Destroyers and the Dragons

Page 15

Instead she lunges around me and hits his elbow bashing it in and causing him to bleed.

     "What part of too your room, do you not get?" I shout, as we begin a strange dance. I block, she slashes, he counters, I block she slashes. I wouldn't mind except I am not wearing armor and my thigh is starting to hurt something fierce. Evergreen finally comes to our aid and we manage to separate from the assault.

     "I thought I told you to get her to her room," he shouts.

     "I've been trying, but she seems more willing to fight," I say, as he pushes us up the stairs.

     "I'd rather fight," Mistress echoes.

     "I need you to be safe for us to win!" he yells.

     "I will fight, brother," she says.

    "I say you two argue after this," I say, blocking another blow from some other upstart supporter. I deliver a killing blow and pull my blade free as we turn our attention to more pressing matters. I find myself trading blows again with the upstart. I feel myself weakening from blood loss, but I continue to fight. I take another wound along my forearm. I feel a sting in one cheek, still, I continue to fight. I will die fighting if I must for I have given my word and it will be kept. I fall unable to stay upright and Mistress pulls me to safety and bars the doors to her rooms. She begins to work on my wounds as the night becomes day. The door shatters inward as my sight leaves me. I see the upstart surge through the door. I wake to her screams and try to get to my feet, but I seem to be made of lead and cannot move. My last vision is of Evergreen's blade poking through the upstarts chest, then the world turns black. I wake with a start and simultaneously reach for a sword and try to sit up.

     "Peace friend," Mistress says, gently restraining me. "Your wounds are great, your light is very weak still."

     "What light?" I muttered, trying to get my brain to work.

     "Your light is dark, to begin with, but it almost went out the night of the liberation," she says.

     "I'm still not understanding you, I think I must have hit my head," I say, trying to reach up and check for signs of a concussion.

     "Your head is fine, she is speaking healer," Evergreen says, from behind her. He seems to be smirking at me again. "Allow me to translate. My sister simply is saying your spirit almost left us, but due to her great healing skills you still live."

     "So you will no longer inhabit our plains?"

     "Some slipped our grasp, but your people may hunt and kill them as they need," he says.

     "Good then I will be on my way, I must bring the news to my uncle," I say, trying again to sit up.

     "You will stay and rest," Mistress says, gently restraining me. "I can see why she has defied odds, she is too stubborn to die." Evergreen laughs and then pats my hand gently.

     "Do as she says, we have sent another with the news," Evergreen says.

     "Who?" I ask.

     "Well one, I thought about our servants and as the rightful king I have let those who no longer wanted to stay, free, I sent several of them down under the white flag to your uncles camp.