Valin (Book 3 of the White Lily Trilogy)- first draft

Chapter 22- Didn't see that coming

Re-uploading this as for some reason this has vanished from my wattpad

They all piled into the room, desperate to flee the oncoming storm that brewed on their trail, but they came to a sliding halt after no less than a dozen steps. They almost crashed into each other from the sudden stops as they slid along the polished stone floor.

"Hazuth." Dakelo whispered. At any other time he would have taken more than a split second to marvel at the wonders of this grand room, far more decorative than anything he had seen before. But right now, his attention was diverted. There was company in the room, staring straight at them, with their arms folded firmly across their chest..

"Do you think I would not put spells on that room to tell me if she was taken out?" A man in thick robes spoke. His voice sounding like it belonged to someone older. His dark robes spilled down and folded like dark waters on the pale stone. They were very impractical for fighting with, and judging by how perfect they were without scuff marks, the man hadn't done much fighting himself.

Judging from his impressive dress code and venomous tone of voice, he guessed the demanding person was Yalothiz himself. What made it all the more certain, were the fact that Valin was standing right beside him. It took him a whole minute to realise that the figure was indeed Valin. His silver hair was now black entirely, as were both eyes. He almost matched Dakelo in body structure too. While Valin had always been the stronger, he kept a relatively lean body, but he now looked as if someone had him lifting weights for months on end. It didn't suit his appearance at all, almost seeming unnatural for him.

He stood there, silent like the perfect solider, or an obedient slave, but his face expressed that he was uncomfortable; Dakelo guessed that it was both physically and mentally. Who knows just what Valin had gone through to turn out like that?

The man he assumed was Yalothiz was younger than he imagined especially if he was the head magician. He imagined someone old, with a huge beard and a face sandpapered with age and more winkled than the folds of a dress, a bit like the previous Head he'd come across. But this one looked barely ten years older than himself, his hair currently slicked back and his face smoother than a polished stone. But the smugness plastered on his face like a grinning fool, and the coldness of his eyes did fit one of an older calibre.

"Yalothiz, I assume." Dakelo spat.

"Oh, you've heard of my name." He chuckled, one eyebrow rose up high enough to crinkle his brow.

"Yes, and now I'll sever your head from that body of yours." Fire Tongue bellowed and suddenly charged forwards, his huge sword withdrawn.

"Fire Tongue, wait!" Dakelo ordered, knowing such action against a magician was folly, but Fire Tongue was already upon the man. He swung his blade over his head, which could cleave a human in two, but it didn't reach its target. With just a few strange words Fire Tongue seemed to freeze mid-swing, his body shaking, his face going red with the trying to continue his assault forward. All of a sudden a blast knocked him flying backwards, as if he was struck hard in the stomach. He crashed onto his back and rolled, which caused him let go of his blade. Dakelo winced at the clash of the metal armour against the floor as he approached. Grey Paw knelt and managed to stop his rolling before he collided into their legs

"Pathetic." Yalothiz laughed. Fire Tongue staggered back onto his feet, clutching at his stomach. His head shook as he tried to clear the dizziness. "Now that the little uncouth temper tantrum is over"- he held out his hand- "Hand her back over." Dakelo gripped onto Isi tighter, keeping her under the cloth.