I gazed out into the darkness, my heart racing as the trees seemed to erupt with soldiers. Acrisius, Amenadiel, and Drazhan fired arrow after arrow from horseback, their bows singing In the night air. Some missed, whizzing harmlessly into the trees, while others found their mark, striking true with a sickening thud.
Alice had been ordered to lock herself in the hut for her own safety, and Kaida made her way to my side immediately. "We need a barrier!" Amenadiel yelled from his horse. I nodded to Kaida, and she locked her eyes on the encroaching enemy.
Kaida raised her hands, and muttered a spell "Incendia circumdare" soft, golden glow emanated from her fingertips. The air around us began to shimmer, and a wall of flames erupted, casting flickering shadows on the trees. The soldiers halted, wary of the fire's deadly edge.
The circle of flames was too large, and I knew she made it so to give us the best mobility possible, which the men used to their advantage. But her strength was beginning to wane; maintaining the flames was draining her energy.
"My lady, it won't last much longer!" she cried, her eyes locked on mine. I nodded, focusing my energy. I reached deep within myself, calling upon my inner power.
As I raised my hands, a surge of magical energy flowed through me. I felt the familiar rush of adrenaline as I casted my spell. "Icaeus!" I muttered, and a wave of dark energy shot out, striking the soldiers and sending them flying.
The soldiers kept coming, their arrows flying towards us like a deadly hail. I gritted my teeth, summoning more magical energy. I raised my hand, conjuring a shield of protective energy to deflect the arrows.
But maintaining the shield was taking its toll on me. My strength was waning, my magic faltering. Just as I thought I couldn't hold any longer, the shield around my cousin faltered, and an arrow struck him in the shoulder. He cried out, clutching at the shaft. Kaida's scream was like a wild animal's.
She raised her hands, and a screamed "incendium" blast of hot fire shot out, engulfing the soldiers. They stumbled back, shrieking in agony as the flames consumed them. By the time the flames died, neither soldier nor horse remained that I could see, only scorched earth and the smell of burnt flesh.
Exhaustion weighed on me, so much that I couldn't move. I slumped to the floor, giving myself to the darkness.
Kaida spent the rest of the night with Acrisius, tending to his wounds while the rest of us packed our belongings to leave tomorrow to another place. If those soldiers found us here, more would probably come if we stayed here any longer.
The sun had risen when I emerged from the hut, wearing leather trousers, a dark tunic, and a very warm fitted evergreen coat lined with gleaming silver fox fur, something I stole from a merchant a few months ago when he was disrespectful, and left him with a parting gift. Ace was awake when I entered his tent, Kaida sat beside him, adjusting the bandages on his shoulder.
She shot to her feet when she saw me, and I smiled at her "Give me a moment with my cousin, you should go pack your things, we leave at dawn" she nodded "Yes my lady" then excused herself.
My smile disappeared as Kaida left the tent and I faced Acrisius "How are you feeling?" he groaned as he pushed himself into a sitting position, "I should feel well enough to ride by tomorrow." I nodded, then sat where Kaida was, I placed my hand on his shoulder, he winced at the touch and made a gentle soothing motion with my fingers "Sana abstergeo" I called, and a warm, comforting sensation spread through the area, and he sighed in relief. "The pain relief spell will last till dawn" I said, he nodded in understanding "Thank you cousin" he replied.
Everyone was gathered at the campfire at my summons, waiting for me to tell them the reason I summoned them. Amenadiel and Alice sat together, so did Acrisius and Kaida, Drazhan sat alone, though he kept a space for me beside him, but I needed to stand to say what I needed to.
They all had their gazed fixed on me as I stood in the center of the circle, waiting. I cleared whatever nervousness tried to overwhelm me and spoke "I know what we've been through these past months, how we've not been able to stay in the same location for long, soldiers at our backs, fighting them long enough for us to find somewhere else to hide," they all stared quietly, no one interrupted me as I spoke "that is not a life, not for me, not for any of us.
For the time that my brother has been on the throne, he has killed innocent witches," Kaida shivered at the statement "a tradition that has existed in my family for generations, a tradition that I abhor, not because I am one myself, but because it's inhumane. Ramiel killed an innocent girl and threatened those I loved to give the illusion that he's a strong king,"
I looked at each of them, all those I hold dearest to my heart "By all rights I should sit the throne, but they deemed me unfit because I'm a woman. I've been running from my destiny for too long, but it's time I embrace it. I wish to announce to you all my campaign to take the crescent throne, to claim my birthright. I want to ask your support"
Everywhere went silent, the chirping of birds and the neigh of our horses filled the silence as I awaited their reply. In all honesty, I would do this with or without them, but I wished they'd say yes.
"It was about damn time" Drazhan said, making me to chuckle. Kaida rose from her seat "I stand with you, high priestess"
I smiled in response. Alice and Amenadiel stood at the same time "You rescued me from what could've been a life of slavery, I owe you everything, and in your service I found the love of my life, I will follow you till my last breath" Amenadiel declared, making Alice flustered.
My cousin stood last, observing me with new found…. Respect? I couldn't tell, but he finally spoke "I know I have been distant these past months, and I want you to know that I do not blame you for our home being sacked, and I apologize if my actions insinuated otherwise, and for any hurtful thing I said to you. I am at your service….. your majesty" he said, then sank to his knees, the others did the same. One by one they all sank to their knees and in one accord, they declared "Long live the queen!"