My heart thudded loudly in my ears as I finally understood the lifelong battle that Lorelai had secretly been fighting behind the scenes.
“No. It is you who are selfish. Stop. It’s not worth it. You are sacrificing your daughters for a greater kingdom.”
“Not just one kingdom. Seven. If I had sons, this wouldn’t have been an issue, but because of you, I’m forced to take what I want.”
“Daughters have value,” Lorelai argued.
“I do value them, and their sacrifice will not go in vain. They are gaining me more land than any one marriage alone could bring. And all because of Allemar.”
“It’s not too late to stop it. Save your daughters. Save yourself. If you don’t, hundreds will die tonight. You and your men; I’ve foreseen it.”
“Guards!” King Leonel backed up, tripping over his boots and falling into the gravel.
“You leave me no choice.” Lorelai’s hands glowed with power, and the bars disintegrated into dust. She stepped through the destroyed gate, and the first arrow came flying straight for her heart.
Lorelai brushed her hand through the air, and it went above and behind her.
“Kill her! Kill! Attack!” King Leonel yelled, and then hundreds of arrows flashed through the night sky and were swallowed up by a ball of fire.
Lorelai was magnificent. Her hands waved as if conducting an orchestra of water and fire. She destroyed the oncoming attacks with defensive magic, not once raising her hand to strike.
The closest drum of fire flickered near me, and a paper shot up out of the flames. I caught it and read the words across the thin parchment.
“Don’t be afraid. You must do what you were born to do.”
Looking up at the woman who raised me, I saw Lorelai across the courtyard. With her hair flying behind her, she looked like a banshee from Rya. Our eyes met, and she nodded, and mouthed the words. “Go!”
“I can’t leave her!” I rushed toward her, but Bravado held me back.
Amaryllis faltered. “It isn’t our battle.”
An explosion rocked the courtyard, the force of the blast knocked off our feet.
My head throbbed in pain, stars flitted across my vision, and I struggled to sit up. Sorek, Bravado, and Saphira were knocked unconscious. Amaryllis and Thena had been blasted ten feet backward, and were cushioned by a hay bale.
“What was that?” I muttered, feeling like I was going to throw up.
“I don’t know, but I don’t want to go through that again,” Rumple groaned. Flames engulfed the gate and I realized Leonel had used a catapult filled with explosives.
“Mother!” I screamed at the pyre of white fire that had been there only moments ago, where Lorelai had stood. Angry tears poured out of my eyes, and I struggled to stand. I couldn’t breathe. Unimaginable pain filled my chest as I saw my mother killed.
Rage raced through my body. I didn’t know how it happened, but I ended up in the middle of the fray, fighting every person in a yellow uniform. Swinging Rumple and screaming like a banshee, I fought. Down they went. Every sword that rose against me swiftly fell as I cut a path toward King Leonel.
The king’s jaw dropped open when he saw me. “Kill her! Kill the imposter!”
More soldiers filed in front of me, but all I saw was practice targets. Captain Lathe stepped in front to challenge me, but the earth opened up and Captain Lathe, sunk down to his knees. Humperstink grinned evilly, dancing around the yard, using his earth magic.
I could see King Leonel through the flames. His visage burned into my mind, and I felt a burning hatred that fueled my anger.
I screamed, racing toward the king, and gasped as a sharp pain stabbed me in my shoulder. I faltered, and Rumple slipped from my fingers as blood coated my hands.
The ground rushed upward, greeting my knees in a painful kiss, and I saw the arrow protruding from my shoulder. White flecks dotted my eyes, and I knew I could pass out if I didn’t handle the pain. I broke the end of the arrow off and pulled out the shaft. Gritting my teeth against the pain, I made a few of the soldiers back away when they say my fearsome determination.
A cranking followed, and I saw the catapult turn my way. I didn’t think I could outrun it.
A great roar shook the earth as Ogress stormed across the courtyard, smashing the catapult with her club, breaking it in two. She picked up the frame and swung it over the gate.
“Ogre!” Captain Lathe screamed as he struggled to pull himself from the ground. Arrows flew, piercing Ogress’s arms and legs. She roared in pain, dropping to her knees, then pushing herself back up. Her eyes blazed red with fury, blood running down her sides, as she became the target of hundreds of arrows.
“Ogress!” I cried, pushing myself forward, dragging Rumple along the ground with my left hand. I couldn’t make it in time.
The earth rumbled a second time as she fell, bringing everyone to their knees.
“Ogress,” I whimpered as I made it to her side.
The barrage of arrows had stopped, satisfied that they’d taken down an ogre. I looked upon her form.
“Why did you do that?” I sobbed, pressing my hands to her face.
Ogress’s eyes fluttered open as she struggled to breathe. “It was your mother’s instructions to us, to protect you at all costs.” She coughed, and blood bubbled up out of her lips.
I tried to soothe her by stroking her rough cheek, but I could feel her heartbeat slowing as the ground around me turned dark red.
“Do it for Honor.” Ogress sighed, her eyes fluttering close, and she exhaled.
“No!” I screamed.
“Honor!” Pale hands pulled me away into an embrace. Thena was there holding me. I buried my face into her chest and cried great, heaving sobs; a mix of grief, anger, and sadness.
“It’s okay. It’s okay to cry.” She stroked my hair and gave me a kiss on my forehead. I looked up and saw the bright circle of light she was casting around us. A protective shield against the arrows, and it was quickly getting smaller as her power waned.
Thena’s grip on my shoulders tightened, and she gave me a sad look. “I’m sorry, Honor. That I wasn’t there to protect you. I’m grateful that Lorelai was able to be the mother you needed when I couldn’t be. But I will do my best to protect you now.” She pressed her hand to my shoulder, and I felt heat like a branding iron burn into my muscles as she forcefully healed me.
Blinding white pain almost made me pass out, but I shivered as cold overtook me. I knew the signs. I needed magic.
“Not yet, sweetie,” Thena said. She gave me one last hug and stood up, brushing her rag like dress. Her power was waning, flickering, and I could see how painful it was to keep the spell up.
“I’m sorry,” I sobbed.
“Your mother, Lorelai, was right. You must go. Do what you were born to do.”
“I don’t know what that is?” I cried out.
“You will. But for this to work, for both of us, you must run. Run fast. Run far away from me, and don’t look back.” She gave me a push, and I ran to the edge of her protective shield.
I hesitated and cast a fearful look at her.
She nodded. “Go, darling.”
I passed through the bright light, and as soon as I did, the shield of magic collapsed and exposed us.
Thena turned toward the king and stepped barefoot across the gravel. I knew it must hurt, but she never once winced or wavered.