The Blessed Curse (The Elder Blood Chronicles Book 4)(15)

“You aren’t fighting with us?” Madren asked, turning to watch Shade go with a look of bewilderment.

“There are dragons on the field. I’m going to be fighting where I function the best,” Shade answered as he tossed a storage gem into the air and caught it. Looking back at them he smiled and winked at Madren. “I will be looking out for you from above,” he promised as he tossed the gem once more and caught it lightly.

“I’ll be praying a dragon manages to swallow your ship,” Neph replied, his gaze already back on the battlefield. From what he could tell, Jala had managed to keep the Hellfire from reaching any of her forces.

“And I’ll hope like hell that if that happens the bastard chokes on my ship and falls on you,” Shade called back faintly, his form already disappearing into the ranks of waiting soldiers.

“I hope everyone I fight beside, lives,” Madren said quietly and glanced at Neph. “Even the complete *s,” he added softly.

“If you were hoping for something sentimental from me in return, you are wasting your breath,” Neph grumbled without bothering to glance at Madren. His focus was fully on the Rivasan forces. “Get on your horse, Madren, and get your men ready to charge. We have Rivasans to kill,” Neph ordered quietly.

“She must be impressive.” His Aunt’s voice rose from the ranks beside him and Neph turned to look at her. She was the only family he had left among the living, and the only one in his family that he had ever truly respected. To see KayDelvayon still among the living when he had arrived in Goswin was a blessing from the Divine in his eyes. Without her help, he would have found the process of taking over leadership of his people a much bloodier affair than it had been. So far he only had to kill two men for challenging him. Without Kay’s support, the number would have been much higher and he knew it.

“Jala? She is, but you will see for yourself after the fight,” Neph agreed, his gaze moving back to the field.

“We are horribly outnumbered here, Neph. Are you sure we will see anything after the fight?” Kay asked. Her voice was steady, though, with no sign of fear in it.

“We will win today,” Neph replied firmly, his eyes searching for Jala, though he knew it was a useless endeavor. He had no hope of spotting her in the valley where she had chosen to make her stand. His muscles tensed as the Rivasans launched another wave of fire into the mouth of the valley and he dropped the shroud of magic he had been holding over his small forces. “Now!” he bellowed, his voice ringing clearly through the entire grove. His heels dug deeply into the side of his snow cat and the beast launched forward in a powerful leap. Battle cries rang out on all sides as the men and women of Delvay followed him.

The Rivasan forces wheeled to meet the charge, though by the expression on their faces they had not expected the attack at all. The lines he was hitting now were reserves and given how badly the Rivasans outnumbered Jala’s forces, Neph guessed these men hadn’t thought they would see fighting at all today. He smiled at the thought of proving them wrong. The Rivasans had barely managed to get their shields up and their swords drawn as the combined might of Delvay and Goswin slammed into them. The Rivasan lines bowed dangerously but somehow they managed to hold and Neph found himself packed in the middle of tight lines with chaos surrounding him on all sides. Gritting his teeth, he pulled on his magic to speed his attacks. His sword flashed in and out of the fight as he seized every opportunity for a clean strike. In truth, his mount was likely doing more damage than he was at the moment, but then that was what the creatures were bred for. The Snow Cats of Delvay were legendary for their savagery in battle.

A distant cry across the field drew his attention for a bare breath and he glanced up long enough to see Flameriders pouring through the Hellfire the Rivasans had summoned. Hope rose in his chest as the odds against them lessened and he returned to the fight with enthusiasm. Blood sprayed across his cheek as a Delvay rider beside him fell, and he hastily tightened the lines and pushed forward to take up the slack from his fallen comrade.

“You just need to hold the lines for a few more minutes.” The voice beside him was an unfamiliar one, though it was obvious the man was talking to him. “Oblivion will be hitting from the other flank very soon, NephonDelvayon. Hold these lines just a bit longer and then you must get to Jala,” the man continued. He was slight of build, though the muscles on his wiry frame showed he was no stranger to fighting. His armor was mismatched with chain and plate and even places of nothing more than leather, but his bearing was that of a seasoned warrior. Despite his ragged appearance, the red-haired man was obviously no stranger to battle. He glanced over at Neph and winked. “Watch out,” he called with a smile.