The Eventide Enchantment

Chapter 6

The warriors poured through the destroyed remains of the portcullis as the enemy rushed forward to meet them.

Skye slid off of the saddle with surprising agility. She had seen the enemy; those twisted, atrocious-looking creatures born of earth and root. For a moment, she was overcome by their hideousness, but she recovered quickly and sought to draw first blood. She didn't have long to wait.

An earthen creature stood before her, a cruel-looking, serrated scimitar in its hand. Its featureless face made Skye's blood run cold. Her heart quailed briefly, but she rallied instantly, raising her sword in a well-timed parry. This match was surprisingly brief; the next moment, Skye had destroyed the monster. The horrid being fell at her feet in a puddle of green blood.

No sooner had Skye achieved her first adrenaline-pumping victory than another enemy was upon her.

The palace courtyard was a mess now. The dryads clashed heavily against the earthen creatures, and Vara crushed them mercilessly underfoot. Quinn was hacking them down effortlessly. Outmatched and outnumbered, the earthen monsters were of little concern.

The problem was Elanna. They had yet to get in to where their greatest adversary awaited.

While Skye was striking hard against two enemies simultaneously, a third creature came up from behind her. She finished off the two before her, but before she could recover her wits, the third struck at her. Fortunately, the blow glanced off the Moonflower Dagger which she had concealed at her back. This good fortune was followed up by Quinn's offensive maneuver which ended the attack by walloping off the head of the monster.

"Are you all right?" Quinn asked Skye breathlessly.

"Yeah. That was a stroke of luck there," Skye replied, struggling for air herself.

"It's time we headed into the palace," Quinn said. "It's now or never. Stay behind me, and remember what I told you: stick to the shadows, you've got to catch Elanna unawares."

Skye bobbed her head in acknowledgement. "Got it."

"Those who can, follow me!" Quinn commanded.

Quinn then turned and headed for the palace gates. Again the dryads assisted in clearing the way for their small army.

The gates crashed down with a thunderous bang. Quinn led his army through.

They were met with further resistance within, but there was still no sign of Elanna.

"She would be in her place of power. The throne room; we must get to the throne room!" Quinn shouted over the din.

Skye was already wearied by the onslaught, but she pushed on behind Quinn as he and a few of the other dryads headed for the throne room.

Quinn burst into through the great doors of the throne room. Skye detached herself from his company and fell in behind the advancing dryads. The success of her attack against Elanna depended entirely on her ability to keep out of sight as much as possible.

Skye darted behind several pillars near the walls that lined the magnificent hall. She kept herself in the obscurity of the shadows, watching as a massive wave of terrifying creatures charged at Quinn and his loyal warriors. From her position she could see the magnificent rose that was Queen Mariel towering above the entire scene at the center of the room.

Another daring look from the marble bend of the pillar Skye stood behind revealed the devilishly haughty form of usurper Elanna.

Elanna sat on the throne--Mariel's throne--watching dispassionately as her soldiers collided with Quinn's.

"Kill them," she commanded imperiously. "Kill them all!"

Skye withdrew her gaze, her heart palpitating wildly. Could she really get close enough to Elanna to make her strike? Elanna wielded great power; if her soldiers couldn't do her bidding, she would simply do it herself. Skye's heart quivered in fear. She was terrified for Quinn. There was a great chance he wouldn't make it. Deep within her, she knew that he didn't expect to. That thought almost shattered her resolve. She held on to her courage with all the strength she had.

The battle din was enough to throw any tenderfoot warrior into raging panic, but Skye felt as if she would keel over at any moment. The throne was situated too close to the last pillar. Unless Elanna was presented with a distraction, Skye would never be able to make her attack. She dared not move any further. She stood, her back pressed against the cold marble, filled with frustration. Her thoughts were scattered by Quinn's voice which suddenly rang out clearly above the clamor.

"Face me, murderess and usurper. Today the throne shall be restored to its rightful owner. Today... you die." All the dormant power in the young prince now revealed itself. His voice was filled with fury as he made this almost faith-based declaration to his adversary.

Elanna responded with a bloodcurdling laugh that made Skye, who stood unnervingly close to her enshrouded by shadows, shudder from head to toe. "Today Mariel's failure is indeed complete. I shall claim absolute victory as I see this floor dyed red with your blood."

Skye risked another glance from behind her shelter to see Elanna draw a dark green sword and advance dangerously toward Quinn. Their blades met with a deafening clash. Sparks flew as they struck at each other furiously.

Elanna laughed again with chilling triumph. "Do you think your pitiful steel toy can defeat me, child? How naïve you are!" She raised her left hand. From it emitted a brilliant flash of black-green light. The magical force hit Quinn dead on and catapulted him backward.

At that moment, Skye lost her head and emerged from her hiding place, the dagger clenched tightly in her fist. She made a mad lunge at Elanna, but she turned deftly and blasted the same dark energy at Skye.

Skye hurled through the air and hit the very pillar she had been taking refuge behind with heart-stopping force. She let out a cry of agony as her back slammed into the hard marble. The dagger clattered to the floor and Skye slid down in a dazed, crumpled heap.

Elanna turned to Skye. "You insignificant little fool! I am Elanna: Dryad Queen. Your feeble, tepid attempts cannot topple me."

Skye went deathly white. The pain that shot throughout her body paralyzed her. Her head swam, and everything was completely out of focus.

"No!" cried Quinn, straining to rise from the floor and hastily batting away the incoming attack of an enemy. He charged toward Elanna.

Elanna no longer deemed Skye, who was mute and motionless, a threat to her. She turned to face Quinn with a fierce look of glee. She raised her glowing weapon. The sight of this youth was amusing to her; she would play with him before dealing the final blow.

Again their blades clashed and scintillated. All the while the duel lasted, the smug, wicked smile never left Elanna's face. With every stroke that Quinn made, his own strong heart quailed. His eyes never left his opponent, but his thoughts were concentrated on Skye. She was the only hope of victory, but it appeared that his hope--and his love--were lost.