Ansel ran through the third ring of Clarton. He was angry. How dare she send him away from her. She was so vulnerable out here. He needed to be by her side, protecting her. He wished he could have sent Talon or Kedan to collect Max. He should have taken Griffa with him. There was nothing that could be done about it now. He would need to find Max quickly, so he could get back to Griffa.

Ansel looked up ahead for Max, but he could not see him. He was worried about the boy. Max had just suffered a tremendous loss, and he was probably in shock. Ansel knew he himself hadn’t processed what had happened yet. Issa had been killed in front of them. She was a brave, sweet girl, and she had been killed so quickly. Ansel knew Max loved Issa very much. He didn’t know how the boy would go on.

Ansel kept running, looking all round him in the darkness and rain, trying to see a glimpse of Max. He finally heard something up ahead and to his left. He increased his pace until he came to a space between two cottages. There were a few trees there, and Ansel ran towards the noise he heard. He found Max battling the Aurumist solider.

Max was swinging his staff around blocking curses and sending curses back on his own. The solider was well-trained, and Ansel could see Max was fighting frantically. Tears were coming out of his eyes. Ansel sent a curse at the solider and ran to Max’s side. Max glance at Ansel and threw another curse at the solider. The soldier blocked it and sent one back. Ansel raised his hands to block the curse, while Max struck out his staff, causing the solider to fall on his back.

Ansel pushed out his hand and moved forward, making it where the solider could not get up. Max ran up to the solider and held his staff over the solider throat. Ansel walked up to stand besides Max.

“Why?” asked Max. “Why kill her?”

“I was trying to kill the queen,” said the solider with a grin. “It’s not my fault the queen was moved at the last minute. It doesn’t matter though. She will be dead soon enough if she isn’t already.”

“What do you mean?” asked Ansel.

The soldier only grinned. Max slashed his staff across the air above the solider. The solider jerked twice and then and moved no more. Max stood over the solider looking at him, breathing very hard.

“Max,” said Ansel quietly. “We need to go.”

“I did this, Ansel. I killed her,” whispered Max.

“No, you didn’t. This man killed Issa. This is not your fault.”

“I brought her here. I shouldn’t have come, or I should have come alone. She is dead, and it’s my fault.”

Ansel put his hand on Max’s shoulder. “You can’t think like that. You made a decision. You did not know this would happen. It shouldn’t have happened. Issa shouldn’t have been killed no matter where you took her. There shouldn’t be this much evil in the world.”

Max looked up at Ansel, tears were falling from his eyes. “What do I do now, Ansel? How will I live without her?”

Ansel didn’t know how to answer him. There was no good answer. He grabbed Max and brought him close to his side, and Max broke down and cried.

“I’m sorry, Max. I really am. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to say to you, but you will get through this. You have so many people who care about you. We can’t go on without you. Griffa needs you.” Ansel felt his body tense as he mentioned Griffa. His magic came to the surface of his skin, and it burned. He felt a sickness in his stomach.

Max sensed the change in Ansel. He pushed back lightly from Ansel. “What’s wrong? Is it Griffa?”

“Yes,” said Ansel. “We have to go back now, Max. I hope we aren’t too late.”

Max nodded. “Let’s hurry.”

They ran back together towards where they had left the others. Rain fell hard around them as the wind blew, and thunder rumbled loudly. Lightening flashed through the sky, and Ansel could barely see in front of him. He kept running towards where he knew Griffa was. His magic was unsettled, searching for its queen. Ansel knew she was in trouble. He would not lose someone else tonight, especially not Griffa.

As they approached where they had left the others, Ansel stopped and grabbed Max. They moved over to the side, close to a cottage. There were Aurumist soldiers everywhere. Ansel looked to see if he could spot Griffa, Talon, or Kedan, but there were too many soldiers. He knew Griffa and the others were fighting back. He could see soldiers fall. He could see curses and spells being flung at the soldiers.

Ansel needed to see what was going on. He looked around, and saw a tree nearby the cottage. He ran over and quickly climbed the tree to the first branch. He looked over the soldiers to see Griffa between Talon and Kedan. Talon was shooting lightening at soldiers taking out large groups, but more soldiers would appear. Griffa was waving her staff around and pushing out with her hands, causing soldiers to fall all around. Kedan was blocking curses with his sword. He was flinging back spells the best he could. Ansel watched Griffa. He saw she was leaning heavily on Talon.

Ansel was about to hop down and run towards them, when he saw a spell hit all three of them. Talon was flung to the side, and Kedan flew forward. Griffa fell hard on her side, as Ansel lost his breath for a moment. He stared at Griffa; she did not get up. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted Philo Quick hoping down from a nearby tree. He started walking towards Griffa. Ansel felt rage build up inside him, and his magic surged. He jumped out of the tree, landing low. He caught himself with his hands and ran towards the ring of soldiers. He heard Max running behind him.

Ansel flung out his hands and a large group of soldiers in the ring they had made, fell. Ansel jumped over their bodies. He landed and saw Philo send a curse towards Griffa.

“No,” he yelled.

He put up his hands trying to send a block, but he knew it would be too late. The curse would hit her, and he had no doubt it would be lethal. He watched as Kedan jumped in front of Griffa with his sword out. The curse hit the sword, and Kedan was flung to the side. Ansel ran forward, raising his hands. He saw Griffa sit up. She turned to look at him from the ground before jumping up. Talon ran up to stand by her side. He held out his hands, ready to strike. Philo put out his hand again, but Ansel got there in time, putting up a protective shield around Griffa.

Griffa took a deep breath and raised her staff. She then lowered it and swept it outwards. Philo put up his hands to block her curse, but he still flew into the night towards the forest. Griffa turned and threw out her staff and her hand. The soldiers around them crumpled to the ground. She pushed out her hand. The soldiers’ bodies flew back. Thunder rumbled, and lightening flashed, but there were no soldiers on their feet. Griffa looked out into the forest where Philo had flown, and she took off running. Talon tried to grab her, but he missed her hand. Ansel followed her. He ran fast to catch her. He reached out as he got close to her and managed to grab her arm.

“Griffa, stop,” he said urgently. She stop and turned to look at Ansel. He pulled her to him. “Where are you going?” Griffa winced and looked up at him. Ansel looked down at her hand to see blood running down her wrist, mixing in with the rain.

“I have to get to Philo. I can end him tonight,” said Griffa. Ansel saw she had a wild look in her eyes.

“No, not tonight, Griffa. You are injured.”

“He will keep causing pain and misery. He must be stopped.”

He’s probably gone by now. You are exhausted. You are hurt and in shock. We need to get back to Abscon. You need to be healed. You need to be there for Max.”

Griffa looked out into the forest and then her shoulders dropped. Ansel brought her into his arms. She put her arms around him, and she cried. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I sent you away. I shouldn’t have sent you away. I wasn’t thinking. I just couldn’t lose Max.”

“I know. I’m not angry, Griffa. It’s alright. Where are you injured?” he asked quietly.

“It is nothing. It can wait,” said Griffa pushing away slightly.

“Griffa, let me see,” said Ansel.

Griffa unfastened her cloak, and pulled down the shoulder of her dress. Ansel moved her wet hair and looked to see a large wound on her shoulder. Blood ran freely from it. Ansel looked up at Griffa concerned.

“How are you even standing with this?”

“It’s nothing,” said Griffa. “It can wait. I need to check on the others. I need to get to Max.”

Ansel placed his hand gently on her wound. He closed his eyes and willed his magic to help her. Griffa hissed and then was silent, closing her eyes. Ansel watched as the wound closed up, leaving rough skin in its place. He covered up her shoulder and refastened her soaking cloak. Griffa opened her eyes and leaned forward onto Ansel. He put his arm around her.

“Are you okay?” he asked quietly in her ear.

“Yes, I’m just very tired.”

“We have to get home,” said Ansel kissing her forehead.

They walked back to Talon who was sitting by Kedan on the ground. Griffa quickly walked to Kedan’s side and kneeled down.

“Kedan,” she said taking his hand. “Are you alright?”

“I think so. My leg, side and back are killing me, but it’s not too bad.”

Griffa smiled sadly at him. She put her hand on his chest and closed her eyes. Kedan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Griffa opened her eyes, and put her hand over the wound on his leg. After a moment, the skin knitted together. “Can you get up and walk?”

“Yes,” said Kedan. Griffa and Talon stood up, Talon helping Kedan to his feet.

Griffa carefully hugged Kedan, and he put his arms around her. “Thank you,” she said against his chest. Kedan responded by quickly dropping a kiss on her head and letting her go.

Ansel put his hand on Kedan’s shoulder and smiled at him. Ansel couldn’t put into words the thankfulness he felt towards Kedan at the moment. Kedan smiled and nodded, seeming to understand what Ansel was trying to say.

“I will always do everything I can to protect my queen,” said Kedan to Ansel.

Ansel saw Griffa looked at Talon. It looked like he had attempted to heal his own wounded face. The skin looked very rough. Ansel watched as Griffa reached up and touched it gently.

“You could have waited for me to do that,” she said. “I’ll have to put something on it, when we get back.”

Talon grabbed her hand and held it, looking at her with concern. “Are you alright?”

“I am, we need to get home,” said Griffa, as she let go of Talon’s hand.

They all walked over to Max who was sitting next to Issa’s body. Griffa knelt down next to Max, and put her arm around him. “Let’s get her home, Max,” said Griffa softly. “We can come back for her father tomorrow. He will be alright after the potion.”

Max looked up at Griffa and nodded. “I will go with Max and Issa,” said Griffa. “Ansel, I’m afraid your two guards didn’t make it. I never saw the other three.”

Ansel kneeled down next to Griffa. “I will travel with you, Griffa. I won’t leave your side until we get home. I will send some guards back to check for the other three.”

Griffa nodded. “Let’s go home.”

They traveled to the gates of Abscon. The storm had passed there, leaving a clearing sky. Max carried Issa through Abscon, as Ansel walked with his arm around Griffa. Kedan and Talon followed them in silence. Ansel looked at Griffa to see silent tears falling down her face. He felt tears in his own eyes. He tightened his arm around Griffa, bringing her very close to him. When they got to the manor, Ansel saw them to the door. Max walked in with Issa’s body, and Talon and Kedan followed him. Ansel stopped Griffa before she went in the house by grabbing her hand.

“I will go tell some of my guards to go check on the three we left behind. I will also check in at the temple about Issa. I will see if they can come get her tonight to prepare for her send off. Will you let Max know what is going to happen?”

Griffa nodded with tears in her eyes. Ansel took her other hand and made her face him.

“I will not leave you long. I will be back tonight.”

“I know,” said Griffa tearfully.

She looked up and put her hand on Ansel’s cheek. He grabbed it with his own hand, kissing it slowly and bringing it down to his side. He leaned in and gently kissed Griffa. He then brought her into his arms and held her. He had come so close to losing her once again. He did not want to let her go. He wanted to hold her like this forever, keeping her safe in his arms.

“I hate to leave you. I will try to come back as quick as I can. Stay in the manor. I know we should be safe here, but while I am gone, do not be alone. Stay with the others,” he said as he held her.

Griffa nodded into his chest. “I love you,” he said quietly

He could feel her body shaking from crying. He kissed the top of her head and held her as she cried. She finally pushed back and wiped her tears with her hands.

“Go,” she said smiling slightly. “Go do what needs to be done. I will go take care of Max.”

Ansel turned to go, when Griffa stopped him. “I love you, too, Ansel. I love you more than anything in this kingdom. I really do, never doubt it.”

Ansel gave her a curious look, but she only smiled sadly at him. He turned and walked towards the temple.