseer, ’’ a deep voice said in another room.
Everyone bowed again and lined themselves up on the sidewalls as a man with Amersa’s fiery red hair and bright green eyes marched forward. He had a green cloak, brown clothes, a belt sword at his side studded with green gemstones. Then Amersa ran up the pathway yelling happily
“Father’’ and he gave her a hug.
“These are my friends, Maywen and Darasin, ’’ Amersa told him.
Then a woman in a flowing green gown with the same red hair as Amersa and King Anglaczar and Amersa’s eyes entered the room. Amersa turned to the woman and said.
“Mother!’’
“It appears we have guests. Reynar gather a feast we are to celebrate my daughter’s victory over Atropos, ’’ King Anglaczar ordered.
Amersa looked at him uneasily.
“What is it Amersa?” her father looked at her with gleaming eyes.
“We weren’t victorious. Atropos escaped before we could use the ensnarement potion.”
Everyone stared at us and gasped. Their faces were filled with fear, even King Anglaczar but he changed his expression quickly.
“Enough! We shall eat and sleep on this situation and then …” he stared at Amersa.
“Your party must leave us.”
We walked down a hall where a table was set with foods so delicious my mouth watered. There was a tall throne made of gold and silver.
“Enjoy this feast, friends of Amersa,’’ he said outstretching his arms.
Darasin and I sat at the table and devoured everything on our plates. I didn’t realize I was so hungry until my stomach was full.
“I am kind of tired,’’ Darasin said.
Then Maywen yawned.
“Reynar, show them to the guest rooms immediately,’’ Anglaczar ordered.
Reynar led us to the guest rooms. They were just like the other rooms. Amersa stayed with us.
“Maywen, I’m sorry,’’ Darasin said.
“For what? ’’ I asked.
“For what happened on Mount Orpheous. I mean on my honor I would never do anything to hurt you, you of all people know that.’’
He turned to Amersa, who looked like she was about to explode.
“I wouldn’t hurt you either Amersa,’’ Darasin confirmed.
But she didn’t look impressed.
“How could we even trust your honor Darasin? Atropos spoke to you and you didn’t say a thing!’’
“Its alright Darasin I believe you’’ I reassured
Amersa stared at me in disgust “You honestly believe him? We nearly got killed by one of the most notorious and most powerful witch on earth thanks to this…. This buffoon.’’ Amersa said angrily
“He’s my oldest friend I know when he’s telling the truth and when he’s not” I said calmly
“I’m your only friend’’ Darasin said a crooked grin on his face.
“I’m trying to defend you remember’’ I said softly
Amersa sighed in defeat and turned to me.
“Good night Maywen,’’ she ignored Darasin and ran to her bedroom.
Weary and shocked by Amersa’s sudden anger, Maywen walked to her guest room. The room was big and the bed was comfy but it wasn’t as good as my old bed at Ingraine’s tent but it would do for one night. Thinking of Amersa and her parents I wondered if that’s what it was like to have parents who are still alive. But I wasn’t entirely alone. Dayla, Darasin’s mother, treated me like I was her own for years though Darasin’s father Daravan died in battle when we were nine. I yawned again, closed her eyes and drifted off into sleep. My dream went like this- she was standing on a grassy field, there were two warriors locked in combat. The one on the right had black armor with a helmet that had a U shaped top and black shield with an emblem of a coiled snake. The other wore sparkling white armor with a white helmet shaped like a lion’s head and a white shield with an emblem of tower. On the sides of the tower there was a dragon on the left and on the right a lion. Something seemed familiar about the white warrior and his emblem but Maywen hadn’t been sure why the two were familiar to her. Behind the two warriors were crowds of people in armor waving banners. On the side of black warrior was a barren landscape and a black tower but on other the side of the white warrior was a level landscape with flowers and a white tower. I looked closer in the crowd on the west I saw dryads and fairies raising swords and shouting.
She must have been one of my mother’s allies during the war I thought.
After all she was her best friend I added.
Belo
w the two warriors were a ghostly silver lioness and a sleek black snake. They were fighting each other both trying to assist the other warrior but the other animal stopped them. On the right side of the battlefield were three women their faces were shrouded in the shadows of their dark clothes. One was holding a pair of scissors, the other some string. The snake looked at the women in horror {well at least that what is if snakes could show an expression} and the black warrior followed the snake’s gaze at the women but they were invisible to him. While the black warrior was distracted the lion headed warrior stabbed the black warrior with a loud crack it pierced the black warrior’s armor. He fell to his knees and as the white warrior removed the sword there was a loud shrill scream and then out from the sky came a woman. She had black hair, her dress was black. She had a dark veil but her piercing blue eyes could be seen. I thought she was Atropos but I saw no anger or hatred in her eyes, only pity. They were locked on the snake and lioness.