Having created a clearing in the mob with his violent outbursts, Kaleb wiped the sweat and grime from his brow and nodded. “Sure, let's do it.” He closed his eyes and prepared to take on his dragon form.
But nothing happened.
Kaleb blinked hard, looking down at his hands with confusion. Teeth grit, he made another effort to shift. He widened his stance and exhaled slowly—and ordinarily, he would have transformed into the winged red titan. Once more, nothing happened, however. “Something's wrong,” he spat, grasping the arm of a handsy Wuff and throwing him back into the throng. “I... I can't shift, Minx. Something's wrong.”
He can't shift? Why not? Such a thing seemed inconceivable to the Fae huntress as she rattled off another shot. A chill ran down her spine as the advancing forces closed in more tightly. “What's wrong? Has this ever happened before?”
Kaleb only shook his head, fists balled.
Something caught Minx's eye as she scanned the crowd, seeking the best home for her next arrow. From within the grouping just ahead of her, there issued a deep bluish glow. One among the warriors was armed with a small, round shield, into which had been mounted a dome-like blue gem. Minx knew the look of that stone, was familiar with its glow—it was made of the same stuff as her dragon hunting bracelets, and it appeared to react violently at Kaleb's presence. As the warriors fanned out, plotting their attacks against Minx and Mau, the Fae huntress got a look at the one wielding the shield.
And her heart skipped a beat as she did so.
The owner of the shield was none other than Valry. The Wuff vixen stood tall, with the shield held in one hand and a razor-sharp longsword in the other. She was headed straight for Kaleb, and the intensity in her gaze as she strode through the mass of warriors bespoke savage intent. She's going to attack Kaleb, Minx realized. And that strange shield... is that the problem? Is it interfering with Kaleb's ability to shift? The small stones that had been in her bracelets had always reacted to the presence of dragons, but they had never—to her knowledge—interfered with their abilities. A magical stone of this size, however, was likely much more powerful, and in the hands of a skilled caster, would have many uses.
Minx nocked another arrow and sent it straight for Valry without a moment's hesitation. The shot careened through the knot of warriors, missing many of them by mere inches, before striking the bluish gem on Valry's shield with a resonating crash. The vixen halted at once, her narrow eyes widening in furious anger, and she turned to find Minx readying another blast—this one destined for her skull.
Valry changed course, singling out the Fae huntress and pushing through her allies with a savage grunt. “Well, if it isn't a Fae. They stuck you out on the fringes, did they? Big mistake.”
Minx sent her arrow flying, and watched with annoyance as it was blocked by the shield. “Valry of the Wuff!” she called out, taking aim yet again. “I challenge you to single battle—one-on-one. Do you accept?”
At this, the vixen stopped, giving her whitish mane an insouciant toss. “Single battle? Who do you think you are?” She chuckled darkly. “Who do you think I am? Do you honestly believe I would lower myself—condescend to battle you, exclusively?”
“I'll kill you either way,” declared Minx, “I'd just prefer it if everyone here got to watch.” Her bow tensed as she drew it back. “Do you accept?”
Valry held out the tip of her sword with a grimace. “What are your terms? What do I get, once I've slain you like the mouthy animal you are—aside from great satisfaction?”
“If I win, you'll call off this attack—go back to where you came from and lead these soldiers of yours away, too.” Minx smirked. “And seeing as I won't lose, the conversation ends there.”
The vixen cocked her head to the side, stretching her neck. “Killing you will be payment enough. I have fought a hundred in single battle, and have never lost. You'll make one-hundred and one. Prepare yourself. Here, you will die.”
The surrounding warriors took several steps back, allowing a bit of space for the high-profile combatants. The rules of single combat were simple enough; two battlers fought till one could no longer fight. The last one standing was declared winner, and the terms set forth prior to the bout were to be honored. Fights were strictly one-on-one affairs; members of the crowd could not interfere without voiding the results of the match. Minx had taken part in a few such duels over the years, but never with such a well-known opponent. Her heart hammered in her chest as she paced about the makeshift ring with countless eyes upon her. This is for you, mom. I couldn't save you in time... but I'll avenge you, and I'll strike her down to save our people.
Mau watched from the sidelines, growling noisily. I hope you know what you're doing, Minx. This is reckless. You should have attacked her from afar. At least that way I would have been able to step in and help you. Did you really have to do this on your own?
After what Valry did to my mother and the other hostages? asked Minx, weighing her next volley. Absolutely. I wouldn't have it any other way.
The fight commenced. With a swift, fluid stride, the vixen loosed a harsh battle cry and dove in, longsword passing smoothly over the ground and then slicing in a leftward arc,
