Chapter Twenty-Five

 

 

Jade spent the majority of the day making the rounds in the village, popping into shops to listen to her neighbors’ fears regarding the invading demon force, and the king’s militia surrounding the perimeter of their small community.

She attempted to calm her worried—and wary—friends, but there was more to the deep-seated concern than the threat of attack. She’d created upheaval and turmoil with her announcement that she intended to marry the Demon King, but she was diplomatic in placating everyone and actually quite good at soothing frayed nerves. To an extent, anyway.

Her last stop was the tavern, where she sat with the regulars and assured them the king’s army would deal swiftly with the renegades, now that their whereabouts had been narrowed down.

Michael asked, “What if these demons break through one of the barricades?”

“Then Toran and I will have to protect the villagers. In fact, it would be a good idea for everyone to remain in this general area as long as feasible tomorrow and the next day, since this is the inner sanctum, farthest away from the borders. Stay inside your homes at night, so no one’s wandering about, making a target of themselves.”

The severity of the situation did not escape anyone. Jade imagined this was the sort of tension and terror Lisette and the elders had experienced with the Demon War decades ago.

The waiting, she decided, was the hardest part. Having no idea what happened outside of Ryleigh and not being directly involved in the conflict created as much consternation as the danger against the people she’d vowed to protect.

So when Toran strutted in with a purposeful gait, she jumped from her chair and met him in front of the fireplace.

“Something happened, I can see it in your eyes,” she said, though he was clearly trying to keep a reserved visage.

“Bring your swords,” he said in a quiet voice.

She collected both, and her jacket. They left the tavern, but someone followed them. She spun around and found Michael hot on their heels.

“Whatever it is,” he said, “you can probably use another sword.”

“You don’t have a sword,” she reminded him.

Toran handed over one of his. “Do you know how to use it?”

“Of course. Not as well as either of you, but I can manage.”

“Absolutely not!” Jade was aghast at the mere suggestion Michael intended to join them.

“Jade,” Toran said, his tone dark and ominous. “We need him.”

With that, the other slayer turned abruptly and mounted his horse. Jade bristled, but Michael evidently wasn’t going anywhere.

“Fine,” she said against her better judgment. “Ride with me and do as I say.” He scowled at her, but she didn’t budge on the matter. “That’s the deal, or you might as well walk back to the tavern.”

Michael mounted with her and they followed Toran to the west woods, but slowed a quarter mile before the forest ended and opened to a flat clearing. Snow fell lightly, though not enough to obscure the visibility. Through the trees, Jade saw the commotion beyond the woods and her heart lodged in her throat.

The ragtag assembly and the black banner blowing in the breeze told her the demons gathered were not from Davian’s kingdom.

As her pulse raced, she heard riders approach from behind. She drew her sword as she tugged on the reins and confronted the newcomers. She recognized them from the recent patrols, though they’d always been on the other side of the border.

“We’ve violated code by cutting through the forest,” one of them said, “but it was the fastest way to get here.”

“How’d you know the fire wraith’s army had congregated?” she asked.

“The king sent scouts as soon as he returned to the castle. We encountered two of them just north of here, on their way to the ridge to give their report.” His gaze shifted from Jade to the menacing conglomeration of blood-thirsty demons in the snow-covered meadow, and then back. “I estimate thirty or forty here. That means there are other deployed units about to appear in varying locations and spread out along the boundary of the village—the wraith’s army has grown over the past weeks.”

“And the king’s men aren’t in place yet.” A bone-chilling sensation gripped her.

The demon said, “They’re on their way now. And the general’s army should be doubling back soon.”

“Soon is not going to help us,” Toran cut in.

Of course, Davian’s warning for the slayers to stay in the village and leave the fighting to his troops flashed in Jade’s mind. But she and Toran were already on the scene and they were the only available defenders at the moment.

Why, oh, why had she let Michael come along? She could scream from her own idiocy.

The second demon said, “We can’t allow the rebels to enter the forest. We’ll lose the wraiths and the village will be under siege within minutes.”

Damn it!

Jade had promised her neighbors no harm would come to them. Yet how the hell were she and only four others going to stop the invasion?

Thinking quickly, she said, “We have to stall them until the king’s soldiers arrive.”

“And how do you propose we do that?” Toran asked.

“Sadly, I have an idea.” Glancing over her shoulder, she told Michael, “Get down and stay back. Keep behind us, Michael, do you understand?”

“Yeah, I hear you.” He hopped to the ground and took a few steps away from them. Jade moved forward, still on horseback.

Toran remained positioned where he was and the two demons flanked Jade as she passed the last line of trees and entered the clearing, which was about to become a battlefield.

The fire wraith, sans flames at the moment, rode toward her, along with what she assumed to be his second-in-command. They stopped ten or so feet shy of Jade and her new allies.

“Vampire,” the demon on her left muttered in warning.

The presumed general/vampire spoke for the wraith. “Five against forty is hardly worthy of our time.”

She hitched her chin and said, “King Davian’s men will come.”

“Will they?” the vampire taunted in a dubious tone. “And how will they know we’re here in this very spot, when we have a half-dozen other battalions about to surround your village?”

“The king has scouts,” she countered. “I have faith in his ability to locate all of your factions.”

“Then you’ll be disappointed to know the scout from this area is dead. He never made it far enough north; never reached the castle.”

Jade’s blood ran cold. She worked down a lump of horror in her throat, but then remembered the patrolman beside her had said there’d been other scouts to witness the rogues’ gathering. Surely one of them had provided a status update to Davian?

Hoping to buy more time, she said, “If the five of us pose such little challenge, feel free to wait for the king’s militia to join us. Otherwise, if you’re confident you’ll have an easy victory over our small number, know that three are demons and the other two are slayers.” A fib, but who on her side was going to call her bluff when it came to Michael’s status?

For their part, the pair of patrolmen alongside her didn’t react to her statement about there being three demons amongst them. But she knew they had to be curious, as were Toran and Michael, most likely.

“Needless to say,” she continued in a haughty tone, attempting to keep the conversation going so the renegades didn’t advance on them for a while longer, “we’re our own force with which to be reckoned. That’s why there’s so few of us.”

The general and his leader considered this as their steeds grew restless, pawing at the drift they stood in. She wondered if the demons were able to converse telepathically, because they seemed to be deep in thought—or silent discussion.

Finally, the general said, “Shifters on our side maimed one of your slayers. I don’t see him present.”

“He’s badly injured,” she told them. “Another was sworn in. The ink’s still wet on the king’s approval,” she added, in case they’d had any way to check the registry before they’d arrived. “We are official. And deadly.”

With the fire wraith’s army engaging them, she knew there’d be no dispute over Michael’s involvement in the fight, even if he were to kill a demon. She did, however, pray one didn’t get close enough to him to even require he lift his sword.

In order to facilitate that, Jade knew she needed a solid strategy.

Feigning nonchalance over the combat scenario—though she was teeming with nervous anxiety—she said, “I’m sure you’ve surmised the odds are significantly less in your favor now that you know there are demons prepared to fight you.”

She glanced first at the one on her left, then the one on her right. With a smug expression she had to muster beyond her fear, she said, “I’m perfectly capable of holding my own. Now that I know your weaknesses.”

She gave the fire wraith a pointed look, for surely he’d informed his second that she’d not been able to successfully defend herself against his previous assaults.

“I’m well aware of your tactics and prepared to counter them,” she insisted. Not a whole truth in reality, but she could at least be earnest in saying, “I’ve seen the Demon King defeat you twice. I’ve also learned how to kill each species—and am committed to doing it if attacked by outlaws.”

Well…that wasn’t exactly all said in earnest. Jade had not yet been instructed as to how to personally take on a wraith, fire or otherwise. She hadn’t gotten that far in her lessons with Toran. But no one knew that, so she continued with what her dear friend Lisette would call a poker face.

Thinking of the villagers—and that five members of her miniscule brigade stood between the demons and her people—made her sit taller on the horse she’d borrowed from Walker, unbeknownst to him, of course.

The wraith and the general appeared lost in telepathic thought again and Jade hoped the endless moments would drag out, because every minute spent in debate had to bring Davian and his soldiers that much closer. A theory she clung to, at any rate.

But the deliberation came to a prompt halt.

The general’s gaze swept over the insignificant defense he faced and he said, “We’d waste our time in battle here, when we could advance toward the castle.”

He yanked the reins of his horse and the animal reared. When its hooves landed in the snow, the beast turned brusquely from them.

Jade suddenly thought of how both Morgan and Davian were convinced the fire wraith would never storm the castle. The force was much too large there and the wraith had divided his army to surround the village.

Thus, regardless of what the second-in-command said, their more likely tactic would be to descend upon the band of five and then proceed into the woods to threaten the village—inevitably helping their plight against the king’s men. Davian’s demons would be commanded to protect the villagers, thereby diverting and dividing the effort. If this brigade could separate the king from his men and get him alone in a vulnerable position to execute their assassination plot…

Jade’s heart wrenched. She couldn’t bear the thought of Davian falling in combat. Especially when he fought so hard to minimize the risks against her people. And because she loved him desperately.

In a split second, she made a decision based solely on instinct.

In her hand, she still held the sword she’d unsheathed when the two demons beside her had arrived. As the rogue demon’s horse trotted away, she heaved the sword, end over end, with all her might. She aimed precisely at the spot on the demon’s back that mirrored the one Toran had marked on the front of their burlap dummy when training to slay vampires. She knew if the sword ran him through, she’d kill the general.

She held her breath as her insides seized up. Everything and everyone stilled. Even the breeze that had gently whistled through the trees died.

The blade penetrated the undead, and the vamp pitched forward, then dropped to the ground.

The entire scene remained frozen in time, as shocked disbelief gripped them all. Jade gasped at how accurate she’d been and how brazenly she’d killed the wraith’s deputy.

A minute or two must have slipped by, incredulity permeating the wintry air.

Then the fire wraith lit up the dusky sky in a fit of rage. His menacing horse reared in equal fury, causing Jade’s steed to react. The two demons flanking her lurched forward on their Arabians, coming together to protect Jade as she worked to get the horse under control.

But the wraith surged toward the threesome, as did the first line of his army.

Jade pulled back. The wraith swooped in, a sword in his left hand, since Davian had hacked off the right one during the fight at the church.

She withdrew her second sword and swung it soundly. The wraith’s blade clashed with hers. She’d been prepared for the jarring impact and remained steady. Her two demon companions were instantly immersed in battle with the outlaws, and Toran charged in to join them.

Jade fought the wraith while her agitated horse responded to the fire blazing close to it. Finally, the animal jerked and launched Jade from his back. She landed in a thick bank, thankfully with her sword still in hand. Leaving his own horse, the wraith advanced on her with powerful blows that rattled Jade to the core of her being. Yet she kept swinging.

He opened his mouth and a fireball shot out. She’d been expecting it this time and skillfully dodged the fiery orb. It exploded as it connected with the tree next to her and the branches burst into flames.

Jade kept her focus on the wraith. She absorbed strike after strike against her blade, but managed to deliver a few solid hits herself. Yet her strength waned. And the heat emitted from the wraith made her burn from the inside out. Perspiration dotted her hairline. Her heart thundered. Her pulse hammered in her head. The ache in her fingers from gripping the hilt so tightly flowed into her wrists and radiated throughout her body. But she didn’t give up.

She caught Michael in her peripheral vision as he tried to assess the situation and seemingly find the best move to make in order to distract the wraith so she could better attack him.

“Michael, no!” she yelled, wanting to keep him safe.

Luckily, he was not presented with an opportunity to assist her. Though, miraculously, others were as the roar of the king’s militia suddenly echoed all around them.

Jade spared a quick glance to the north and saw at least five hundred of the king’s men charge toward the field. She knew he must have dispatched similar numbers at various points to encircle the perimeter.

In the distance, she also heard what she believed to be Morgan’s patrol, coming up behind the renegades.

A sense of relief and renewed energy vibrated within her and she found the drive to put more aggression behind her swings as she continued to challenge the fire wraith. His attention was clearly split, otherwise she likely wouldn’t have lasted as long as she did with him. Knowing this, she took advantage of the diversion when Morgan’s group trapped the wraith’s army.

She swiped at the ghost’s midsection. He let out an ear-piercing screech that sent her reeling backward. Jade stumbled, tripping over a tree stump buried in the snow. She fell on her ass again, but kept hold of her sword. The shrieking wraith lunged toward her, his blade slicing the air, targeting her. With the agility she’d gained from her work with Toran, she rolled away, unscathed.

“Jade!” Davian called out.

She could see his and Morgan’s men hastily reduce the wraith’s army. Only a few stood, and those rebel demons initiated an attack on Toran and Michael.

Jade scrambled to her feet and raced toward her friend as a shapeshifting wolf lunged at Michael.

“Stab him any place you can!” she implored.

Michael was keen enough to raise his blade and penetrate the wolf’s chest. The animal landed on the ground and thrashed in pain in the snow, howling wretchedly.

Jade ripped her gaze from that scene to check on the wraith. Davian took him on once more, so she raced toward Michael. The animal was just getting to its feet when Morgan appeared and slammed his own body into the wolf’s. They grappled in the crimson-stained snow for mere minutes before Morgan had the shifter on its back. A heartbeat later, his fingers grasped the beast’s throat and he tore the flesh and fur away.

Michael turned in apparent disgust as blood spewed in all directions. Jade sighed with relief.

“Thank you,” she said to Morgan, her breath coming in heavy pulls. “I wasn’t looking forward to doing that.”

He nodded. “But you would have, anyway.”

“Yes.”

Another shrill screech from the fire wraith made Jade whirl around, just as his sword took another swipe at her. He’d caught her off guard. She was paralyzed with fear.

“Jade!” Davian yelled once more, terror in his voice.

Morgan shoved her out of the way at the very last second and raised his own sword. Davian ran the ghost through from behind and it incinerated before their eyes, the ashes of the cloak sprinkling to the ground.

Jade’s pulse still pounded. Somehow, she managed to ask, “Can you kill something that’s already dead?”

Davian glared at her, causing a foreboding sensation to slither down her spine. “If you know where to strike.”

He marched toward her, bent at the waist and brushed his fingers over her cheek. Tenderly, despite the palpable rage coursing through him.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” he said, his voice tight. He helped her to her feet. To Morgan, he said, “My gratitude for saving her life.”

Then he stalked off and addressed his victorious men. “Five of you pile the bodies and burn them. The rest of you, follow me.”

There were other factions to conquer.

Morgan said to Jade, “He told you to stay in the village.”

“The wraith had arrived before the king’s army,” she breathlessly explained in her defense. “What were we to do? Sit and wait? Let them prey upon us without even fighting back? Without protecting ourselves or the others?”

Morgan’s jaw worked vigorously for a moment, then he said, “Don’t go to the castle, Jade. He won’t be in any mood to receive you.”

Her heart constricted at the dire expression on the general’s stony features. “Ever?”

He executed a stealthy about-face and sauntered off.

Jade’s breath was still labored from exertion, but also from the emotional pain that shredded her.

Her eyes squeezed shut as every fiber of her being burned in agony.

She’d defied Davian yet again.

And this time, the Demon King did not appear inclined to let the slight go.