The purple ball of flame erupted from the shaman's hands as SJ attempted to close the gap. She was even closer this time, having hoped to have reached it before it finished casting, but she was a hair's breadth too slow, her claws reaching towards it as the fireball hit her square in the chest.
"NO!" Dave screamed.
The effect was dramatic; she wasn't just thrown onto the ground. Its concussive force picked her off her feet and threw her so violently she flew almost forty feet before she came crashing down near the edge of the forest line, rolling to a stop where she lay face down.
She wasn't just stunned by the impact; she couldn't breathe, her chest felt crushed, and as she had been struck, her display had flashed.
Precognition triggered - cooldown 24 hours.
SJ could feel flames licking over her. While she lay still, her Hit Points were sitting just above zero. The shaman looked at her still form for several moments before she turned away, assuming she was dead.
Her hair was gone, the thin, tattered remains of her dress, no longer visible against the burnt mass that remained.
"SJ, what happened?" Fas's panicked voice came through on the earpiece.
SJ couldn't have responded even if she had wished to; her throat felt raw and burned. She couldn't even roll to put out the flames that she could feel on her.
"SJ, you have to move," Dave said with urgency.
Her thoughts were scrambled every inch of her hurt; she had never felt pain like it. Eventually, she responded.
'I can't.' As she rasped a weak breath. Her lungs felt nonexistent, with almost no capacity.
"You must," Dave cried.
The smell of sulphur filled her nostrils, mixed in with that of a juicy steak. The juicy steak smell was her. SJ lay there wondering if this was what meat felt when cooking on a fire.
A roar cut across the battlefield, where the gnolls and draconians still fought. It was the sound only one being could make. SJ couldn't see from where she lay, her vision not giving her any insight as Dave spoke.
"Oh no. I think Fas is upset," Dave said.
'Fas?'
SJ suddenly felt a breeze, and there was a thumping sound next to where she lay. The breeze was refreshing and chilling. She couldn't feel what happened next as she was grabbed by Fas's massive claw, going weightless, and then all she saw was the ground distancing beneath her as she was lifted into the air.
The flames had gone out from the downdraft as Fas had landed to grab her as he now flew at a ridiculous speed towards where he knew Lythonian was.
"Holy stray nasal hairs from a wizard's nose," Dave spluttered as SJ bobbed along in Fas's grasp.
SJ couldn't see clearly, her vision blocked by the giant finger or toe, perhaps of Fas's dragon claw.
The world flew by as the ground rushed to meet her as Fas went to land.
SJ wasn't sure, but she thought she recognised the voice that spoke, her brain a mess, and flickering in and out of consciousness. The only reason she was still alive was because of Bob's gift of dragon blood. The Precognition skill had saved her life, and now, out of combat, her dragon blood attempted to heal her.
She lay face down on the cold grassy surface of the meadow as she heard chanting from a female voice. A wash of light flickered at the edges of her vision, brilliant and white. The female voice was strange, but she knew it.
SJ unjumbled a thought. 'Is that Aletheia?'
"No, don't you recognise her?"
As the chanting continued, SJ felt her charred remnants reforming; she winced as what she could only imagine were nerves regrowing. Her body was slowly being rebuilt, repaired, reinstated, whatever the correct term should be for bringing an almost charred corpse back to life.
SJ's mind started to clear as her body healed, her chest expanding, her lungs refilling with air.
She had heard crying and wailing, but that had now stopped. The light eventually flickered out.
SJ didn't move; she just lay there stunned.
"Okay, you can stop the act now, get your sorry ass off the ground. Your hair will be back by tomorrow; it always is with fae."
This time, the familiarity of the voice sank home. Carefully expecting to feel pain, SJ moved her arms; there was none, and she cautiously pushed herself off the ground, turning her head.
The grinning face that met her eyes made her weep.
"Petunia!" SJ exclaimed.
"Who else do you think it was? There isn't a healer within three thousand miles who could have healed you as fast as I just did, and after I discovered my boy was in danger, I couldn't ignore the fact."
"But... how? How are you get here? And how can you heal me?"
"As long as I'm not involved in what has happened, I am able to perform healing still. I am a cleric after all."
Dave scoffed. "Clerics and their vows."
SJ stammered, struggling to find her words. She looked at her skin; it was the perfect smooth skin she had always had; there wasn't a blemish on it.
"You may want to cover up, though, until your dress repairs," Petunia chuckled.
SJ realised that she was virtually naked, with only thin strips of her dress remaining. She blushed heavily as she covered herself, as Lorna shouted at some nosy guards who were staring at her appraisingly.
"Get on your mounts, we leave in five," Lorna screamed.
The lecherous guards stumbled away at the sight of Lorna's wrath.
SJ removed her basic clothes from her inventory and pulled on a pair of trousers and a top before standing. Her boots were blackened, and she knew they would need repairing, despite being high quality. Then she rubbed her hand across her scalp; her hair was all gone, but stubble was already growing back. Dave had previously mentioned that fae in particular could cut their hair one day, and it would be back to the same length the next.
Slowly, SJ looked around. Fas was crouched beside her, still looking like her protector, back in his elven form. Petunia was here, so was Wystria, but what amazed her were the others. There must have been over one hundred angelic winged beings. They all wore brilliantly shining plate breastplates, with a white wing emblazoned on them, and each carried a pure white spear almost twice their height. Then, behind them was a group of over thirty magnificent creatures, with cruel yellow beaks and sharp, intelligent eyes, that met her gaze. Their front halves were feathered and chocolate coloured, fading back to the almost sandy colour, where their rear portions took on the body of lions. A flight of gryphons.
Then SJ saw a face she recognised. The face of Skuldor, Petunia's long-term friend and Valkyrie.
"Hello again, SJ," Skuldor smiled.
"But... what..." SJ stopped and pinched her arm, wincing. "I am alive."
"When Petunia told me what had happened, I offered my services. Well, not mine," Skuldor said as he indicated a tall and exceedingly beautiful female valkyrie standing just away from them. "That's my daughter Kara, and this is her flight."
SJ still had tear-filled eyes as she stared at her friends. She grabbed Petunia, picking her up and hugging her.
"Oh, put me down," Petunia laughed.
"Thank you," SJ said.
"No need to thank me. You would have survived; it would have just taken much longer for Lythonian or others to heal you. You also have some serious explaining to do when this is over," Petunia said, turning to look towards Aletheia, who stood by the side of a gryphon with Lythonian.
"I will," SJ answered.
Lorna walked over to where SJ stood.
"Are you coming?" Lorna asked.
Suddenly, realising SJ checked. She still had wings, unsure if the flames had even burned them. She would never know, and she didn't want to either. The guard force was mounting the gryphons. The beasts were so large that three guards could comfortably sit on the back of one.
"You mentioned they had no air capability," Wystria smiled as SJ looked at them all.
"I captured Bellakiy," SJ said.
"You have him?" Wystria asked.
"Not here. I had knocked him out and hidden him in the woods behind the Wandering Ogre."
"The shamans are the priority," SJ said to Lorna as she followed her to a gryphon. SJ glanced around and saw her friends, Cristy, Darren, Gary, and Lythonian, sitting on a mount with Aletheia. Her heart swelled with pride on seeing them as she clambered up behind Lorna. Petunia was helped onto the back of another gryphon by Skudlor before he joined her. SJ knew neither of them could join the battle to free Killic, their levels exceeding the region's limitations by far.
Fas walked over and hopped up behind SJ.
"Are we ready?" Lorna asked.
"Yes," SJ said as hope flooded her.
"Let's go," Lorna cried.
SJ watched in awe as beasts and valkyries took to the skies. The valkyries flew in tight formations—groups of five in each. The gryphons were interspersed among them. SJ wished she could have seen them from the ground; the sight would have been legendary. Then again, being part of the flight as they soared over the forest was a stunning view in its own right.
The gryphon banked as its flight angled, and Fas gripped SJ around her waist to hold on. His arms felt reassuring; he may be her guardian, but he had outed himself as a dragon not just to save her friend Gary, but also now her. "Thank you," SJ said, turning.
Fas looked at her and just smiled. "I couldn't have you dying on me; Bob would never have forgiven me."
SJ smiled back. They flew swiftly, and SJ looked down as the forest flashed beneath them. She noticed the large beetle that had left the town moving through the forest with its handlers. As they soared above them, she heard their cries of dismay from below.
The town soon appeared in the distance, and SJ's heart raced. The moment had come to take back their home.
"What's the plan?" SJ asked Lorna.
"From what you told us, they are battling at the Wandering Ogre, so we are going straight there."
"We have to kill the shamans as quickly as possible, then we can free Zigferd. Also, Aletheia needs to go to Blossom's meadow, which is where the majority of the lizards were being kept.
Lorna shouted the message to be passed that all shamans were their priority, gnoll or draconian alike, it didn't matter, and Lythonian was to move with two flights to the meadow.
As they approached the outskirts of the town, SJ noticed fresh smoke rising near the homes closest to the Wandering Ogre. She had paid little attention to what had been happening once she had heard from Nexis and attacked the draconian guards. Cries started from below, and SJ noticed several lizards moving through the streets with their riders, as they looked skyward at the sight of what flew above them.
She spotted a few gnolls on the streets, but far fewer than there should have been.
"It's probably worth sending some to take the barracks," SJ said. That's where most of the town is being held."
Lorna nodded again and called over to Darren and Gary.
They nodded back, understanding her order as several of the gryphons broke off, heading to the barracks, three of the valkyrie flights accompanying them.
The area by the Wandering Ogre was still in chaos, although the fighting had ceased. Beings lay on the floor, still where they had fallen. The cries of alarm started as soon as the flight came into view.
SJ spotted the two shamans from a distance, their distinct forms clear among the other draconians. "There," SJ shouted, pointing over Lorna's shoulder.
Lorna cried her orders as they approached, the flight separated, and in one sweeping movement, the battle for Killic began. Draconians shouted as the gryphons came in to land, guards piling off their backs. The Valkyries swooped low, presenting their spears to their targets. SJ saw two draconians lifted from their feet as they were skewered.
Their gryphon touched down just outside the mayhem, the three of them dismounting instantly. Lorna immediately transformed, her weretiger appearing; its massive form would make most cower in fear. The draconians were in complete disarray, having only just finished battling their supposed allies, or slaves of the gnolls, when an airborne force now attacked them.
SJ watched a purple ball of flame flash into the sky, a valkyrie caught on its wing as it spun out of control, crashing to the ground.
Wystria came running towards SJ. "Where's my brother?" she called. Her pristine white robes and chain mail armour shone with intensity. She carried a tall shield and held an evil-looking mace in her hand. SJ had never seen this side of her, and her presence was awe-inspiring.
"The far side, into the woods," SJ said.
"Take me," Wystria ordered.
SJ nodded as she started jogging forward.
Several beings on the ground groaned as they passed them, injured from the recent battle, yet they ignored them. There was an explosion, and SJ ducked her head instinctively before turning to see that one of the shamans was now pinned to the ground by a valkyrie spear.
'One down,' SJ thought.
Fas accompanied the pair of them as they went. A draconian swung his sabre at Wystria, but she didn't even break her stride, as she moved her shield to block and swung her mace, smashing the draconian aside.
Some of the draconian family members had started to return from the woods where they had fled, and on seeing the new hostiles incoming, had turned and fled again. As they neared the forest edge, ignoring the tumultuous scenes of combat, SJ could hear their fleeing forms scattering into the forest. She even spotted a draconian guard, not a member of the young or old non-combatants, running away.
SJ headed straight to the location she had marked on her map and came to a stop as they reached the gully. Fas stood looking back behind them, ensuring nothing was coming after them as Wystria jumped down.
The struggling form of Bellakiy could be seen, his writhing body attempting to twist and turn from where SJ had shoved him. He was lying face down in the earth.
Wystria dropped her shield and grabbed him roughly by his shoulder, turning him. He cried at being grabbed, and SJ saw hate in his eyes as he spotted her. This soon elapsed into shock as he rolled completely to find his sister standing over him. She grabbed him by the scruff of his tunic and dragged him upright. There was no care, no ceremony as he staggered to his stand. His bound ankles prevented him from moving.
He winced as Wystria reached for the gag SJ had tied around his mouth, thinking she would strike him. Then Wystria yanked it off his jaws, making him yelp.
"Thank you, Wystria," Bellakiy stammered, "for coming to save me."
"Save you? Oh, no, you are very much mistaken, dear brother. I'm not here to save you."
Bellakiy's eyes shot even wider. "What do you mean, sister? I have been held captive by this fae?"
"Don't try to spout your nonsense, Bellakiy. I know what you have done, and the reason why. You are no innocent member here. You have orchestrated this whole problem and have brought our family name to the brink of ruin. You almost succeeded in destroying it before with your greed, and I kicked you out, but this time... this time you have gone too far. I can't forgive your actions, and neither will Killic."
Bellakiy scowled at his sister, contempt flaring on his face. "How dare you? All I have ever done is for our family name, fighting for what should be rightfully ours."
"Rightfully ours? Father retired to Killic and became the mayor because of his actions and kindness. Zigferd was the perfect replacement for him upon his passing. You have never been one to think of anyone but yourself."
Bellakiy looked stunned at his sister's words.
"Maybe I should have treated you harsher as a youngling. After mother died, I tried my best, but taking care of you the way I did made you think you are privileged beyond what you deserve," Wystria sighed.
There was a scream from back towards the Wandering Ogre.
"We should get back," SJ said. The conversation was interesting, but she wanted to get back and check on the others.
"SJ, can you cut his ankles free? I hold no blade currently; he can come with us. Zigferd will decide his fate," Wystria said.
SJ bent and sliced through the bindings.
As soon as she did, Bellakiy kicked out at her. SJ pulled back as Wystria brought her mace around to Bellakiy's face, pointing it at him. "Do that again and I will not wait for Zigferd's choice," Wystria said, her voice dripping with venom.
Fas moved behind Bellakiy and urged him forward with its very sharp point. "I wouldn't push back; the blades are poisoned; you wouldn't want it cutting you now," Fas said.
SJ smirked as she saw Bellakiy's eyes widen fearfully.
They moved back through the trees. In the short time they had been away, events had turned dramatically. The shamans lay dead, and most of the other enemy had been corralled by the guard force and valkyrie who held them at spear point. The draconian chief was still fighting with his remaining elite guards.
"Father," a female voice cried.
Markisha was standing with her arms trussed behind her back and a vicious cut on her face. Two valkyries had hold of her.
"Father, stop. We are defeated."
The chief glanced at his daughter, who was held at spearpoint. The lizard Markisha had been riding lay dead, skewered to the earth by several valkyrie spears.
The draconian guards with the chief, seeing Markisha captive, paused, unsure of what to do, as they glanced at the chief.
The chief sneered, his face contorted in rage as he screamed and continued to fight. That was when Zigferd staggered from the Wandering Ogre, being supported by Gary.
He looked dishevelled and tired, but on seeing the chief, his face changed and his shoulders squared.
In a voice filled with pain, anger and sorrow, Zigferd screamed. "Leave him; he's mine," as his body started to shift, and he dropped forward to the ground.
