Book 2 Chapter 46

“Fire Shard users?” Tirr questioned, his brow furrowing as he considered the implications.

“More of them?” Torvus added, “I thought that Reynolds guy was the only one who wasn’t one of yours?”

Claire shook her head, “When Tirr first absorbed the shard not everyone was happy with having to follow him. Some of the older Shard users who had survived the ceremonies before he came weren’t happy with having to follow a child. Several of them disappeared before he could take their shard and give them the Blessing.”

“Blasphemers…” Nerida muttered quietly to herself.

“If some of them were working for the Confederation...” Maria started, thinking back to the fireball that had started the battle.

“The attacks just now, they didn’t look preplanned…”Torvus said uneasily, “ Rasor looked just as confused and shocked by them as Lutel… On a battlefield, it wouldn’t be hard for them to mix in with the other Rasor troops…”

“And if a few Water Priests working for the confederation coordinated it right…” Nerida continued, leaving the thought unfinished.

They turned back to the battlefield below them, the two armies clashed in a brutal deadlock. Blood and screams flowed freely as the countries fought tooth and nail.

Tirr’s teeth clenched as he watched, he turned towards Maria, gesturing towards the princeling on her back. She took the child down, confused, but obediently handed him over to the young god.

“I’m not letting them get their way…” He turned towards the others, speaking quickly as he set the small prince against his back. “If we're going to stop this, we need to make sure no one there fanning the flames. Maria, Claire, go down to Rasor’s side and find the Shard Users hiding with the Fire Blessed. Then get Claus to pull back…”

Claire grinned, grabbing Maria’s hand before pulling her as they took off running towards Rasor’s side of the field.

He watched them go before turning towards and eager looking Nerida and Torvus, “You two do the same but with the Water Priests… Catch whoever it was that helped kick this off so they can’t start more trouble.”

Nerida gave Torvus a disgusted look but didn’t argue, she simply sighed as she looked back at Tirr, “As you will, my Lord.”

“Good, I’m going to give your friend Agir his son back and convince him to withdraw as well. I’m not letting this happen anymore, this land is mine and I won't have this meaningless bloodshed.”

Nerida eye’s sparkled as she watched the determination in the young God’s eyes. He took off running with the young princeling on his back towards where the Lutellian command was set up.”

She sighed happily as she watched him before turning with a scowl towards Torvus, “You can speed us up right?”

Torvus couldn’t help but chuckle at the difference in attitudes and simply nodded, channeling the shard on the back of his neck. He and Nerida moved quickly, Their bodies shifting faster than what seemed humanly possible as they headed down towards the battleline.

Tirr ran down the hill, faith coursing through him as he channeled the Blessing of Life. The child on his back stirred, uncomfortably with the sudden speed. “Hold on, we’ll see your Dad soon…” Tirr shushed him as he reached the bottom of the hill and started towards Lutel’s command post.

As he moved through the plains, the field muddy and churned from the steps of thousands, he noticed the guards around the command move. He heard them shouting and yelling before turning towards him. He lifted an arm to wave when he saw a group of archers move to the front. He cursed as he watched them draw, firing a volley of arrows toward him.

The arrows came plunging through the sky at him and the young princeling, darkening the sky above him. He sped up, channeling his blessing as a shimmering shield appeared in front of him. The arrows crashed against the barrier by the dozens as even more fell around him. Tirr grunted, drained by the sudden expenditure.

“Stop it, you idiots!” He yelled back at them, “I’m trying to give your King his son back!” He couldn’t tell if they could hear him but guessed not as the archers fell back and the spearmen took the front, preparing for his oncoming charge.

He cursed again as he drew closer towards the spear line and focused his Blessing into his legs. Just before he collided with the deadly barricade, he crouched, his body tightening like a spring before launching himself up. His body disappeared in a flash and the guards were left confused as they looked for him.

Meanwhile, Tirr soared through the air, the child at his back laughing happily at the ride. He landed in the middle of the command unit, the ground shaking beneath him as he crashed down. He grit his teeth, making sure the impact didn’t reach the child increased his own strain.

Around him, concerned yells and warnings sounded as the guards tried to react to the sudden intruder. Just as they began to surround him, an angry voice called them to stillness. Agir appeared, his horse trotting up towards where Tirr stood. His eyes locked on the toddler Tirr carried with a sense of confusion and disbelief.

He jumped off his horse, crossing the short distance between them instantly. He grabbed the child from Tirr and swung him happily in his arms. The child squealed in delight clinging to his father as Agir held him close.

“You got your son…” Tirr said plainly as he watched the reunion. “So stop this war…”

Agir looked down at the young god, still holding his son tightly in his arms. He looked back at his son giving him a quick check over. “Then the people that took him?”

“We can talk about that later, for now, people are dying.”

Agir nodded and called back towards his men to start issuing orders. Horns blared as signals went out quickly and Tirr let out a sigh of relief… Until he noticed the frown on Agirs face moments later.

He looked towards the battle and didn’t see any sign of the fighting slowly. He turned towards Agir angrily, “You got your son! Order them to retreat already!”

Agir turned back to him, confusion clear on his face, “I did…”