The Goblin's Heir

Chapter Fifty Six: Evacuation

The dawn that morning didn't bring any feeling of relief from the dangers of the night. The glow of the new sun through the haze of the smoke-thick air cast a haunting red color over everything in sight, truly making the stakes at hand that much more real. The world was dying and we, a handful of mortal creatures, were fighting against the End, thrashing in our death throws.

Women and children sobbed with fear and early grief, hugging, and kissing loved ones as they separated. Those that could fight would go to the outer rings of the mass of humans, while the weaker ones were kept to the center around the three carts laden with the sick and wounded...Magni among them.

It was there within the inner circle that Cat posted Ib and me. Though it might appear that we were there to help protect the doctor and his charges, my true purpose was to protect Magni from the masses of goblins that would soon swarm him, intent on stealing the seed he carried. 

The doctor guarded the first of the three carts and Cerise guarded the third while Magni and Ari took up the one in the very middle. I found myself sticking closer to the doctor's cart, despite Cat's orders. I couldn't see Magni as well from his side. 

"Shouldn't we be on Cerise's side?" Ib asked in whispered goblin. "We don't have a clear view of Magni from here." He missed nothing, damn him.

"He has Ari to protect him as well as his own magic. Besides, if he dies, we can destroy the seed ourselves. We don't need him. Not really."

"If the goblins get it, we won't be able to do anything," Ib said. 

"Cerise is stronger than me now. He's got her, Ari, and Frit between him and the horde. He'll be fine. If you're that concerned about him, then go. Someone has to help Floki guard the western flank." 

"I'm not here to guard Magni. Cat wanted me to guard you." 

"Me?" I scoffed.

"You have the tendency to get horrifically injured." He said, trying his best to keep from flashing his usual teasing grin. "Alright, Matilda, if this is where you prefer to be, then we'll stay here with the doctor." I didn't care for the way he said that. 

Frit hugged little Neasa, picking her up off the ground a little bit. She was standing on her toes, her tiny fingers biting into the leather of his armor at his back. As she drew back, he pecked a kiss on her cheek. "Be careful, Dovey." He said.

She ducked her head, blushing across her cheeks and up into her ears. "You too." 

"Gag," Odd groaned. "Please just hurry up and have sex already I can't take all this sexual tension." He spun to the side, dodging Frit's swinging fist, and fled, cackling as he strode to the front of our formation. 

"Sorry, my little brother's an asshole." Frit huffed, shaking his head.

"I'm used to him." She laughed, taking his hands in her own. It seemed that Floki and Cerise were not the only ones who had made strides towards discovering their feelings towards each other. They smiled at each other, their cheeks all warm and rosy. It made a twinge of envy pinch my insides as I longed for something I'd never have again.

"Neasa, lead the way!" Cat called from the front. The very idea of a battle was almost relieving.

Light bloomed over the courtyard, chilling every inch of exposed skin, as Neasa's mangled wings lifted and spread her grey feathers as wide as they possibly could. She ground her teeth, her body trembling with pain. Power radiated off of her, building in writhing cold flames around her form, changing her, molding her into a beast born for flight. With a sharp cry, she beat her magic-formed wings, lifting herself up off the ground. Her fingers slipped from Frit's and she took to the air, soaring up into the sky above us to light our path.