Cinderella vs. Happily Ever After

Chapter 48

           She stared at him for a moment, trying to see from a distance if he was injured. His movements were slower than she would have liked but after shaking himself, he was able to join her without any problems that she could see. “You take unnecessary risks,” she told him, circling him to see if close-up there were any visible injuries.

            He snorted. “No, I’m enjoying the hunt. You’ve scented him too.”

            Rish sighed but flicked her tongue in agreement. “It would seem that in repaying our debt we will be able to pay the other debt.”

            Faal’s jaw gaped wide, revealing all of his sharp, sharp teeth. “I did say that overtly paying our debt to her would be a good idea.”

            She blew a tiny puff of smoke at him. “Don’t be smug. She has been quite careful about us, making certain we are alright and worrying about our safety. Maybe if she survives we may visit her again. She is interesting.”

            Faal head flaps spread out as his eyes glittered. Rish blasted air at him with her wings. “You always were far too interested in humans.”

            “They’re fun. They run around so quickly, playing out their short lives. It’s amusing to watch. And-Look! One of them has gotten brave enough to search for his comrades,” he said, eyes sighting on the tiny figure hugging the wall as it moved.

            Her chuckle was dark and smoky. “We should reward his bravery.”

            “After you sister. I got to shred the last two so it is only fair that you get this one,” he told her, giving her the dragon bow, his wings cupped and moving down and back as he stretch out his neck.

            Her response was the folding of her wings and a roar erupting from her throat. He waited above, wheeling around and keeping an eye out for more purple uniforms. Each scream, each burning corpse and each splurt of blood helped appease the dark flames roiling his belly. Flames that had been burning since he saw the ruin that had been all that was left of his children. If it hadn’t been for the red woman, he and Rish would have been ravaging the countryside as revenge.

            In the grand entrance hall, surrounded by people running and calling out to each other, Eneric rubbed the end of his nose. The reports were full of death. Too many of his men had already fallen to traps and surprise attacks by the enemy. Still, they were doing better than he would have expected under the circumstances. New recruits taking back fortified positions from seasoned enemy troops was something unheard of. He only hoped they could keep it up.

            “Captain! Captain!”

            He turned to glance at the short brunet runner waving at him. “What is it?”

            “Sargent Cavayne’s squad’s found the king’s council. They’ve all been frozen and one of them’s dead!”

            Eneric jerked his head up to look at the boy properly. “Any sign of their majesties?”

            The runner shook his head. “The Sargent said he and his men would keep looking. Do you have any additional orders?”

            “Tell him that if he sees the wizard, have him take a look. I’ll send him along myself if I come across him.”

            Watching the boy race, off Eneric said a little prayer, hoping the others were having better luck.

            Down several halls and through multiple rooms, Enax leaned against one pink stone wall, panting. Kafin, who was standing in front of him, keeping a sharp eye out for any kind of movement, whispered, “Are you alright, sir? You’ve been awfully pale since that squad of them tried to pincer us.”

            “I just need rest. I hadn’t thought using magic in battle would be so exhausting. I am less tired after mage duels and those require rapid transformations of your body,” he replied, wiping sweat off his forehead.

            Kafin glanced back at him, not liking the sound of the wizard’s voice. He looked greyer than before, his face still beaded with sweat in places and his eyes looking slightly sunken. “Maybe we should call-”

            Enax cut him off. “No. We don’t have the time and if we leave, there will be nowhere keeping the path open for them. I will not see them die. Especially not my Mi. We stay and defend.”

            “If anything happens to you I believe Lady Ruby will have my head,” he said turning his eyes back to the two doors in the room.

            His chuckle was tired but it was held real amusement. “She would not be so petty as that. Now, how much longer do you believe we will be here?”

            Farther ahead, Konah roared as he decapitated the last of the knights, splattering Amorrt’s prone form with blood. He knelt immediately after, pulling the shorter man to him and hugging him tight. “Please, do not be so reckless.”

            He shook his head. “They would have had your back. Sir Dalyr…they were there as soon as he fell. I could not allow them to-”

            Amorrt was cut off by the hard kiss Konah pressed on him, crushing him in his embrace. He kissed him back, both of them taking quick comfort in each other’s presence. Then they broke apart and stood, again warriors. Amorrt gently pulled the body of Sir Dalyr, his chest still wet with blood from the sword thrust that had killed him, to one side. Then he returned to Konah’s side.

            They took up position on either side of the door, looking like blood-splattered statues. Except, every so often. They would reach out to touch each other’s hands, as if to reassure themselves that their partner was still alive.