Page 35 of The Awakening of Essensia

8

War Cries

The sky was streaked with crimson and indigo as the three riders burst from the forest. They galloped ahead of the creeping shadows, the sun’s last rays slipping behind the mountain peaks, taking Amrien’s protection with them.

A screech echoed from behind.

Vaelira bent low over Millie’s neck, urging the mare faster. Hooves pounded against the road, kicking up dirt and rock, each strike in rhythm with her hammering heart. Far ahead, along the base of the mountains, torches flickered to life, tiny pinpricks of orange in the gloom.

“Faster!” Jurah shouted. There was the sound of steel being freed from a scabbard. “Go!”

Vaelira turned in the saddle. Jurah had wheeled his horse around, his sword raised as he charged back towards the forest.

Ahead of her, Eli slowed. The sunset bathed his back in gold. “Ride ahead!” he called, turning to follow Jurah into the shadows.

Her mind raced. They were buying her time to escape, but if it hadn’t been for her, they would be safe behind the gates of Allen by now.

She hauled Millie to a stop, unslung her bow, and turned. She kicked the mare hard, drawing an arrow in the same breath, before galloping straight towards whatever creature had decided to brave the dusk.

As she neared them, a dark shape took form. Crouching low to the ground, the demon snarled, snapping as the two men circled. It was worse than anything she could have imagined. Its maw gaped open, its rows of razor-sharp teeth slick with black drool that slid over its lipless mouth.

It lunged for Eli’s horse, jaws snapping with a reverberating THUNK like an axe blade on wood. The horse didn’t flinch.

The demon lashed out again, claws slicing the air.

Vaelira loosed her arrow. The shaft drove into a black eye with a wet thud. Its head snapped towards her, the arrow protruding from the socket. It shrieked deafeningly and charged.

Millie reared with a wild scream, lashing out with her front hooves. Vaelira’s bow fell to the ground as she clung onto the saddle, the mare landing hard. There was a sickening crunch.

The creature collapsed beneath them, skull caved in, its four limbs twitching violently. Its long talons clawed the earth, attempting to drag its ruined body towards her. Millie stepped backwards into the last slither of light, the sun a deep red glow over the mountain ridge.

Jurah dismounted, his blade swinging down and slicing through the thick flesh and bone of the demon’s neck. It went still. Its body shifted slightly, like black sand under the tide, then it was ash, floating away on the wind.

A shriek sounded from the forest.

Another answered from the mountains.

Soon the air was filled with the unearthly war cries of demons closing in from all sides.

Vaelira’s eyes streamed as they thundered towards the towering gates of Allen. The shrieking of the demons was relentless, each overlapping the other to make a single, sickening scream. She imagined black talons piercing the skin of her back, teeth ripping into Millie’s flanks.

Jurah surged ahead, his voice booming. “In the name of His Royal Highness, open the gates!” he bellowed. “Open the gates!”

The great doors groaned open. Too slowly. They were going to ride straight into them.

Jurah kept his pace and Vaelira could do nothing but surrender the reins as Millie followed, the mare just as aware of the imminent threat as her rider. They shot through the narrow gap, knees almost brushing the gates as they barrelled into a large courtyard.

“What in the Abyss were you thinking?” Eli demanded, reining his horse to a sudden stop and dismounting.

Millie shifted as he approached. Vaelira looked to the gates, the threat outside worrying her more than the one bearing down on her, but they were already shut, and salts, they were at least twice the height of Anhaven’s.

Jurah rode up and swung down, planting himself between her and Eli.

“People are watching,” he said, a warning in his voice.

Eli stilled, his jaw clenching as he glanced at the curious faces gathering in the courtyard. Behind him, a second pair of gates swung open, revealing a torchlit road winding between buildings. A man in a sweeping robe descended the stairs, slightly out of breath and leaning on a thin cane.

“I’ll handle this,” said Jurah, hurrying to intercept the newcomer.