Wesik lowered his head and charged, spearing another black-cloak on his incredibly sharp horn. He felt two magical projectiles slam into his body in close succession. One spell struck his flank, and the searing heat felt as if it was rapidly eating through his flesh. The other spell was one of brilliance, and it struck his face. Wesik’s world turned to blackness as he shook the mage’s body off his horn. The pain in Wesik’s flank grew excruciating, and the unicorn began to feel a loss of control of his hindquarters. Unable to see the enemy, Wesik started swaying his head back and forth as widely as he could, hoping to snare another mage before he died.
I am leaving you, my friend, the unicorn said to the Knight of Alcea. It has been a pleasure to serve by your side.
Strike to your left, Wesik, replied Wylan as he jabbed his staff into eye of another mage. I will be joining you soon. You have been a credit to your race, but more importantly, you have been closer to my heart than all but Sheri. I shall miss you greatly.
Wesik trusted Wylan enough to spend the last of his energy turning sharply to his left. He slashed his horn around wildly and felt satisfaction when a mage screamed in agony. He focused on the scream, shoving his horn as deep into the man’s flesh as he could. The scream stopped abruptly.
Bowstring snaps sang loudly inside the tent. Wylan heard arrows thudding into Wesik’s body just before he felt them striking his back. He arched in pain, his staff falling from numb fingers. A moment later, darkness claimed the Knight of Alcea, and his body tumbled to the floor.
Chapter 13
Stampede
Sinora was not in a position to see what was happening, but her herd sense felt Wesik’s fear, anger, and great sorrow. The unicorn pulled on her reins, but the knot would not yield. With a sense of urgency, Sinora moved closer to the tree and reared, snapping the rein in two. At that moment, Twerp and another fairy swooped down out of the canopy.
“What are you doing?” scowled Twerp. “Be still or someone will notice you.”
Let them notice. Sinora snorted angrily as she turned and raced for the place where Wesik was last seen. Where have you been?
Twerp had tried to land on the unicorn’s head, but Sinora’s sudden movements made that impossible. He flew alongside her, staring at her. “I was checking the spacing of the patrols, and I sensed another fairy. She brings news of great importance from Tagaret.” Twerp suddenly noticed where the unicorn was headed, and he glanced across the clearing towards the burning tent and the four soldiers racing towards it. “What is going on?”
I do not know, but our friends are in trouble. Use whatever skills you have to hide what is going on, or we will all perish this night.
Sinora’s horn suddenly appeared as they neared the tent. The unicorn was not quick enough to stop the four archers from firing into the tent, but they never got off a second shot. Sinora lowered her head and speared the closest archer. Her speed carried her forward and her horn broke through the other side of the human and gored another. With two men impaled on her horn, Sinora reared up and attacked the two remaining archers, her large hooves smashing down on their heads. As the unicorn returned her forelegs to the ground, a fiery projectile flew out of the tent and glanced off her back. The unicorn snorted angrily and tossed her head. The two impaled soldiers flew from her horn towards the mage.
The black-cloak had been in the process of casting another spell, but he quickly abandoned the idea as the bodies came hurtling towards him. He leaped out of the way of the bodies, but he lost his footing and tripped over the body of one of his companions. Sinora raced into the tent and shoved her horn into the mage’s body as he tried to rise. She pulled her horn free and brought both of her front hooves down on the mage to make sure that he was dead.
Sinora? Is that you? Wesik snorted weakly.
Sinora turned towards the sound, her eyes scanning the carnage. Off to one side of the tent, she saw her mate. Wesik’s flank was smoldering, and his faced was scorched black. Two arrows stuck out of Wesik’s body, and tears flowed from Sinora’s eyes.
I have come to take you home, Wesik.
I have run my last league, Sinora. Flee while you still have a chance. The humans will not be long in coming.
Sinora crossed the room and nuzzled her mate. Wesik was too weak to respond.
“Hurry up!” called Twerp. “I cannot hold this illusion forever. The tent is burning, and the smoke will distort the illusion. We will be discovered.”
Sinora turned away from Wesik and saw Wylan on the floor. The Knight of Alcea also had two arrows in his back. Sinora was not sure if she had just seen Wylan breathe; there were no other signs of life in his body. She pawed the ground anxiously, refusing to abandon the ones she loved.
Where do these humans tether their horses, fairy?
“At the south end of the road,” answered Twerp. “What do you want with horses?”
You will see. I want you to hold the illusion while I create a diversion. When the time is right, you are to gather our fallen so we may take them home.
“Take them home?” balked Thrip, the other fairy. “How?”
Sinora did not answer. Her horn disappeared, and she raced out of the tent, heading south along the Coastal Road.
“What is she up to?” Twerp said out loud.
A fool’s mission. Wesik snorted weakly. She may not return, but I would not let her down if I were you. Honor her wishes. Can you levitate one as large as me?
“I have never tried,” frowned Twerp, “but I think I can.”
Could you still levitate me if Wylan and Sheri were on top of me?
“All three of you?” balked Twerp. “I don’t know. That is a lot of weight, and we have nothing to tie them to you. They might slide off. Maybe between Thrip and me we can do it.”
Well, you will try. If the weight is too much, you will leave me behind, and take Wylan and Sheri back to their people. The humans are known to honor their dead by burial. Go now and gather their bodies so we are ready when the diversion comes.
Thrip found Sheri’s body outside the tent and slowly levitated it to Wesik. She moved Wylan’s body next, and heard Wylan grunt. The fairy’s heart filled with hope, but she did not mention it to the unicorn. She knew that Wylan and Wesik were very close, and the unicorn needed no false hopes at the moment.
Suddenly, shouts rang out in every direction. Twerp looked nervously at his illusion and saw that the burning of the tent was no longer concealed. A large section of the tent was burning and the smoke billowed up into the night sky.
“We’ve been discovered,” Twerp said softly. “I can no longer hide the truth.”
Flee if you must, little ones, but wait for Sinora if you have the courage. I would consider it a favor if you helped her to escape from this place.
“I will stay,” vowed Twerp. “We will all go home together.”
“I agree,” added Thrip.
You would make good unicorns.
Wesik’s thoughts were weak, but Twerp recognized the tinge of humor held within the unicorn’s mind speech. Suddenly, the ground rumbled and the shouts grew louder.
“What is that?” Twerp mused out loud.
That is a herd, little unicorn. This tent will soon become an island in the midst of the enemy’s camp. Drop your illusion and get the Knights of Alcea out of here.
The rumbling intensified until the tent shook wildly. Twerp could still hear the shouting, but just barely. The noise of sixteen-thousand hooves sounded like constant thunder, and the ground felt as if an earthquake was sundering the road beneath the tent. Unexpectedly, Sinora burst through the wall of the tent.