The Exiled Princess (sequel to Esther)

Chapter 23

We arrive in Cordialis amidst the battle. Everyone looks at us as we land. Then we charge. The fighting begins again. Amia and I are alone in the middle of all the dragons. "Where are they?" Amia keeps asking looking around frantically. The dragons have made a circle around us. We don't really need to fight. We will the winds to lift us up so we can search for our friends. "I don't see them." I say quietly. "There!" Amia points. I look and see Isis, Jenia and Sophia forming a little triangle as they fight back to back. "Where are the boys?" I ask. We look around but we can't find them. We settle back on the ground. "We'll find them." Amia says confidently. I think she's assuring herself more than me.

The battle takes hours. I pierce my arrows through many soldiers and slice my boomerang through many men. I also turn invisible and run through the town while stabbing and slicing men. "You're not very sweet and kind for a princess." A guy says. I turn around. He smiles at me. "Allow me to introduce myself." He says. "I am General Veishak. New leader of Awry's army and followers." He continues, bowing.

My hands are now on my hips. "This is no time for sweeties." I say grabbing my shape shifter weapon. "If that's the way you want it." He says shrugging as if he's dealing with a child. He takes out his sword. My weapon shifts into a sword as I command it. We parry and thrust. I slice and he blocks. He's good with a sword. I'm not. My weapon changes into a double headed spear. I stab at his leg and he cried out in pain dropping his sword.

He looks at me. "Well?" He asks. "Well, what?" I ask throwing his sword in front of him. "Aren't you gonna kill me?" He asks. I think about it. It seems to bloody. Maybe I am a bit too naive on the battlefield. I yank my spear out of his leg and see that I pierces a hole right through the skin.

"How do you wanna be killed?" I ask pretending to sharpen my spear. "I don't." He says raising his sword. I duck and roll. I aim my boomerang at him and he laughs. "Whatcha gonna do? Swing a boomerang at me?" He taunts laughing. I swing it and it slices his stomach. He gurgles then topples over. "You can't finish me that quick." He says trying to stand. I just stare at him.

"It would be so much easier to surrender, you know. No death, just peace." I say. He shakes his head. "Awry believed we would have victory. And I will guarantee it." He says proudly taking a bottle out from his torn jacket. He drinks it. His eyes become bloodshot red and his teeth yellow. I start backing up. This can't be good.

Esther. I see a little bird perched on the roof. Amia? I ask. She nods. What should I do? I ask her. What do you wanna do? She replies. Can I finish this battle. This war? I ask her with tired eyes. It'll be dangerous. The risk is great. She replies. It's okay. I say. She nods.

I close my eyes and think. When I open them again, Amia is gone and the general has some pipe in his hands. The drink must have made him stronger. He's like hulk now. Bigger. He yells and brings the pipe down. I roll aside just in time.

I run towards the remains of the fortress. I stop when I reach it. I turn around and see him running towards me. I think of plants wrapping around him. Trees as tall as pines covering his face. Water enveloping him and fire burning him. He stares at me and takes deep breaths. He's gonna be free soon. I change into a barn owl and soar high. I look at the battle raging below me. I see the general and some other lieutenants, I guess struggling against plants and other elements started by Amia, and my other friends.

I listen to the sounds of battle. I hear the yells and screams that cry out in pain. I hear the heart beats of all soldiers. I hear mine.

I look around for him. I see Andrew and our eyes meet for a brief second before he stabs the soldier he was fighting.

I screech and my powers liberate from my body. All of our enemies are now dead. We won. I gave all my powers for that sake. And I'm weak. Now, I'n stronger. And I slip away.