Through the Fairy Ring

Chapter Forty-One

Edlark yelled to the Fairies to evacuate the civilians, and I stomped my way toward the treacherous woman, holding my skirt up above my knees so I could move more freely. The four warriors who remained by her side eyed me. Two stepped protectively in front of her. At this point, it would take a whole lot more than that to keep her safe from me.

A disorienting anxiety waved over me, and my steps faltered. The impression of a sword swinging at my head made me flinch, even though no one near me was armed. I glanced back at Edlark and Arden, both of whom were armed with swords and fought, back to back, against three of the blue warriors.

What the heck?

Terlach buzzed around me and wrenched my attention back to matters at hand.

I'd had enough of him, too.

Without looking, I switched the direction of the air current he was flying in, which suspended him in the air in front of me. I transferred some of the heat energy into a miniature explosion between us. The air popped, and a bang of light engulfed him, singeing the edges of his clothes, hair, and eyebrows. Burned and disoriented, he fluttered to the ground.

I stepped around him, pulled in the sun's heat to replace that which I'd expended, and continued on my way.

I'd crossed two-thirds of the meadow when something hit me from behind, knocking me down. A random thought about the grass stains zoomed through my head.

I rolled onto my back. Breeju, the hairy beast version, jumped on top of me, forefeet on either side of my head, hind legs on each side of my hips. She growled a menacing threat inches from my face, her hot breath flowing over my cheeks.

"Not a good look for you." I clamped her muzzle shut with both hands. She threw her head back and shook me side to side like a rag doll. My hands slipped, and she sunk her teeth into my left forearm. I screamed. A burning ache invaded the bone at the bite and radiated up the length of my arm.

The sounds around me faded. Darkness crowded my vision as I struggled to keep from passing out. I watched with detached interest, like I was sitting in the front row at a movie theatre, as Breeju let go of my arm and licked my blood from her lips. I didn't even react when bloody drool spattered over my face.

I had to get it together. Focus. I needed more power to deal with Breeju.

Grandma Alys had cautioned me over the dangers of drawing on the earth for magic, but I didn't see any other way. I'd only take a little.

I turned my attention to the ground beneath me. The steady and unmoving patience of the rocks within the mantle of the earth seeped through me. A sudden knowing awareness settled my mind as the strength of passing time infused my body. I shoved Breeju off with my good hand, and she sailed several feet through the air before dropping hard to the ground.

I kept my eyes on Breeju while I rolled onto my stomach and pushed myself up to my knees. I moved in super-slow motion, like I was stuck in a tar pit.

Breeju shook herself and then stalked toward me.

Now I wished I'd heeded Grandma Alys's warning. It had to be the Earthforce magic that slowed me. Apparently turtle like slowness came along with great strength. I was a sitting—well, kneeling—duck to Breeju's next attack. I covered my head with my arms and tucked my chin down to protect my neck as she leapt at me. Her weight smashed into my right side, I toppled over into the grass, and she was on me again.

I kept my head down, and mentally shoved the earth energy back into the soil. I had to get rid of it—fast—or I was going to die.

Out of the corner of my eye I caught sight of a fireball streaking across the meadow floor, flames lighting the dead grasses in its wake. Suddenly Breeju's weight was off me. A tortured howl split the air.