The Night's Curse #3 (Waverly Stump and The 7 Realms)

Chapter 6

Leaves slapped Waverly in the face as she followed the group. They had begun to chant a funny warsong that she could not clearly make out because her heart still hammered loudly in her ears. The forest seemed familiar, like a place she had once been in, but from so long ago.

She kept close to Phyllis, trying hard to recall if she had seen the forest before.

Soon, she began to spot purple things in a wide clearing up ahead. At first, she mistook them for birds – peacocks, perhaps – as they were tall and slightly golden. They drew nearer, and she saw that the purple things were soldiers. They were surrounded by a different group of Elves in red and black. The Tyros.

Waverly quickly spotted Grace, whose thick build made her stand out amongst her comrades. Right next to her was Ceylon, and behind him, Regent. Havilah was nowhere to be seen in the crowd. From her position far behind, she could barely hear whatever was going on up front. Rumor was that an attack was taking place, but the atmosphere seemed quite peaceful, and there was no sign of the enemy.

Then, Phyllis grabbed her arm and gave a mild frightened gasp.

"Ogres."

"What?" Waverly asked, half disoriented.

Phyllis pointed up. A huge shadow had been looming where Waverly walked, but she failed to take any notice of it, dismissing it as a tree, but when she looked up, she saw the creature. It was level with the tree trunks; ugly, fat, and heavily armed. Its stomach was protruding under an old velvet dress.

Waverly felt a sharp pain slice through her forehead. She winced and looked around, then her eyes fell on the most familiar thing yet. An Elf – lithe and regal with numerous badges across his purple uniform, a glowing sword in his hand, and a shield in another. He looked to be speaking, and behind him was a century of men in purple.

Waverly pushed to the front despite protests from her comrades to stay put. From the front lines, she finally saw them – an entire army of Vulturo, Ogres and She-Ogres, Hags, Quagmires, Serkets, Tree Men, Cruels, Stigmas, She-Monsters, and Rocs.

Waverly's heartbeat quickened. She panted softly, watching them. She remembered now. She remembered why everything was so familiar – her sixth Trial, under the wooden table.

She waited, searching for a missing puzzle.

He will come soon. She thought.

The ground suddenly vibrated, and Waverly's gaze snapped to the source – an ogre had advanced and fallen back, repelled by something invisible that seemed to stand in between the Elves and the dark army. An uproar began, so deafening that she had to close her ears.

A few other creatures attacked the invisible border and were repelled. Then, they began to part in the middle, and there he was. Waverly's sword dropped, and she took an unintentional step forward.

"Stand back, soldier." An Elf ordered from atop his horse.

"He is going to break it." She mumbled, trembling slightly. The Elf frowned at her.

Panic filled her, her breath rose in her chest as she repeated. "He is going to break it."

She darted back to the Tyros on foot and yelled. "Shields up!"

Miraculously, every single person complied, and then, it happened. She heard the delicate shattering of the border, like a sea of glass crashing to the ground. Judson had broken it with only a touch.

"Taro eso!" The Cen yelled.

Arrows flew forward and struck Judson in his wings. He shielded himself with it then, re-released the arrows. They flew back, whizzing unnaturally. Each one found a target, and half the Elves in purple fell like logs.