The Guardians of Time

Chapter Thirteen: Taken

Ayden looked back at his horrified wife and then remembered his mother who was lying at the edge of the castle unconscious. He wasn't sure what to do. The day had suddenly taken a terrifying turn and between his son, his mother and his people, the confusion would allow him to do nothing but stare. For a moment he left the planet. Jakoba quickly rushed to his side and shook him lightly.

"Your Majesty! Go after your son. I will take care of your mother and Kathryn can address your people if needed. You cannot let Stenos get his hands-on Skylar." The little man looked into Ayden's eyes with a sense of desperation.

The king blinked and pulled himself back to solid ground. There was so much screaming and chaos around him that it was hard to make out everything going on. Skylar had been kidnapped. Alvera and many of his people had been murdered, and his mother was probably dead.

From deep within him a fire ignited, one he was becoming more familiar with. He had felt it at its strongest during his fight with Jos. Now, it was more powerful. He was reaching into is magic and pulling from its source harder than ever before. He was in fear for his mother and for Kathryn. He could also feel the sheer terror that was coming from Skylar. The man hadn't gone too far. He could call up the orb and chase the man down, but it would be too bulky.

What do I do? He thought to himself wondering if...

Suddenly, he rose from the ground. Kathryn and Jakoba both stared at him from 20 feet below. He looked at her in astonishment, his gaze being matched by hers before she simply shrugged her shoulders. Then there was a presence in his mind, fear and hatred. It was Skylar reaching out to him. He turned in the direction that the man had sped off and like a bullet, he shot away from the castle.

The wind whipped around him and the lose parts of his tunic pulsated in the crosswinds that he pummeled through. After a few seconds he saw a small figure come into view in front of him and he pushed harder. As Ayden closed in, he could see the evil man turn and look at him. With panic in his eyes, the assassin released several little balls of red magic.

Ayden turned and circled in the air, avoiding all but one of the attacks. He screamed out as pain exploded from his right thigh and he was suddenly in a free fall, the agony all he could think about as he plummeted toward the surface of the planet. His senses were in a state of chaos and he could feel his eyes flutter as the threat of unconsciousness took hold.

Ayden! A booming voice registered in his head. It took him a second to recognize it as his father. Ayden snap out of this! He's getting away with Skylar.

He blinked his eyes a couple of times and swallowed hard to push the nausea down. He had to pull himself back to reality. He wasn't sure how close he was to the surface, but he knew if he hit, he wouldn't be walking away. Carefully, he used his good leg to turn himself. Squinting against the onslaught of wind, he could see the surface below. He had time, but not much. He saw the man flying off with Skylar and it was all he needed. Almost immediately his free fall stopped and he shot off again, chasing his son.

He had gone from angry to volatile. The orb of his staff was blazing sapphire and he knew that a shock wave of magic from it would burn the man to ash. But he was cautious. The man still held onto Skylar tightly as he approached. Then, there was a tickle at the back of his head.

Ayden, have you found them? Kathryn's voice was full of worry.

He had heard his father's voice, but was unaware that living Warriors could communicate telepathically and her sudden voice in his head caught him off guard. He supposed he just needed to think his words to get back to her.

I'm following them, but I can't use magic without hitting Skylar.

If I can get Skylar to let go, can you catch him before he hits the surface? She asked.