Book 3 Chapter 40

“You…” Maria started, glaring at the man that had caused her village so much grief. It was bad enough seeing him again when they were ambushed in the tunnels, but he had to appear now of all times…

“Hello again!” Reynolds said condescendingly, “So sad to see the brat isn’t here with you… But I’m sure I can leave him a nice surprise!” He raised his hand, flame and heat condensing into a bright point. He laughed as he threw it forward, distorting the air around it as it hurtled towards them.

Maria’s hand flicked up, golden light spilling from her hand as a barrier rose in front of her. The flare struck the light and immediately exploded, shaking the room and throwing flame and smoke in front of them.

“I wonder how that boy will feel once he sees your charred corpse!” Reynolds yelled as he threw another. “Don’t worry, I can do this all day! How long can you last without him to protect you?”

Maria’s first clenched as she resisted the urge to charge straight at the man and put her fist through his face. Reynolds was one of the few people that Maria could confidently say she hated. She still remembered the fierce heat and pained cries from when his men had invaded her village… The graves that she had helped dig…

Even after he had run away and left Nile’s service, instead of keeping his head down, he had lent himself out to the Confederation, happily following their orders as he burnt village after village along the border of Lutel and Rasor.

Maria glanced behind her… More than a few children had yet to enter the passageway. And even once they got in, if Reynolds filled the way with fire… No… She thought to herself, she wasn’t going to let that happen…

She looked over towards Garm as she counted her options. The wolf stood, teeth shining and hackles raised as he growled at the man in front of them. Garm remembered Reynolds as well…

The bloody wound that his flare had left on the guardian’s body was seared into Maria’s mind. Tirr’s Blessings were the only thing that could hurt Garm… And as twisted as the shard’s power was, its source was still the same…

Thinking about it, Maria realized the guardian wouldn’t be able to use his full strength here in this underground room, not without bringing the whole building and maybe more down around them… As Maria held the barrier, ignoring Reynold's taunting calls, she wondered what she should do… She turned to Silk next, looking over the young lady and her white masked guard. “Can you fight?” She asked abruptly…

“Me? Of course, not… Jena does my fighting for me…” Silk answered, motioning with one hand to the guard who still stood protectively in front of her. She glanced with worried eyes as another flare hit the barrier just a few feet from them and exploded, causing the protective layer to shimmer briefly

“Besides aren’t we escaping with the children? Or better yet, that god will be coming soon right? Just keep doing what you’re doing and that god of yours will come take care of them.” The fashionably dressed young woman shivered as she looked at the opening. “That way I can avoid going into that disgusting passage.”

“I can’t hold this for long…” Maria admitted, sweat already beading at her brow. “I should be able to last until the children get in but won’t be able to hold it while going in myself. And if we just wait and Tirr doesn’t get here…” Maria left the rest unsaid.

Silk frowned, flinching slightly as another flare hit the barrier. “Then we have to fight. Jenna can take care of the white mask… I think that one belongs to Dice… You won’t have too much trouble with him will you Jena?”

“No miss…” Jena answered flatly, reminding Maria of Sera.

Maria nodded, “Alright then, we’ll wait until the children finish getting in. Silk you’ll go after them and we’ll give you a bit of time…” She turned to Jena, “If you can keep him away from me, I’ll try to take care of Reynolds… Garm! You’ll need to take care of the other two okay? Then help her afterward if needed…”

Garm shook himself in acknowledgment, ready to charge the moment the barrier was released. The remaining children were helped into the tunnel as quickly as possible until finally the last one slowly worked their way into the crevice.

Silk waited for a moment, “Come quickly once you finish Jena, I don’t want to deal with the children by myself…” She entered as well, a slight expression of distaste on her face as she contorted to enter.

Maria waited for a few minutes after she entered, glad that it had gone as quickly as it had. Already she could feel her faith was diminishing faster and faster. After giving Silk enough to get ahead, she signaled to Silk and Garm, waiting for the next flare to explode against the barrier.

Another impact rocked against the barrier and as the flames spread and started to weaken, Maria whispered, “Now…” She pulled back her Blessing, letting the heat wash over her as she charged out of the smoke and flames, a pair of white wings spreading from her back…