The Blight of Muirwood

“How are you…doing this?” Ellowyn whispered, her eyes searching Lia’s face. “How is it that you can use the Medium?”

“I will answer your questions later, Ellowyn. Warm yourself. Both of you.”

Colvin stared at the burning orb, at Lia’s hands, then into her eyes. He looked relieved and grateful. She could almost see his thoughts on his face. Using the Medium in a way that was not normally permitted. He looked bemused.

“Do not complain,” she told him with a half-smile.

“I am not,” he replied.

In silence, they enjoyed the heat from the orb until their shivers subsided. Lia felt warm throughout. The plunge into the river had shredded her weariness. She felt rested, ready to face what lay ahead. To face her death without flinching.

She felt their presence, drawn to the power of the Cruciger orb in some malignant hateful way. Drawn to the power of the Essaios. The smoke-shapes sniffed around them, mewling and hissing. Lia started to tremble again when she felt them. Their thoughts crammed against her mind, trying to daze her. Fear, despair, hopelessness.

The first pink of dawn appeared in the east.

“It is time,” Lia whispered, opening herself fully to the Medium’s power and its will. Do with me as you may. I will sacrifice whatever I must to see him safe from here. Guide me. Then as she looked down at the cooling orb, the spindles began to whirl.

CHAPTER FORTY THREE:

Dieyre’s Revenge

Dawn awoke over the valley, bright and cloudless. If there could have been an ideal day for fog, it would have been then. But the cool morning air was devoid of any breeze, and Lia tromped through the high grass towards the mass of oaks forming the base of the grounds. Muirwood rose up in front of them, beautiful and calm. They had walked all night and still could not reach the higher ground before the sun exposed them. There was an army nestled in the valley to the west and to the east. She could see the soldiers and horses already beginning to form their lines. As they crossed the lush valley, she knew it was only a matter of time before they were seen. It would be a race to the woods, which she suspected were already thick with knights. They would have to fight to break through the line. She should have been worried. Instead she was thrilled. The orb led her towards the Sentinel oak, threading a needle between the two masses of men who had converged. She could see its massive branches towering over the others in the grove. There was an underground tunnel entrance there. If she could get Colvin and Ellowyn inside, she could return to one of the Leerings hidden in the woods and summon the defenses. So much depended on how many foes they faced.

“Horses,” Colvin warned just as the sound reached her ears. A row of mounted knights had detached from the columns and bore down on them across the field. There was no mistaking them.

“We run,” Lia said. “Remember the gully by the big oak? That is the way in. You remember the word to open the Leering?”

“Yes. Come, Ellowyn.” Colvin unsheathed his sword and grabbed the girl’s hand with his other and they started at a run.

Lia followed, bow in hand. Her heart pounded with excitement and fear. There were twenty horsemen, all wearing black. The mounts gained in speed, causing a thunder of hooves that grew louder and louder.

Colvin ran hard, the younger girl barely keeping up with him. The forest loomed ahead, drawing closer, but so were the charging knights. Lia’s breath came heavy and fast. As the knights bore down on them, she stopped, dropping to one knee and fired an arrow into the lead stallion. It shrieked with pain and went down and the other riders had to veer to miss it. She shot again, bringing down another horse, then another. Colvin and Ellowyn were almost to the trees. She sprinted hard and fast to catch up. Crossbow bolts whirred through the air at her, but most overshot. The knights were so close and she could see another group closing in from the other side.

Swords clanged and battered. Lia looked ahead and saw Colvin spinning around, cutting down a man who emerged from the woods. Ellowyn backed away from him as his sword whipped around again, slicing through another soldier. There were more behind them and Lia shot as she ran, amazed to hit even one, who crumpled and went down. Colvin and Ellowyn entered the woods and she could hear his sword clashing as it struck and parried the attacks against him. Lia sprinted harder, beating the charging knights before they reached her. The oaks would make it impossible to gallop. A soldier charged at her from behind a tree and she sent an arrow into his leg without slowing. More swordplay ahead. She could see Colvin and Ellowyn through the twist of trees. Dodging the trunks, she caught up at last, just as Colvin cut down another man. Three more faced him, snarling and yelling to their fellows for help. Lia took one down with an arrow and then slung the bow around her shoulder and drew her gladius and dagger. Colvin parried two separate thrusts against him and stabbed one through with his sword. Lia did not slow, she ran up to the last man who was swinging down at Colvin’s exposed back and blocked his swing with her gladius, stomped on his foot and slit him with her dagger. His face twisted with pain as he collapsed writhing to the ground.