Oriana’s turquoise eyes swept over the group. “We must leave immediately.”
“How far is it to the Hunchback Hills?” Anna asked.
“Not more than a half-day, depending how fast we go,” Thaddeus replied.
“Does anyone have faster transportation?” Henry asked. “Like maybe horses? That would cut our time and save our legs.”
“No,” Oriana answered. “But if we head through the north side of the forest, I have friends who might be able to help.”
“What’s on the north side of the forest?” Anna questioned.
“The Centaurs,” Thaddeus replied.
“Centaurs?” Anna smiled, remembering her mother’s stories of the creatures. “Half-man, half-horse, right?”
He nodded and gave her a grin. “Right. But that’s if they’re still there.”
“I have a feeling the Centaurs will hold their ground,” Oriana spoke. “They are stubborn and exceptional warriors. They will not give up their home easily.”
“I don’t know how I feel about riding on a man-horse,” Henry said, his gaze finding Anna. “Can I ride on the Unicorn?”
Anna glared at him. “No way. Zohar is with me. Besides, you don’t understand him.”
“Or, you can walk.” Thaddeus raised his brow at Henry.
Henry paused and frowned. “Fine. I guess riding a Centaur won’t be too bad.”
“We must leave, now,” Oriana urged. “If the Centaurs have left, we will need to travel swiftly.”
Anna climbed onto Zohar’s back and Ashlyn flew up to her, taking her usual spot on her shoulder. They all followed as Oriana led them into the woods.
“Rhyder?” Will called quietly into the trees after noticing he was gone. He listened intently, but the area was silent. Readying his bow and an arrow, he held them tight, his heart thrumming loudly. “Rhyder,” he called again.
“Shhh.” Rhyder was standing right behind him with a finger pressed against his lips.
Will inhaled sharply. “How did you get there?”
“I was against this tree the entire time.” He patted the trunk behind him.
Will shook his head. “No. I just looked at that tree, and you weren’t there.”
“Oh?” Rhyder took a step backward and as soon as his back touched the tree, he disappeared.
“What?” Will’s eyes went wide with amazement as Rhyder took a step forward and became visible again. “How?”
“I’m a Sorcerer, dear boy, and the art of blending into my surroundings is one of my gifts.”
Will shook his head. “No wonder they haven’t been able to catch you.”
“Yes. And I hope to keep it that way. Unfortunately, other Sorcerers can spot me.”
“Well, I guess that counts me out,” Will said. “I couldn’t see you.”
Rhyder stepped toward Will and placed a hand on his shoulder. “That’s not necessarily true.”
“What do you mean?”
“You have to develop your gifts. They have been dormant since you were born. When you came to Misteria the magic of this place roused them—magic calls to magic. But now, you will need to call your power, awaken it, so you can begin to strengthen it.”
“How do I do that?”
“Sit down,” Rhyder instructed, pointing to a clear spot near the dwindling fire. Will did as he said, sitting cross-legged. “Now, close your eyes and clear your mind.”
Will closed his eyes and sat very still, trying not to think of anything…which was harder than it sounded. There were way too many things on his mind.
“Breathe deeply, and when you’re ready, call to the power within. It doesn’t have to be out loud. You can do it in your mind. Call to it, and tell it to show itself.”
Will listened to his own heartbeat and focused. Focused on his breathing and the crackling of the fire. Then, when he felt completely relaxed, he spoke inside his mind. Power inside, I demand you awaken and come to me.
As soon as he spoke the words, he felt warmth and tingling radiate within his chest. Then, in the darkness behind his closed eyes, he saw a glowing light.
“What do you see?” Rhyder asked.
“A blue ball of light getting brighter and heading toward me,” Will answered, his eyes still closed. “It’s traveling quick. Is that normal?”
“Brace yourself.”
“What?” As soon as the light touched Will, it exploded, sending a shockwave through his entire body. The blast was so intense it lifted him off the ground and threw him back into a tree. Moaning, Will opened his eyes and found he was ten feet from where he’d originally been sitting.
His skin prickled and tingled, but he didn’t feel any pain. “What happened?”
“Good job, my boy.” Rhyder beamed with pride. “You’ve awakened your power. Now comes the hard part.”
“What part is that?”
Rhyder shot him a sly grin. “Learning how to control it.”
Will didn’t care about the new bruises he’d just gained. He was eager to learn and excited he had a Dragon shifter to mentor him.
“The gift of light is one of the most powerful gifts known to Sorcerers. It shouldn’t be difficult to summon, now that it’s awake. You must simply concentrate.” Rhyder took a step toward Will. “Open the palm of your hand and hold it out in front of you.”
Will did as he said.
“Now, search for the power deep within. It’s been waiting for this moment. Don’t be afraid. Embrace it.”
Will could feel a stirring deep inside.
“Call to your power and send it into your palm. Eventually, you will be able to manipulate your power, using it as a shield or a weapon. With practice, you can also use it to protect others.”
“Really?” Will said excitedly, visualizing the bluish ball traveling to his outstretched hand. As he did, the sapphire flame miraculously appeared in his palm. It was mesmerizing and he felt its power, much stronger than it had been at the Crystal Lake. The blue was much deeper too.
“Yes,” Rhyder answered. “Now, I want you to put a protective shield over that.” He pointed to a large boulder twenty paces ahead.
“How?”
“Speak to your magic inside. Command it to do your bidding, and then send it.”
Will focused on the sapphire flame hovering an inch above his palm. He willed for it to cover the boulder, wished it would, so he could prove he was a suitable student for Rhyder. Taking a steadying breath, he zeroed in on his target and then let his flame fly. It sailed to the stone and in seconds, wrapped around it. But as soon as it did, it exploded, blasting fragments of stone everywhere.
Rhyder raised his cloak, shielding his face, while Will dropped to the ground to avoid any stray projectiles. When the dust settled, Will sat up, coughing. There was a large crater in the ground where the boulder once sat.
“I think I just killed the rock.” Will sighed, a bit discouraged.
“Luckily, it was only a rock,” Rhyder said, raising his brow. “That is why you must practice.”
Will sighed, feeling a little discouraged. “I’ve got the exploding part down. The protection part clearly needs work.”
“It takes time. You’ll need to keep practicing on our way to the ruins. The more you use it, the stronger and more connected it will become.”
A black shadow passed overhead, followed by a thundering roar.
“What is that?” Will asked, stepping closer to Rhyder.
“A winged Lion. It’s rare for them to be seen in this part of Misteria. They live high on the ridges of Mount Leo.”
“Are they evil?”
“No, but they have violent and sometimes unmanageable tempers. They must be heading toward the ruins, and we should be too,” Rhyder advised.
“How far are the ruins?” Will asked.
“A few miles, but with evil creatures lurking all around Misteria, we must be careful.”
“I’m ready.” Will threw his satchel, bow, and arrows over his shoulder. With Rhyder, he at lea
st felt safe. “What about practicing?”
“You’ll practice along the way. Call your flame. The more you call upon it, the easier it will come. There are only two days before the alignment. We must be prepared.”
After traveling toward the north end of the forest, Oriana stopped and held up her hand.
“What’s wrong?” Henry whispered, pausing beside Anna.
“Shhh—” Tobin lifted a stout finger to his lips while Zohar stomped his front feet.
“Anna, maybe you should get off for now. I don’t want you to fall, in case I have to act quickly.”
Anna slid off his back and stood in between Henry and Thaddeus. There was rustling all around them.
“What do we do if it’s one of those Howlers?” Henry asked, stepping behind Tobin.
Anna glared at him. “What are you doing?”
“Trying to stay alive,” he answered plainly.
Anna sighed and stood her ground, taking hold of the small dagger Lavinia had given her, while Tobin and Henry followed suit. Trees creaked and branches cracked around them.
“Show yourself,” Oriana called into the dark forest.
“Who calls?” a gruff voice answered.
“Oriana, a friend of the Centaurs,” she replied, standing tall, her face showing no fear. It was evident she knew who she was talking to.
A man stepped out from the cover of trees. He was over eight feet tall, with long black hair and a burly beard. Muscles rippled across his arms, chest, and down his abs. As he stepped out further, both Henry and Anna gasped. His top half was that of a man, but his bottom half was that of a horse.
“Rupe,” Oriana said, greeting him with a smile.
“Oriana.” He bowed at the waist. “What brings you to our part of the woods?”
Henry turned back to Thaddeus with a snicker. “Rupe?”
The very large Centaur turned his attention to Henry. “My name is Rupertus, but I prefer Rupe.”
Henry swallowed hard and faced him. “Rupe is cool. It’s very . . . original.”
Rupe smirked. “Thus, the reason I’ve chosen it.” His eye ran over the group and stilled on the Unicorn. “Zohar,” he bowed. “It’s good to see you, brother. What brings you to our forest?”
Zohar bowed his head, and Rupe continued.
“It’s unusual to see you outside of the Mystic Forest. We are blessed by your presence in our part of the woods. We are safe here for now. The darkness has yet to enter these parts, but when the time comes, we will fight to protect what is ours.”
“So, you will join us?” Oriana asked. “We are gathering those willing to fight and heading to the ruins.”
“Most of Misteria is not yet ready to fight,” Rupe replied. “They are weak and afraid. The dark warrior has stripped them of whatever hope they had left.”
Oriana straightened, knowing he spoke some truth. “They will fight for Misteria. It is our hope, our future, our land.”
“But with each passing day we are becoming more and more outnumbered,” Rupe said, stepping further from the trees.
“Let me introduce you.” Oriana deftly switched topics, turning her attention to Anna. “This is Talia’s daughter. She and her twin brother have come to Misteria to save their mother.”
Rupe’s eyes froze on Anna. “Are they?”
“They are,” she cut in. “The two from the prophecy, and the Seer has confirmed it. They are our hope.”
“Rupe!” A low voice echoed through the trees. In the distance were rabid growls and barking.
“It’s dem Howlers!” Tobin yelled.
At least a dozen Centaurs stepped from the trees and surrounded the group, all armed with weapons. Some held swords, some spears, and others bows and arrows.
“Howlers!” the man yelled again, joining the group and confirming Tobin’s fear.
The Centaurs stood their ground as the beasts came bounding at them from the woods. Their sharp teeth snapped and eyes burned with hatred. They wanted one thing . . . to kill.
Howlers clashed with Centaurs, and a battle began. Anna screamed as she caught sight of the beasts—hairless dog-like creatures with thick, leathery skin, and razor-sharp teeth and claws. Their crests—from nape to withers—had abnormal spikes growing from them.
Ashlyn took to flight, high up in the trees for safety, while Oriana used her power to put up a barrier of protection around her, Zohar, Tobin, Henry, and Anna. But the beasts were strong. Their constant strikes against the ward of protection were weakening it.
“Rupe, you have to take the child. Protect her at all costs,” Oriana ordered.
Rupe held his hand out to Anna. “Come. I will take you to safety.”
Without hesitation, Anna placed her hand in his, and he threw her on his back. Just as he was about to take off, Henry jumped in front of them.
“Wait! What about me?”
Rupe paused, then offered his hand to Henry, tossing him behind Anna.
“Hold on,” he shouted. “Your lives depend on it.”
Anna leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Rupe’s chest, while Henry held onto Anna’s waist. In a flash, the Centaur took off at a full gallop through the twisted trees, trying to outmaneuver the two Howlers that were chasing them.
“They're gaining on us,” Henry wailed, pushing closer to Anna. Then, Rupe slowed his pace. “Why is he slowing down?”
One of the Howlers pounded toward them, its sharp teeth snapping too close to Henry’s behind. Henry screamed and pushed forward before its teeth snapped shut. Rupe kicked his rear legs, sending the Howler flying backward, crashing into a tree. It yelped and couldn’t get up.
Rupe took off into a full canter as the second Howler closed in. White foam frothed from its snapping jaws, its lips curled back revealing sharp teeth. Anna’s fear grew as the Centaur carried them farther away from the group. With one hand, she dug into her pocket and pulled out the magical vial of dust the Sprite Queen had given her. She popped the top and placed her thumb over the hole.
Rupe continued to zig-zag through trees, leaping over branches and shrubbery with ease. But the Howler was just as agile and right on their heels.
“Hold on!” Rupe urged again.
The children tightened their grips, anticipating some crazy hurdle, but instead, the Centaur slowed down again. Henry clenched his eyes shut, but Anna watched. As the Howler hurled itself directly at them, she raised the vial and flicked the contents toward its face, just as Rupe leaped to the side.
The Howler screamed as the magical dust made contact with its eyes, blinding it. Desperate, and not able to see the steep cliff ahead, the frantic beast stretched its limbs, trying to gain purchase on anything to stop its momentum.
Henry screamed as its claws caught his jeans, ripping the material before it disappeared off the side of the rocky drop.
Rupe stepped near the edge and they all glanced over. The Howler’s lifeless body lay broken on the rocks below. Anna was breathless and could feel Henry’s body trembling behind her.
“Are you all right?” she asked, turning back to him.
“That dog creature scratched me,” he whined, nearly hyperventilating. “Am I poisoned? Am I going to die?”
“You’re not going to die from a Howler scratch,” Rupe stated. “But you could get an infection if it’s an open wound. When we get to the ruins, have a healer look at it.”
“I’m starting to feel a little dizzy,” he moaned.
Anna bent to the side and examined his leg. There was no blood welling. His jeans had saved him with its stronger material. “Henry, those are just minor scratches. There’s no blood flowing and no deep gashes. You’ll be fine.”
Henry looked closer and blew out a long breath of relief. “Well, I guess I should get them cleaned out before they do get infected.”
“Let’s go find the others,” Rupe said. “Hopefully, they’ve taken out the rest of the Howlers.”
On their way toward the ruins, Rhyder made Will call his power—over and
over, calling and extinguishing—at least a hundred times. And each time he did, he felt his power grow, becoming more and more connected to him.
“Be warned,” Rhyder said. “As your power strengthens, be careful how much you exert. Too much can weaken you. And in battle, being weak could lead to death.”
“I don’t feel weak at all,” Will said, closing his fingers over his sapphire flame.
“That’s because it’s still new. It will take a lot to weaken a strong, healthy boy.” Rhyder patted him on the shoulder. “Come, the ruins are close.”
Will ran ahead and froze at the edge of the hill. Built into the side of a rocky mountain sat an old fortress, worn from countless years gone by. Its walls were tall and made of heavily weathered stone. Two towers rose up on either side, overlooking the valleys below. But between them and the ruins, was a very large, swift river.
Across the river, Will watched a group of survivors making their way up the rocky slope toward the ruins. It was the quickest, most direct way. They could have opted to go around the arduous hill, to the gentler, grassy slope, but that way would lead them near a forest. And in the forest, evil things could easily hide.
“Look,” he said to Rhyder, pointing at the group.
“They’re in danger,” Rhyder said, his low voice strained. He stepped next to Will and pointed further down, to the bottom of the mountain, where a small army of at least two dozen Howlers and Goblins were following the unsuspecting group.
“They’ll be slaughtered,” Will said, pacing back and forth.
Rhyder opened his hand and a horn appeared. It was old, made of bone and embellished with gold, and slightly curved with ancient symbols carved all around it. He placed the horn to his lips and blew, sending out a blast so loud, Will had to throw his hands over his ears.
The blast caught the attention of the group heading toward the sanctuary. One of them saw the oncoming threat and alerted the others, and in seconds, they were all running.
From inside the sanctuary walls, two Giants came charging out of the large gate with enormous clubs swinging at their sides. They stomped down the mountain toward the survivors. At the same time, three winged Lions took flight, heading toward the enemy below. Their thunderous roars boomed above.