Page 28 of Moonlit Guardians
***
EILISH
Mercenary Stronghold
The walls shake with a thunderous force. Pyre leaps out of bed and summons his robes as Baron and I change back into our gear. I scramble for my boots as a bow appears in the necromancer’s hand. Being in this realm already makes Pyre a bit weaker than normal, but severing half of his power has drained his energy severely. Baron tosses me the boot I wasmissing and dashes for the window. He peels back the curtain and curses under his breath.
“What is it?” I ask.
“Orcs, demons, and goblins mostly, but there are a few fae among them.”
I look to Pyre.
He reaches into the still healing Veil and peers through the eyes of a spirit. Gone is his white stare. Instead, a set of violet orbs stare back at me. He presses a kiss to my lips.
“I’m heading up to the roof. Be careful. Both of you. Variant is here.” And then he disappears into the corridor. Smoke and debris cause me to cough and sputter into the sleeve of my tunic. Baron is right beside me.
I push my way through the collapsing hall and into the war room. Baron shouts my name in the distance, but I must get the map. The dagger in my hand grows heavier with each use as it absorbs the souls of the wicked. But I grip it firmly as I fight my way over to the table and snatch the map before a large orc can reach it.
The orc pulls its lips back and releases a chilling sound. I sprint back towards the door, only to stop short when the orc gives chase. When we collide, I bury my blade in his belly. The orc writhes on the ground as I hurry back to Baron. He’s not where he was when I went to get the map. But I don’t have time to look for him.
The stronghold trembles.
I exit the collapsing compound and run out into the streets. Dark tendrils of fire coil towards the sky. The stench of rotting flesh and burning corpses batter my senses and I nearly heave. But the sound of arrows whistling through the air keeps me on my feet. Pyre stands tall on one of the towers, firing arrows in rapid succession. His hands move in a blur of motion and hehits his targets with deadly accuracy. His mask is back in place, obscuring his features from my sight, but I know he’s worried.
Creatures fall from the sky with arrows embedded in their skulls or protruding from their chests. I sense Baron and search for him among the orcs, slashing through any of the hideous beasts that cross my path. Hot blood sprays across my face as Baron cuts down a troll. He catches my eye and runs to me, checking to make sure I’m okay. I tell him I am and he shoves me into the mage’s guild house.
“Pyre,” I start.
Baron shakes his head. “He was too far away to see us. If he gets into too much trouble, he can disappear into the ether.” He gives me a cold, hard stare. “Don’t worry for Pyre. Worry for yourself.”
Dragan and Myerdoth burst inside a second or so later. We slam the door and pause to catch our breath.
“The walls are barely standing. Our soldiers are trying to hold on as long as they can, but many are still injured,” Myerdoth announces. “There should be one last gate that hasn’t fallen, but if we’re going to defend the people here, we’ll need to buy them time to escape.”
“There are too many of Variant’s forces and we weren’t ready for a fight of this magnitude,” Dragan adds.
The decisions fall to me.
“We need to split up. Use the communication rings and stay within range. With three towers down, we’ll be limited, but they’ll still work. First, we have to find our people.”
The door opens. Dragan is the first to charge into the fight. Myerdoth takes to the roof to glide down on his enemies from the blackened sky. He doesn’t have long. The sun will rise soon and Myerdoth will turn to stone if we don’t hurry.
Baron is next to leave, but I’m close behind. The orcs corner us. Baron moves to cover me from behind as I hold my bladeat the ready, watching as bloodlust enters the eyes of Variant’s minions.
“Got any ideas on how we’re getting out of this?” Baron asks dryly. “Think they’ll go away if we ask nicely?” He twirls his daggers, silently taunting the orcs.
“Is this always how you are in a fight?”
“How is that?”
I smile at him. “Annoying.”
He tosses his head back, booming with laughter in the narrow passage of the alley. “Pyre and the others think I’m batshit crazy. They aren’t wrong, but it’s still fucking rude to point it out.”
Baron fights with an energy I envy. I know the three of us are weaker after the transfer of guardianship, but the vampire fights as though he enjoys himself. One by one, the orcs begin to dwindle. Screams float through the air as homes and shops are raided. I see someone from the corner of my eye…
Variant.
