Book 2 Chapter 48

Claire’s steps slowed as they reached the center formation. Spotting an officer, she worked her way through to him quickly. “Commander Kanor!”

“Princess!” The officer saluted, his guards following suit, “Glad to see you got away from those Salt lickers.” He gave her a grin, “Knew they couldn’t hold onto the Wildfire Princess… The centerline is currently holding, in good part thanks to your knights. The King ordered us to only hold so we haven’t tried to push out but with you, we could break through and have them scattered in no time.”

“No Kannor,” Claire shook her head as she looked out towards the fighting. “Prepare to fall back, my Brother should be sounding the retreat soon, this battle should have never started…”

The commander’s eyes narrowed at the order, “If I may Princess, this is the best chance we’ve ever had to put this to rest. I know you’ve been working on a peace treaty but… The raids, holding you hostage, and now this invasion…”

“There's more going on than you know commander…” Claire said giving the man a steely look, “You have your orders…”

She watched as the man’s jaw clenched before relaxing as he nodded and gave the orders to his assistants.

“Where’s Knight Captain Jill?” The princess asked once he was done.

The former maid had been the first person Claire passed her blessing to. Having lived past the death of their childhood friend and her fellow maid Kerri, she had devoted herself to her new blessing, training constantly, and had been one of the first under Claire to reach the rank of Disciple. As more of the former shard users were converted and the Red Knights were forming, Claire placed her as their leader.

“Knight Captain Jill and Vice Captain Iesa are both with the King, There was an attempt on his life… Luckily,” He nodded to Maria, “A few of your people were with him at the time, they fought them off but those two and the big man Doron have been guarding him since.”

Claire frowned at the news, “Where are my followers then?”

“Dispersed amongst the front line. Kept well safe with guards so you don't have to worry.”

“Do you know who set off the attack earlier?”

The commander shook his head, “Haven’t had the time since the battle broke out. Guessing one of the newer ones just broke under the pressure. Happens in like that, unfortunately.”

Claire nodded, “Call them here, now.”

“Your Highness?”

“Don’t tell them I’m here… Just make something up, but have them all brought here immediately…”

The commander frowned, obviously confused, but saluted and set to follow her instructions.

Claire and Maria stepped into his tent to keep out of sight as they waited.

“I’ll handle it myself. Claire said into the silence eventually. “I want to make them pay for the deaths they caused.”

Maria didn't reply and soon Commander Kanor returned signaling to the Princess that her knights had been gathered.

They went back outside and immediately saw Claire's followers lined up in formation.

“What’s going on here Kan…?” Claire heard one of them, a disciple of hers, start to ask as she stepped out.

“Princess, he interrupted himself, saluting quickly.

Claire didn’t speak to the man and he quickly sensed something dangerous in her attitude. Instead, she looked at the over two dozen Knights lined up in front of her. They stood at attention waiting for her to speak. Claire walked through them, her eyes hawkish as she passed through the lines one at a time.

Eventually, as she was moving through them, feeling for the connection between her Blessing. Her eyes met those of a young man in the back row. His face seemed familiar, but not enough to stand out in her memory. Yet as she looked at him, she knew she had found what she was looking for.

The young man seemed to realize it too. He cursed, his hand raising in front of himself flames sprang to life. Before he could launch his attack though, Claire launched her own.

She reached out, grabbing the sword of the Knight next to her and pulling it out and back in one smooth motion. In what felt like the blink of an eye, before the young man even finished cursing, or the knight who’s sword she took could react, she thrust the sword forward. Her hair fluttering with flames as her eyes blazed. Fire raced out the tip of the sword, shaping itself into a beam of crimson light.

The beam of fire struck the young man before disappearing, leaving the shimmering air it had passed through as the only evidence it had existed. As the Red Knights looked in shock, they saw a clean hole, the size of a fist. The beam had burned straight through, starting in the man’s hand before passing through his chest, just where the heart would be.

Claire returned the knight’s blade, looking down at the corpse hatefully. She stepped forward, feeling the tainted source that she had been looking for. She bent down pulling his sleeve up to reveal the pulsing shard that lay embedded in the skin of the young man’s left arm.

“Princess…” The disciple started, understanding dawning. Horns suddenly blared from the back and around them, orders for the retreat were quickly shouted.

“We’re retreating!” Claire ordered, turning away from the corpse. Her knights saluted following orders as they moved with the retreating troops. Maria watched as Claire walked towards her with a sigh.

“You alright?” Maria asked tenderly…

“No…” Claire sighed hugging her. “I want to go play with Tirr…”

“I know…” Maria patted her back as the army around them prepared to fall back.

“Princess,” Commander Kanor appeared, eyeing the corpse lying on the ground. “I’ve ordered the retreat but the Lutel army is pursuing us.

“God will handle it…” Claire said confidently, "For now focus on limiting casualties as much as possible…” She separated from Maria, “Let's go see my brother..”