Tears slipped quietly down his frozen skin, his breath coming in forced drags. Lancing pain rippled through him, making him wince. He was sure some ribs were broken.
“Well, well, I have to say I am surprised of your resilience.” Lifting his head weakly, Bresslin stalked toward him, her hawk eyes cutting. Daggers flashed against her black leather pants and knee-length boots. Her blood-red cape flowed behind her, her armored chest glinting.
He spat, growling. “I will end you.”
She smiled, flashing brilliant teeth as the air churned behind her, the monsters and creatures born from darkness creeping behind and closing in on him. Their yellow and orange eyes, their twisted long bodies, their blackened flesh and long snouts. Some had wings, were as tall as trees, or had fangs that jutted out below their jaws. Their hairless skin slithered over the ice, silent and predatory.
Lowering herself down, her breath hot against his face, she purred. “No, you will not. You both can’t seem to wrap your heads around the fact that things are unfurling, have been for years with much planning, years of waiting for the right moment to act. Years of gaining the Faes’ trust so they would be exactly in the position they are in. Scrambling for a broken crown when they can’t even see the war coming right for them.”
“Through the means of dark magic!” He sputtered, blood dribbling down his lip.
She unsheathed her blade, stroking the steel along his jawline. “Our means, though of power long forgotten, have been most... successful.” She grinned and stood, addressing the prowling monsters behind her. “Shall we go for a stroll with our guests? I do believe we are late to a certain funeral.” The answering roars and pounding of clawed paws collided into him, vibrating to his core. Bresslin twisted back to him, pulling at the long chain attached to his collar. “Now, you will be coming with me, Mr. Carter.” The heaviness of the chains bit into his skin, every ounce of the contact leeching him of his ability, until the familiar buzz in his mind was nothing more than just an imprint, an empty hole carved into his chest. Yanking the end, his neck snapped in whiplash, as she spat, “Now.”
The sharpness of claws sliced against his wrists, cutting shallowly as two lumbering dabarnes unlocked his chains from their icy confinements. Their breath was hot and heavy on his neck, reeking of decay. His shoulders screamed in protest as one loosened and then the next. His hands fell heavily to his sides, and he staggered up, slipping on ice. Chuckles resonated around him as he straightened, clenching his teeth.
With a rougish smirk, she hissed, “Bring the other.” He focused on Bresslin, and she winked. “He is a little worse for wear. The Gortach’s methods... are thorough.” Lunging, he snarled, and she whipped the chains, making him bow. “I would not try that again.” Yanking him up, she dragged him behind, the snow and ice cutting into his numb limbs. On the far side of the clearing, the Gortach came into view, and Memphis’s heart dropped into his stomach. Brokk was dragged behind, unconscious. Blood and bruises covered every inch of his skin. Dark and polished claws sprouted from his knuckles, stuck in transition, his usually short cropped golden hair bloodied and ragged.
“What did you do to him?” His scream sounded far away, like he was yelling underwater. The Gortach tilted his head, his stare unyielding, and Bresslin nodded. Like the pumping of blood, the hundreds of dabarnes started pounding their feet against the ice encrusted ground, the pounding growing and growing and growing.
Bresslin strode forward with him in tow, as she yelled, “For years, you have hidden in the darkness! For years, you have been forgotten because of the manner of kings! We live in a world where Mixed Abilities are protected, yet such raw an ancient magic is crushed, killed, and shunned. Well, I want to change this.”
The monsters bared their teeth, low growls rippling amongst the ranks as their excitement grew.
Beating her sword against her chest plate, she roared, “For years, my husband and I have waited, gathering information and resources and building their trust. For years, we have bowed, but no longer. The Faes are weak, their dreams dissipating. The time for magic and ability to rule is now. What have I told you all?”
“All is might!” They roared back, the ice shield cracking behind them.
She toothily grinned. “Exactly.” Spinning around, she unsheathed her sword, dragging him behind. The shield of ice started to crack, thin lines at first and then huge monstrous cracks rippling. She started running, Memphis breathing raggedly as the shield exploded. The dabarnes roared, galloping behind them. Smoke oozed from their movements as they darted forward like inky comets, weaving to avoid chunks of ice smashing against the ground. They broke through, the sunlight fracturing through the remaining ice, splashes of colors dappling their skin.
Sweat rolled down his nose as they gained momentum, cutting through the forest. Snowflakes started to fall once more, blanketing the heaviness of the end of summer with a biting cold. Ice followed their trail as they rushed toward the Academy. He watched the winds roar, his chains leaching his energy with every passing second. Ice encrusted the world, freezing it in this moment, with war raging toward the last remaining thing he cared about. Bowing his head, he could do
