Heart of Netis

Chapter XIII: Netis

Netis' mind was not processing what was happening. She saw Lord Nereus vaporise upon touching his staff; Ectilea appearing on the scene, laughing like a maniac; and Dhase murdered. She never knew Dhase well, and in the brief time she had known him, he had been unpleasant, so she didn't understand Arriway's grief.

She was pulled back into focus with a pounding on her heart as Arriway charged, his sword drawn, straight at Ectilea.

"Arri!" she screeched. She flung out her hand, throwing the two guards that rushed to intercept him, to the wall. The eternal friendship bond was strengthening her. She strung her bow and nocked an arrow, muttering a stupefying spell on the arrowheads. She shot them at every guard, knocking them out, until it was only her and Arriway and Ectilea. Arriway and Ectilea clashed, blade on blade, in a fierce battle. Netis tried to reach Arri, but Ectilea had put up another maegial barrier around them.

Netis could see Arriway arguing with Ectilea, but she couldn't hear what they were saying.

Arriway spun to slice at Ectilea's side, dangerously exposing his back. Ectilea cackled and swung her blade, gleaming wickedly, in a wide arc, up his back.

"ARRI!" Netis screamed herself hoarse. She pressed her hand to her eternal friendship rune and willed him to move.

Arriway moved, but too late. The broadsword sheared both his right tentacle-wings from his back. The sound that issued from his mouth was fiercer than pure agony. His back arched, and he collapsed to the ground, blood gushing from the wound.

The pain Netis felt in her back and in her heart was worse, more intense than any pain she had ever felt. She almost blacked out, but pictured Arriway's face, smiling, when he had drawn the rune on her in the moonlight. All the happy images she had of him stoked the fire of the rune bond that was beginning to fade. If Netis did not vanquish Ectilea, and be at Arriway's side to stem the bleeding, he'd die, and maybe she would, too.

She used the agony and the fury inside her to unleash a blast at the maegial barrier, so powerful that the barrier shattered, and the ceiling of the throne room began to collapse. Her rage set her alight even underwater, and she flung herself, burning, at Ectilea.

"You cannot hope to win. I have mastered fear and death. I am unstoppable." gloated Ectilea.

"Netis...be...careful..." Arriway whispered weakly.

"The only thing stronger than fear is hope. And the only thing stronger than death is love. Arri, we have to have hope. And we have to love, with all of our scarred mortal hearts." Netis shot back defiantly. "You, the great Prophetess, are dangerous. You must be eradicated."

Ectilea snarled and pounced.

But she never reached her target.

Arriway grasped Netis' ankle, letting his maegia flow into her; he doubled her strength, her courage. Fire raged and water surged. Netis cursed the blade of an unconscious guard, and hurled it at Ectilea.

It pierced her chest and she exploded into a million shards.

When she was sure Ectilea was gone, Netis dashed to Arriway's side.

"You cannot fix my wings. You can stop the bleeding, but I will never fly again." Arriway managed, before fainting.