Legends of Marithia: Book 1 - Prophecies Awakening: Uncut and Extended Second Edition (22 page)

Helenia swung her sword above her head, then
let it come crashing down on Faowind’s weapon with an impressive
display of sparks. She narrowed her eyes and growled, "This is
useless
practice! How will this prepare me for the realism
of war? My enemies won't be so careful not to hit me. Show me
something
real
!"

"As you wish, princess," Faowind replied
firmly. He swung around and, hit Helenia hard in the stomach with
the butt of his sword. Twisting his body in the other direction,
the back of his hand connected with her face and sent her to the
ground like a fallen sack of potatoes. Helenia cried out with the
sharp pains searing through her body.

She struggled to regain her breath, using her
sword to lever herself back onto her feet. Helenia was visibly
hurt, and even a blind man could see the anger blazing within her
eyes like a wild furnace. She raised her sword in the air with
determination and chanted a spell: “
Iuxta bolem
involam.
”

Her sword hummed and ignited with fire from
the hilt, the heat distorting Faowind’s view of her. Her armour
emitted a slight white glow. Helenia sprinted at him as if she had
complete freedom of movement, cutting her sword through the air
with inhuman speed. Faowind barely had time to think or react, only
just placing his sword in her path to defend himself in time.
Flames burst from the impact of their weapons and lit small fires
on the ground near their feet.

“Helenia! What
are
you doing?” yelled
Andrielle, running towards her daughter.

The queen noticed a crowd gathered to watch
the battle, cheering from the excitement.

Faowind knew he had to do something to stop
Helenia's fury and quickly ducked out of her path. He closed his
eyes to cast a spell of his own.

“
Ex caelo phasmam fluminis evoco
.”

A distant scream erupted from the sky and the
entire city turned its gaze to the canopy and waited, whispering to
each other in fear. A water spirit burst from the clouds, her
liquid face scanning the ground for the enchanted sword. It
instantly located the magic emanating from the enchanted sword and
with a gurgling hiss, it reeled back and lurched forward at full
speed towards Helenia’s position.

The crowd began cheering with excitement and
encouragement at the fierce fighting before them. Faowind used all
of his strength to deflect Helenia’s attacks and keep her at bay.
Helenia leapt into the air, swinging her sword in a circular motion
and narrowly missing Faowind’s head as he ducked out of the way of
the flames above him.

"Helenia, stop!" yelled Andrielle.

The water spirit fell hard from the tree
canopy and crashed into Helenia’s body, sending the princess
plummeting to the ground yet again. A large gush of water spread
over the grass and put out the small fires that had begun to build.
Helenia coughed up water from her lungs and dropped her drenched
sword to the ground beside her, her hand cramped from battle. She
eased herself up to a crouched position, shaking her head in pain
and confusion.

“My goodness, Helenia! I had no idea you had
the ability to use magic, let alone fight with such ferocity. If
your powers are that strong, we certainly could use you in the
battle ahead,” said Faowind, struggling to regain his breath.

“Neither did I, Faowind,” said Andrielle,
nearing them with Karven beside her.

“The spectacle’s over,” said Karven.
“Everyone get moving, now! This is not the time for standing around
and watching. We could be attacked at any moment and these are the
opportunities Kassina is waiting for.”

The crowd began to disperse through the city
at the order from the King of Dragons. Andrielle helped her
daughter back to her feet, dusting off the dirt from her shoulders.
The princess stood gracefully for a few moments before falling back
into the mud in sheer exhaustion. Faowind quickly picked her up off
the ground and gently slung her over his shoulder.

Andrielle's face dropped as she spoke through
a sigh, “Oh, Helenia. I have been far too protective of you. If my
protection has forced you to keep your powers a secret even from
me, then it is about time I took a step back. Faowind, take her to
her room and find an elven healer to return her strength as quickly
as possible."

“Of course, my Queen,” said Faowind with a
smile. He turned and marched towards Helenia’s room, with the
princess dangling weakly in his arms like a stuffed ragdoll, as
Karven turned his attention to Andrielle.

“To cast two spells of such magnitude takes
one who is not only born with great powers, but who is
exceptionally powerful. And to have cast them without any formal
training is phenomenal. Dare I say it, I doubt that she needs
protecting from anyone,” said Karven.

Andrielle stared at the ground and could not
look the dragon in the eye. “I know; you are right. I realise this
now. But I am always battling my motherly instinct, and the wisdom
that I have learned over the many years as queen."

“I now completely understand the attraction
between the princess and Vartan. They are drawn together by forces
that are beyond their control. It is a shame indeed,” said
Karven.

The ground suddenly trembled beneath their
feet, sending a shower of leaves raining down into the city from
the canopy of the trees. The whispering of the inhabitants slowly
erupted into a mixture of panic and excitement.

“
Longinque animadvertam,
” chanted
Andrielle.

Her vision flew through Veldrenn in the
direction of Greenhaven. She continued her farsight through the
countless trees, past the elven guards who had swords drawn at the
ready in their fighting positions. Andrielle panicked and sped
further, towards the flashes of fire leading to the outskirts of
the Elven Woods. Battling fairies zipped in and out from the
forest’s edge, resting momentarily behind trees for cover before
engaging the forces of darkness. The chaos that was suddenly before
her hit her like a wall in her face.

Bang!

A burning missile from Kassina’s catapults
exploded spectacularly into flame, sending screaming fairies
fleeing from tree to tree in desperation as they struggled to find
safe shelter and prepare for another attack. Andrielle focused her
mind to send out a message to the fairies.

Do not attempt to stay in the path of the
Dark Army. There is nothing more you can do. Come to the safety of
the city, brave fairies. Quickly now.

The fairies all stopped in mid-air
momentarily and looked to their queen, Nicolai. Only the crackles
of fires and trees burning could be heard. Nicolai nodded knowingly
and they suddenly flew as fast as they could towards Veldrenn. A
flurry of glowing fairies lit up the forest. Andrielle sighed with
relief and allowed her shoulders to relax momentarily.

However, the Elven Queen was not as lucky as
she had hoped. Her message was also heard by unfriendly ears.

Kassina turned to her catapult teams and
laughed with delight.

“Keep up the bombardment, but don't stop
moving! Fire and move
forward
before firing again. We have
them on the run!” She turned her attention to her golem. “Glaucus!”
she barked. “Start clearing those trees!”

Glaucus grunted as he made his way to the
burning wall of trees ahead of them. With a horrible cracking
sound, he tore the first burning tree in his sight from the ground
and held it up in the air. He turned to Kassina with a look of
confusion on his face. She smiled back at her summoned pet as she
calmly relayed her order with an ominous voice. “Every tree you rip
out, throw it ahead of us as far as you can. The elves can keep
their treasured trees."

Glaucus grunted as he took a few heavy steps
back. The surrounding army steadied themselves from the shaking
ground. Glaucus swung the giant burning tree behind him and then
launched forward. The tree tore through the air like a burning
spear, flying in the direction of Veldrenn.

Andrielle returned her vision and turned to
Karven with a paled face. “We need to get ready for battle,
now
—and we need dragons in the air,” she said, with a slight
hint of panic in her voice.

“And why do you need my dragons in the air
already?” asked Karven warily.

The canopy of the city shuddered loudly. A
burning tree crashed through it and smashed violently into one of
the houses below. The screams of the elves within were
blood-curdling as they began to burn alive. Elves and humans rushed
to the water wells in a vain effort to save them.

Andrielle pointed to the burning building and
cried, “
That’s
why! Please, great dragons, help us stop
those trees before more of us get killed."

Karven snorted jets of fire, nodded and took
flight with great strength, sending dirt and leaves flying into the
air.

“
Exeunt omnes,
” chanted Andrielle. The
canopy of trees burst open with a resounding roar, as if they were
longing for her command. The city was filled with a high pitched
vibration that sounded as if it was coming from the trees around
them.

“Dragons! The time has come for us to take to
the skies and honour our alliance. Let us move to the skies and
defend Veldrenn!” ordered Karven.

The dragons took flight and sent a surge of
wind over the city. Everyone ducked for cover as the dragons
ascended into the sky. Their clothes flapped wildly in the
whirlwind.

“Good luck, Karven!” yelled Andrielle.

“Good luck to you, too, Andrielle,” responded
Karven, before the formation of dragons filled the night sky and
almost completely blocked the moonlight.

A second burning tree hurtled through the sky
towards the city. Karven soared to it with great speed, catching
the tree in his claws with a smooth roll of his body. Strips of
bark burst from its surface as his grip took hold.

“Dragons, grab yourself a tree and let’s show
them how bitter their own medicine tastes,” cried Karven.

The dragons all blew a burst of fire in
acknowledgement of Karven’s order and flew powerfully in Kassina’s
direction, ready for war.

Andrielle sat in her room, sharpening her
sword with great haste. Her door creaked open as she felt a
presence enter and close the door behind them. She breathed deep as
she turned to face her intruder, her shaky hands revealing her
fear.

"My queen, you summoned me?" asked Dryden
softly.

She turned to him and stared at him with
watery eyes. After a silent moment, her lip quivered as she began
to cry. "Is this really happening?" she wept.

Dryden approached her gently and hesitated
before daring to take her in his arms and hold her close to his
chest. Her words came in quick breaths between sobs. "Look at me! I
need to lead us into war and I am falling apart. How will I do
this? I have never shed blood in my life. Deep down, I am scared
stiff. Am I a coward, Dryden? Do I have what it takes to lead
them?"