Cavalrymen having heard the alarm and noting their Captain’s tense posture, began forming up behind him.
The Captain turned towards them. “We don’t know what may be out there, but we need to hold them off so that the princesses can get across the river.”
::We should get going.:: Mi’tana suggested.
::Let’s stay here. Just a bit longer.:: Monyka protested.
“Monyka.” Grymm’s words were a bit slurred from his wounds. “We should head down to the river.
“Captain!” a call went up. “Look!”
Monyka looked north and saw a swirling cloud of black coming straight at them.
“What is that?” a voice asked.
Monyka squinted and strained to make out what the mass was.
“Everyone, if you have face guards, put them down.” Rikki ordered. Those who don’t cover your faces with what you can. That is a murder of crows.” The Captain looked to Monyka wide eyes. “Can you do something?”

It was all Monyka could do to hold her head up. Exhausted didn’t come close to describing how she felt. Her head was pounding like never before. Her stomach was knotted and turned in on its self, the last thing she wanted right then was food, but that was what her body was screaming for. . . food and rest. She felt so weak, she nearly dropped the apple she was given.
“You must eat.” Gemma ordered.
“Can’t you give me a little reinforcement, a little energy?” Monyka nearly begged.
“So that you can abuse it?” Gemma snarled, “I think not.”
Monyka closed her eyes. she was too tired to keep them open. She didn’t need to see to put the apple to her mouth and take a bite. The Midwife had a right to be upset. She wished that she knew more uses for the gift, all she could do was draw the heat out the fireballs and lightening and throw it back at the elves. She hadn’t thought to use the elves bodies against them until she had linked to the midwife. She figured if she could draw heat out of a fire, why couldn’t she use the reverse of healing to get rid of the elves. She didn’t know it would make her so sick.
“I told you that using the gift in a wrong way or for evil would have bad affects on you.” Gemma reminded her of the conversation a few days ago.
How could she remember that little bit of information when the past few days were nothing but an onslaught of factual and emotional information?
The bridges that she had created with the gift to boil the blood of the elves had worked, but she hadn’t known that she would feel some of the effects of their bodies through that link.
Monyka opened her eyes when she felt someone touch her. Gemma was removing the core of the eaten apple from her hand and replacing it with a chunk of cheese. Monyka barely got the cheese to her mouth before she dropped her hand. She didn’t know how she managed to hang on to the cheese; she didn’t know how she was able to keep chewing or holding on to So’ryn.
She wasn’t exactly holding on to the Horse Lord so much as he kept her balanced. His stride was so smooth, it was almost as if she were floating above the tall grass.
::You over did yourself, Princess.::
::Who is this? Am I hallucinating?::
::Hardly. I am So’ryn.:: the Horse Lord introduced himself. ::May I touch minds with you?:: he asked formally.
::I guess so. . . . So this is mind speech?:: Monyka inquired, ::Were you the one who was contacting me while in the ravine?::
::Yes, Princess.::
::I wasn’t going mad?::
::No.:: So’ryn’s voice seemed to smile. ::The midwife is correct, you shouldn’t be using the healing gift to kill. It leaves a taint in your aura.::
::What else could I do?:: Monyka asked.
::With your knowledge, not much. With the power that you have, a whole lot.:: So’ryn’s voice was soothing. ::You did what you could, no one will hold that against you. You just need to learn more before you go over doing it and getting yourself or those around you killed.::
::Do you have the gift?::
The Horse Lord’s voice was filled with amusement. ::The Gods have made us intelligent, powerful and beautiful creatures, why would we need the gift?::
If Horse Lords didn’t have the gift then how could So’ryn see or know what she had been doing? ::How can you see or tell what I was doing?:: Monyka asked, ::If you don’t have the gift.::
::I was reading the thoughts of those around us. Yours, Gemma’s even one of the elves.::
“Is she all right?” Monyka heard Tonya’s concerned voice.
She opened her eyes and smiled at her half-sister. It was so strange to think of her as that now. Her appearance hadn’t changed, but she looked different in Monyka’s eyes. “I’m fine.” She mumbled.
::Eat.:: So’ryn told her. ::You need to replenish all of that energy you used.::
“Does anyone have any honovi juice?” Gemma asked. She repeated the question a few more times.
“I’ve got some.” A voice stated.
“Here, drink this.” Gemma directed. “Someone help me to sit her up.”
Monyka felt hands lifting her by her shoulders and abdomen. The ground swirled around her.
“Help her down.” Captain Kalhoun ordered.
Two more sets of hands touched her and hoisted her from So’ryn’s back and gently sat her down in the tall grass.
“Drink.” Gemma put a spout of a wine skin up to her lips. “It's not my special tea, but it will do better than anything else.”
Monyka took a few gulps of the juice. She hadn’t realized that her throat had been on fire until the cool juice soothed and coated it.
Monyka felt rather than saw the green aura of Gemma blink to life. The woman touched Monyka’s arm and she felt warmth and energy flow up her arm and into her body.
The pounding in her head subsided to a low roar. The knots in her stomach relaxed, but didn’t unravel.
“Better?” Gemma inquired.
“Yes, thanks.” Monyka smiled up at the midwife.
Gemma leaned close to her ear. “Don’t use healing that way again.”
Monyka nodded.
“Okay, let’s get moving!” Captain Kalhoun ordered his men and the retinue. He looked down from the back of So’ryn. “I hope you are able to ride.”
Monyka nodded.
::Princess, this is Mi’tana.:: So’ryn moved his head towards a dapple gray.
::Hello Princess, may I touch minds with you?.:: a soft voice entered her head.
::Hello, Mi’tana. Yes.:: Monyka looked into solid aqua-marine eyes so true in color that the gems that she’d seen Tonya wear of the stone paled compared to her eyes. ::Please don’t call me that; besides no one is supposed to know.::
::I’m sorry.:: the dapple lowered her head as if someone were bowing. ::Are you strong enough to mount or should I get down for you?::
::I can mount.:: Monyka, with the help of Gemma and Grymm got to her feet and then mounted the dapple.
“What happened back there?” Tonya asked.
Monyka shrugged. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”
Tonya sighed and rode quietly next to her. For some reason, her being near felt comforting.

--o0o--

“Where are they?” Maskalah’s gravelly voice sounded excited.
“Great One. . . “ the blood mage fell to his knees. “We were over powered.”
“Over powered by what?” The hooded blood mage’s voice nearly produced cold vapors it was so icy. “There were twelve of you and only a small honor guard.”
“Great One, there was a sorcerer. A powerful sorcerer.”
“Where are the others?” Maskalah demanded.
“Dead, Great One.” The lower mage groveled. “She killed them. She turned out spells against us.”
“If the others are all dead and you do not have the princesses, why have you returned?”
The groveling mage trembled.
“Why have you returned without my princesses?” Maskalah screamed.
The pitiful excuse of an elf was an embarrassment to his race. Maskalah slowly lifted his hand. The groveling elf lifted into the air and thrashed as an invisible hand crushed his air supply. Bug eyes and turning blue he looked in horror at Maskalah his lips moving with pleading or trying to power a spell Maskalah didn’t know, nor care.
He lifted his hand higher raising the elf nearly to the ceiling. “Twelve!” he screamed at the excuse of a mage. “Twelve, and only one comes back and empty handed.” He tossed his hand to the side. The floating mage flew across the room hitting the far wall and falling unconscious to the floor.
Maskalah took a seat and closed his eyes. With a few muttered words he was looking through a hawk’s eyes and floating on thermals. Controlling the bird’s mind, he made it flap off to the south. The wooded knoll passed beneath and the scar of a deep ravine came into view. Spots of grass fire burned at the wet blades. A few months from now such fires would quickly become large walls as high as trees and several leagues long devouring the grass faster than even his Lupidae could run. If the Princess would have come through here in the summer, he could have used such walls of fire to capture and subdue her.
Only four bodies of the elf mages could be seen from this height. The others could have run off or been killed as had been reported.
It had been generations since the elves had been this far into Blaire. The border towns were one thing, but if elves were found this far beyond the boundary of the forest, the Blaire military would be sent in force. The preparations for the upcoming attack had to be kept secret no matter what. Raiding the west part of the kingdom kept human eyes looking towards their ever important North West Passage. Ramah had bigger plans.
The sounds of the blood mage becoming conscious distracted Maskalah. The column was just coming into view. They were all still on foot or horseback. The wagons and carriages had been discarded at the ravine. They were moving fairly fast, but he had ways of moving faster.
Maskalah returned to his body and opened his eyes. the pathetic blood mage was trying to crawl from the room without drawing attention. The fool.
“Where do you think you are going?” Maskalah growled from beneath his cowl.
The escaping elf froze, blood drained from his face as he peered at the hooded blood mage. “No where, Great One.” his voice trembled almost as much as his muscles.
Maskalah rose and glided over to where the elf was still on his hands and knees.
“You disgust me.” Maskalah raised his hand and with it the elf was lifted and pinned against the wall. Urine ran down the elf’s leg and streamed to the floor.
Maskalah pulled a dagger from a pocket in his sleeve. The blood mage began to mutter. Maskalah took the wind from the man’s lungs and kept him from breathing. Slowly he drew the dagger across the elf’s throat. The power of magic caught up in the mage’s blood burst forth. Maskalah snatched the ribbon of it and began drawing it slowly into his own body.

--o0o--

“Captain the River!” Johnack called back.
::I told you I smelled it.:: So’ryn referred to a conversation a few minutes ago. The Horse Lord picked up speed as they crested a small rise. A wide, silver band of silver curved out of site both to the east and the west below them.
Rikki studied the length of the river and only spotted a couple of small fishing boats and one cargo river boat making its way up stream towards the North West Passage.
“Grymm!” Rikki called without looking back.
“I’m right here, Captain.”
Rikki didn’t turn away from the river. “I want eight scouts; four to ride up stream and four to ride down stream. They are to look for a Riponian jacket hanging on a river boat, ferry or barge.”
“Yes, Sir.” Grymm nodded. He turned his horse back around and trotted back down the column as they made their way up the rise.
“Takoda!” Rikki turned searching for the Sergeant at Arms.
“I’m not some Corporal that you can go shouting for.” Takoda growled.
“I need your expertise in finding a place that we can load these people and horses on boats to cross the river.”
“Why not just float on down to Malden?” Takoda sneered.
“Because, Sergeant, if you’ll remember your map, this river has a ford running through it, just West of Evalynton I’m sure that is where the elves had planned on ambushing us tonight if we hadn’t suddenly changed direction.”
The Sergeant at Arms grumbled.
“Take a few men with you and start looking for a place. “I want to be across and a league or two from this river before setting up camp.” Rikki turned away from Takoda as a dismissal and looked for Sergeant Galyway. “Markys.” He greeted the armored soldier leading three of the princesses.
“Yes, Captain?”
“Have a few of your men team up with some of Skots as a rear guard.”
“Yes, Sir.” Markys turned to the three. “I’ve enjoyed your company, Highnesses. I look forward to speaking with you soon.” He dipped his head and urged his horse down the hill to carry out his orders.
“Pretty large river.” Adiah looked up and down what she could see of it. “I think the Palriada is prettier though.”
Rikki smiled. “I want you three to stay together.” He looked around. “How about we have you wait down by those trees until we figure out where we are going to cross.”
“Is this a security matter, Captain?” Tonya inquired.
Rikki checked her demeanor to see if she was going to give him grief over this. She only looked at him for input.
“For right now, I’d say yes. Do you see another place we can keep you safe?” he asked.
Tonya looked around, and then shook her head. “No, the trees will do, won’t they Adiah?”
“Sure.” The young princess agreed.

--o0o–

Monyka was embarrassed to have someone waking her up. She opened her eyes and found that she was still on Mi’tana’s back. The Horse Lord had stepped up under the shade of a tree. Monyka could smell as well as hear a river nearby.
“I’ve got more food on the way.” Gemma greeted.
“Thank you, I’m starving.”
“You will be for a few days with as much energy you used this afternoon.”
Two soldiers stood beside the Horse Lord as Monyka slid down, ready to catch her or offer support if she needed any.
Three camp chairs and a small camp table were set up in the shade. Tonya was stretched out in one. Adiah lay in the grass and stared up through the branches of the tree.
“How are you feeling, Tonya inquired accepting a wine skin from Annyka.
“Better than I was.” Monyka sighed as she eased herself down into a chair. “I only feel like I have a hangover now.”
“Only?” Tonya groaned. “I’m still nursing mine.”
“I was feeling a lot worse.”
“Monyka.” A cook approached. “Mistress Gemma told me to bring you this. “It isn’t much I’m afraid.”
“I’m sure it will be just fine. Thank you.” Monyka took the small basket and opened up the cloth folded in it. Half a wheel of cheese, some crackers and some dried fruit. Monyka began to tuck in to the food.
“Slow down, Monyka. It’s not going anywhere and I’m sure I don’t want any.” Adiah interrupted her contemplation of the tree above her.
“Sorry. I’m just so hungry.” Monyka slowed down. “Gemma said it is because I use so much energy when I use the gift.”
Adiah sat up. “Was it you who exploded those elves back at the ravine? I heard that fire balls and lightening were frying up the elves.”
Monyka closed her eyes at the memory. Adiah made it sound so simple.
“Adiah have you met Queen Sakari?” Tonya asked.
“Only once.” Adiah replied.
::I asked Tonya to change the subject for you, Monyka.:: Ka’mya informed her. ::I know people who have the gift. It is not something that they like to talk about. Especially when they have to defend themselves with it.::
::Thank you, Highness.::
::Princesses have to help each other out.::
Monyka washed down some of the food with some of the honovi juice that she was given earlier.
Grymm raced by with another cavalryman. “Captain!” Grymm called. “Captain, we’ve found them. They’re up stream.”
Monyka looked to see Rikki’s head pop up and his shoulders relax.
“I have found a place to board?” Takoda came riding up the rise. “It’s downstream a bit, as long as the boats don’t have too deep of a draft, they should be able to get close enough for us to use boarding planks.”
“Boats that travel up this river all have shallow drafts to get by that ford near Evalynton.” Rikki nodded. “Okay, get everyone mounted up. How long until the boats can get there?”
“Looks like about half a candle mark, Captain.”
Tonya was already being helped to her feet by Annyka. Adiah was striding towards the bay Horse Lord she had been riding.
::Finish eating, Monyka.:: Mi’tana stepped closer. ::You wouldn’t have any fresh fruit in there would you?::
::Sorry.:: Monyka shrugged, ::It’s all dried.::
::I can hardly wait for the honovi to come into season.:: The dapple stated.
::I have some honovi juice.:: Monyka offered.
::No thanks, it isn’t the same.::
“Are you feeling better, Monyka?” Grymm asked.
“Yes, but I could use a week of sleep and feel like I could eat an entire cow.”
Grymm smiled and nodded to Mi’tana. “Yes, you may.” He spoke to Mi’tana. “Thank you.”
“You can speak to them too?” Monyka questioned.
“Yes.” Grymm turned away to look up the river. “If it is okay with you, Monyka. The Captain asked me to stay close to you.”
“Of course you may, Corporal. . . . That is, if you are okay with it.” Monyka reached for her necklace.
Grymm nodded.
“Let's move out!” Captain Kalhoun called.
The Column started moving down the rise towards the river. Monyka mounted Mi’tana a bit awkwardly; she wasn’t used to riding bareback.
She was just riding out of the shade of the tree when a shout went up.
“Attack! We’re under attack!”
Monyka turned around in her saddle to see a cavalryman charging up the rise from the north. Captain Kalhoun and So’ryn galloped towards him from the east.
“What is it?” Rikki asked looking around.
“Wolf like creatures with antlers.” The excited cavalryman blurted out.
“Markys.” Rikki turned to face the heavily armored soldier. “Get them down there and across the river.”
“Yes, Sir.” Sergeant Galyway had already wheeled his horse around.
Rikki turned back to the cavalryman. “How many?”
“At least two dozen, Sir.”
Cavalrymen having heard the alarm and noting their Captain’s tense posture, began forming up behind him.
The Captain turned towards them. “We don’t know what may be out there, but we need to hold them off so that the princesses can get across the river.”
::We should get going.:: Mi’tana suggested.
::Let’s stay here. Just a bit longer.:: Monyka protested.
“Monyka.” Grymm’s words were a bit slurred from his wounds. “We should head down to the river.
“Captain!” a call went up. “Look!”
Monyka looked north and saw a swirling cloud of black coming straight at them.
“What is that?” a voice asked.
Monyka squinted and strained to make out what the mass was.
“Everyone, if you have face guards, put them down.” Rikki ordered. Those who don’t cover your faces with what you can. That is a murder of crows.” The Captain looked to Monyka wide eyes. “Can you do something?”
Monyka was shaking her head. “What?” She asked. “You’ve seen what little I can do and what it does. I don’t have control yet.”
“Please Monyka.” Rikki pleaded. “We could really use your help.”
“No, Captain.” Gemma rode out from behind a row of cavalrymen. “She is like a baby playing with a pot of boiling water.”
Rikki looked from Monyka to Gemma and back to Monyka. “Form up, three ranks.” He called. “Move it!” he kept eyeing the crows.
“I’ve got to do something, Gemma.” Monyka pleaded.
“You’ve done quite enough today. I won’t hand you over to Kaniel with anything else tainting your aura.”
“Forward!” Rikki called out and swung his saber down.
Three cavalrymen were racing through the tall grass towards them. Several wolf-like creatures bounding after them. Attacking them from the sides with antlers, and jaws. One horse floundered and went down. The rider flew head first into the grass in front of the horse. Two of the creatures raced in and attacked him. An agonizing scream went up from the soldier as the beasts tore into him.
Monyka bent over the side of Mi’tana and threw up the food that she had just eaten. “I can’t Gemma.” She spit the last of it out of her mouth. “I can’t just watch men get killed.”
“You don’t have the control yet.” Gemma stated. “Look what you did to the Corporal.”
“That wasn’t her fault.” Grymm defended.
“It was an accident.” Monyka screamed. “It was an accident.”
“I know it was.” Grymm soothed. “I know it was an accident. I don’t blame you, Monyka.”
“You don’t know your own strength or the rules of using the gift are.” Gemma protested.
“No one knows my strength until I use all of it.” Monyka growled. “I don’t care for the rules if they mean that I can’t help defend my friends.”
::Let’s go Mi’tana.:: Monyka lightly heeled her. ::We’ve got to help them.::
She sensed Grymm at her side. She anchored her core and started gathering up the only thing she knew; fire.
The wolf like creatures were dodging in and around the cavalry, attacking a everything at will, horse’s necks, legs, cavalryman legs, and arms.
Monyka threw her hand out in front of her and quickly built a bridge to one of the creatures. As soon as the bridge was established, she released the compressed heat and watched as it burst into a fireball and headed right towards the creature. She concentrated on the bridge and only severed it as the fireball made impact with the creature, engulfing its furry body in fire.
Monyka pulled the heat back away from the burning creature. Adding more heat from her aura, she thrust her fingers at the sky as the large murder of crows started to swoop down on the cavalrymen. A large spray of flame roared from her hand. Birds screamed as fire burned their off their feathers and eyes. Some exploded into puffs of black feathers which in turn burst into flame.
Sparks and body parts fell among the soldiers as they fought the antlered wolves. Most of the cavalrymen had to disengage the snarling creatures to defend themselves against the few hundred crows that she was unable to destroy.
Monyka cringed as the birds’ beaks and talons raked and pecked at the soldier’s exposed faces and hands.
She was startled when Grymm raised his saber to defend her as the crows that escaped her fire and the thrashing and slashing of the cavalry honed in on her.
Before thinking, Monyka swung up her hand as if to defend off a blow. Super heated wind pushed off of her like a wave. The wind hit the beady eyed birds and knocked them tail over beak off to the side. A dozen of the front birds burst into black puffs of feathers which slowly wafted towards the trampled grass.
::What was that?:: Mi’tana asked.
::I don’t know.:: Monyka realized.
Monyka flung her fingers at a wolf four purple bolts shot out of her fingers and hit the wolf as it lunged towards a soldier. Three of the bolts hit the wolf, knocking it sideways and off target. The fourth bolt burnt a hole into a horse’s front leg causing it to crash to the ground Its rider falling on top of the antlered wolf.
‘Tanek’s ass!” Monyka swore.
::Stay on me!:: Mi’tana demanded as she felt Monyka start to dismount.
::I hurt that horse and rider.:: a cold shudder ran through her.
::It happens in war.:: Mi’tana stated. ::Shield your mind!:: Monyka instantly checked her shields as several of the Horse Lords including Mi’tana released a sonic blast.
Wolf creatures fell to the ground several screaming in pain. Half of the soldiers tried to grip their saddles and hold their ears at the same time as the ringing blast resonated. Three horses faltered and fell. Most of the unshielded soldiers fell from their horses holding their heads.
Cavalrymen who were shielded, quickly stabbed and slashed at the antlered wolves. A few went racing off through the grass with their heads down and tails between their legs.
::What was that?:: Monyka asked.
::Sonic blast.:: Mi’tana told her. ::It’s one of our few offensive abilities.::
“Yes, I’m fine. Thanks for the warning.” Grymm said to the gray dapple Monyka was sitting on.
“I don’t like to.” Grymm stated. “It just seems wrong to me.”
“What are you talking about?” Monyka was scanning the horrible scene before her. Cavalrymen who had fallen were slowly getting back onto their mounts. A couple pulled out daggers and put an end to their four legged friends that would never be able to walk again.
::The Corporal has the mind speech ability, but refuses to use it.:: Mi’tana explained to her.
“I don’t like people or Horse Lords talking in my head.” Grymm stated. Confirming what Mi’tana had just said.
“Everyone down to the boats!” Rikki yelled. “Quickly!”
The soldiers that had lost their mounts swung up behind a friend as they started racing down the hill.
“what?....” Monyka looked up to see a whirlwind racing across the plain towards them. The elf that was chasing them earlier had created one of those to escape, but this one was at least ten times the size and was sucking all kinds of things into it. Debris flew out of the top and went flying hundreds of paces away as it traveled towards them.
“Go!” Rikki screamed as he neared them. “Move it Mi’tana.” He screamed as he approached.
“What is that?” Monyka called out to Gemma.
“Tornado!” the midwife’s face was pale, her eyes huge. “This is the wrong time of year for them. It’s magically made.”
Monyka turned around to stare at it. Lightening shot out striking any living thing with in a hundred paces of it. She cringed as lightening pulverized the escaping wolf beasts. One second they were there, running for their lives, the next, gone.
“How do we stop that?” She asked.
“We can’t!” Gemma darted looks between Monyka and the approaching swirling mass of winds.
Monyka looked ahead to the river. Three flat bottomed boats with large decks worked their way back towards them. One load of retinue and servants had been deposited safely on the other side. Monyka just hoped that Tonya, Adiah and Ka’mya were among them.
A small group of people mingled along the near bank nervously waiting for the ferries to arrive. Someone pointed out that the cavalry was running full tilt towards them. The whole group began to panic. She didn’t blame them. She darted a look over her shoulder and saw that the tornado had doubled in size. Lightening seemed to dance around it. Striking anything taller than the grass. Trees, creatures it didn’t seem to matter.
“Is a blood mage doing that?” Monyka yelled over the roar to Gemma.
The midwife nodded. “He’s in the center.”
::He is getting more powerful with everything that he is killing.:: Mi’tana explained. ::Tanitha help us.::
::We’ll be safe once we’re across the river, right?::
::No. water doesn’t bother them. They glide ride over the top, picking up water with them. Some have even been seen to jump over small rivers.::
Monyka began muttering prayers to the three gods. She looked down and saw people by the river panicking and urging their horses into the river.
“Can’t we do something?” She called to Gemma. “To slow it down even?”
The midwife shook her head.
::I’ve got to try to do something:: Monyka told Mi’tana. Will you slow so that I can jump down?::
There was a pause.
::No.:: Mi’tana stated. ::I will stand with you.::
The Horse Lord slowed and turned to face the oncoming wind monster. Monyka slid off of her back and stood next to her.
“What are you doing?” Grymm asked. He had circled around her, still mounted.
“I’ve got to try. Go Grymm! Save yourself!” Monyka shouted over the deafening roar.
“I was ordered not to leave your side.” Grymm shook his head.
“Grymm, Go!” Monyka ordered.
Grymm shook his head. He hopped down from his mount to make his point and held tight to its reins as it began tossing its head in fear.
The horse suddenly stopped fighting the cavalryman and stood still.
Monyka could feel the wind buffeting her blouse and trousers. The tornado seemed to be sucking anything It could into its swirling mass all the while it was ejecting lightning bolts. A tree near where they had been on the rise was split into two, its leaves were gone she supposed that they were stripped by the winds and sucked into the vortex.
The wind was getting even stronger. She had to hold onto Mi’tara or else she would be on her knees.
She closed her eyes and concentrated. She quickly reached a bridge out towards the tornado. Surprised when it wasn’t snapped up in the sucking winds she lost control over it.
“If you are going to do something it had better be soon.” Grymm shouted.
Monyka thrust her bridge out again. Reaching towards the center of the storm. Sweat beaded up on her forehead at the distance she was working with. The bridge made contact with something-someone in the core. The elf swatted her bridge away the split second that she had made contact. She could feel the blood mage laughing at her. Lightening struck the ground fifty paces away.
Frantically, Monyka worked her bridge back to make contact with the blood mage inside. Something grabbed a strong hold of the bridge that she had built and sent a lightening charge towards her.
Monyka was shoved back. She lost control of her bridge for a moment as she fell to the trampled grass. When she looked up. Mi’tana was on lying on her side on the ground. Smoke rose from the Horse Lord and was sucked towards the storm. Her body was still except for her mane which was standing straight out towards the sucking wind.
::Mi’tana?:: Monyka was stunned. ::Mi’tana, are you alright?::
Nothing
“We need to go!” Grymm shouted.
Tears flooded Monyka’s eyes. She fell to her knees and touched Mi’tana’s neck. The Horse Lord was dead.
“You bastard!” She screamed at the mage storm. “The Gods curse you!” Monyka braced herself making sure that her core was anchored and her shield up. She reached out with her bridge again. But this time, before it could make contact with the mage she forced all of the heat and raw emotion she could muster at it. Kadyr’s smiling face, his tender touch, filled her mind almost causing her to lose control. She fought to keep her focus.
::Lock on. Help is here!” a strange voice over took her thoughts. She extended her bridge of power and thrust it towards the center of the storm.
Immediately she saw three more bridges lance through the winds and debris at the blood mage.
Lightening that had been striking the ground a moment before, shot straight out horizontal with the ground. The tornado seemed to shrink just a bit in size.
::Link your stream to the one you are going to see in a moment. Throw all of your heat through it.:: the voice in her head instructed.
a split second later, Monyka spotted a bridge or stream of power. It was twice as thick as any she could make and seemed quite sturdy. She threw her stream up to join it and poured her heat through the channel that pierced into the winds. “You killed him!” She screamed into the roaring wind. “You took away my husband.”
She could feel the stream make contact with the blood mage and feel his surprise as well as his fear and anger. The touch of that evil, of the sacrifices that went into creating that evil stung her. She lost her hold on the bridge and shuddered. The storm throbbed then blew outward; the winds quickly lost their velocity. Debris started raining down all around her.
Monyka looked up to see a small whirl wind lift up out of the center of the debris and sail through the sky back to the north.
Monyka collapsed to the ground. She saw Grymm, his ruined face looking down at hers with concern as he used his body and the body of his mount to shield her from falling debris. She couldn’t keep her eyes open any longer. Memories of Kadyr flooded her thoughts. She closed her eyes and fell away into blackness.