Nentarli [COMPLETE]

~ Forty-seven ~

I felt like I couldn't breathe, or make my eyes believe what I was seeing in front of me. I hadn't trusted my instincts enough. Standing in front of us was Brianne, Telvil's wife, and she wasn't alone. Dark Horrors were popping their disgusting heads up all over the tall grass. They stood in bleak contrast to the white of the snow that was still clinging to the ground in places. As soon as the Horrors appeared, the horses bolted back for the road, Valentia's gaze held mine but I urged her to find safety.

Quickly returning my attention to Brianne and the monsters surrounding us. My first thought would have been that she was being held hostage, if it weren't for the sneer on her face. I felt every hair on my body stand on end, anger flared inside of me but Merkell shot me a warning look and I knew to stay calm, for the time being. Nobody had moved, everyone was staring at each other but I was glad the others understood what was happening.

From the looks on their faces they knew Brianne wasn't a victim and that we had been led into a trap. I didn't know if this was the only one or if my dad was in trouble as well, all I knew for sure was how much I wanted to wipe that smug look off of Brianne's face. The standoff only lasted a few seconds and then all hell broke loose, Emy and Kayle both charged at the same time which set everything off.

"You!" Emy shouted and she was gunning straight for Brianne.

The soldiers sprang into action as the Dark Horrors tried to intercept Emy and Kayle. I ran after Emy and knew Blaike and Kaleb were following me. I drew my sword and summoned my magic, ready to use whichever would inflict the most damage. A Dark Horror came charging at me and I slashed out with my sword, my adrenaline was pumping so fast I didn't have time to feel fear.

The creature tried to evade my sword but I was ready with a blast of magic that seared into what would have been its neck. It fell to the ground, screeching in pain but I didn't stop to watch it die. I had to catch up with Emy, she was almost to Brianne and I didn't know what else that woman was capable of.

She was in league with the Horrors and obviously Riltresik, which meant she was the reason we were attacked in Eribourne. I should have known my feelings about her were something to follow up on.

My thoughts raced as I chopped down another Dark Horror, this time my sword pierced its chest so deeply that it died instantly. I yanked my sword free and kept on running, soldiers were fighting Dark Horrors but it was taking four or five of them and most weren't winning. I saw bodies fall all around me, blank eyes staring at the sky above; a sight that I knew would haunt me forever. I tried to send magic toward them to help but I couldn't get a clear shot without the possibility of hitting one of the soldiers.

Another group was being cut down when suddenly a stream of fire rained down on the Dark Horror involved. The flames were white hot and it was quickly reduced to a smouldering carcass. I grinned as I saw Merkell sweeping through the ranks of Dark Horrors. He managed to save a lot of the soldiers and they stayed with him, methodically taking down more of the creatures.

My own observations would have been my undoing if Blaike hadn't been close by. I had been too busy trying to help, and watching Merkell, to notice that a Horror had been sneaking towards me.

I turned just in time to see it fall to the floor, limbs being torn off one by one by an invisible force and black blood pooling on the ground around it.

I gazed at Blaike and he arched a brow, "Pay attention to your surroundings, everyone here knows exactly what they are doing. Help if you can but if not, keep going." He leaned down to kiss my cheek, "Be careful," he whispered and then ran off to dispatch another Horror.

Kaleb gave me a swift nod and ran off in the opposite direction. I didn't have time to feel bad about my mistake, Emy had reached Brianne and they were already fighting. I ran to them and managed to avoid the Horrors, who were all embroiled in one fight or another. Emy was attacking Brianne with punches, like she had forgotten she had a sword. Brianne was putting up a good fight, she wasn't as ladylike as she appeared.