ASHALAN

Ashalan looked at Elyusian's father, his arrows were also running low and what was left of the cottage was crumbling around them.

“Timian, I will create a diversion so you can escape. It is me that they're after.” Ashalan said gently, as she went to kneel next to him and softly put her hand on his shoulder. He looked exhausted.

Elyusian's father shook his head.

“I will stay to help protect you Princess. Our village owes your Kingdom and your father so much, he came to our aid when the great fires swept through our crops and our people were starving. He and his guard sent food and resources to feed us and to help rebuild our agriculture. The least I could do is help his daughter.” Timian said, turning to Ashalan and giving her a tired smile.

“I am grateful for your offer Timian, but it is a royal order. You must escape and catch up to Elyusian, help her get the amulet to...” She didn't finish her sentence or get to hear his reply. A burst of blue flame shot through the window and grazed Timian’s arm, he winced in pain as it seared his flesh.

Seraphine’s guards stormed the cottage, kicking through the rubble. Ashalan conjured a ball of fire within her palm and threw it at them as they advanced forwards, striking a handful of the men and sending them flying backwards.

One of the guards threw a club at her, hitting her in the stomach, winding her and knocking her to the ground. Trying to catch her breath, she sucked in large gulps of air causing her to feel lightheaded and slightly disorientated. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Elyusian's father slumped over and guards grabbing him and picking him up, to drag him out unconscious.

Ashalan leapt forward to try and stop them, but she was grabbed from behind and pushed to the ground. She was then quickly pulled to her feet, two guards holding each arm so she couldn’t escape. Trying to wriggle free, Ashalan began to rub her fingers together to make a spark but a bucket of cold water was thrown at her dousing any flame.

As she was escorted to the town centre, she thought of Elyusian and hoped that she had managed to get far enough away to get a good head start on Seraphine’s guards. They were still to learn that Ashalan no longer had the amulet, so she hoped that this also gave Elyusian an advantage.

Ashalan looked at all the destruction they had caused. Most of the cottages were reduced to piles of rubble and others were on fire, sending big plumes of smoke high into the night air, blotting out the stars in the sky. Her heart sank at the sight of elf villagers running and screaming as they were chased and captured by Seraphine’s guards. Dragged her heels, she tried again to wriggle free to help them but to no avail, the guards held her tight.

The guards came to a stop, pushing Ashalan down to her knees and pointing their swords at her to keep her there. With her head bowed, she clenched her teeth, ready to fight given the opportunity.

“You think you will win this game playing the way that you’re playing? I have to say, it’s been an extremely poor performance so far and quite disappointing to watch if I’m being honest.” A female voice said sarcastically from above her.

Ashalan’s head jerked up to see Seraphine standing above her.

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“Game? What do you mean game?” Ashalan asked, through her gritted teeth.

Seraphine went to answer but was interrupted by a disturbance near the caged carts. Some of the elves had overpowered one of the guards and were attacking him with rocks they’d found on the ground. More guards were running to his aid, yelling and waving their swords as they did so. While Seraphine and the guards around Ashalan were distracted, Ashalan took her chance and leapt to her feet, jumping towards Seraphine.

Seraphine turned and swiftly flicked her fingertips sending a spark of blue lighting crackling around her, stopping Ashalan in mid air and throwing her backwards, causing her to land violently on the ground. Ashalan groaned, dazed she quickly got to her feet, snapping her own fingertips and blowing on them to light a spark. Rubbing the spark between her palms, she balled up a sphere of energy and sent it flying towards Seraphine.

Lifting her cloak in front of herself, Seraphine stopped the sphere and it exploded on the cloak, the energy dispersing across the material. Seraphine lowered the cloak again and Ashalan could see her scowling face appear from behind it.

Dropping her cloak, Seraphine raised her arms into the air and blue light crackled from her fingertips once more. She threw her arms forward and unleashed a torrent of electric energy at Ashalan, enveloping her and sending her backwards.

The force of the attack knocked the breath from Ashalan’s lungs and she gasped for air as the magic took hold and rendered her prone on the ground. Coughing, she raised herself up on her arms, dirt and mud covering her face and clothes. Two guards came over and grabbed her, pulling her to her feet once more. They walked her back to Seraphine and pushed her down so that she kneeled before the sorceress.

The guards then held her steady while Seraphine walked around her.

“So Princess, you have eluded capture for some time now but you are finally back in my…care.” Seraphine smirked. “I see you’re missing a piece of my jewellery?”

“It doesn’t belong to you.” Ashalan said as she clenched her teeth and fists angrily.

“Where is the amulet?” Seraphine demanded, putting the end of her staff under Ashalan’s chin then using it to lift Ashalan’s face so she could look at her.

“You're meant to be all seeing and all knowing, why don't you tell me?” Ashalan said, giving Seraphine a wry smile, her stance strong and defiant.

The older woman's face contorted with rage and the sorceress raised her staff to strike her. Ashalan prepared herself for the blow but Seraphine stopped. She lowered the staff and smiled evilly.

“Prepare yourself for torture Princess, you will tell me where the Jewel Of Dragonsfire is and it will be more pleasing to break your spirit and syphon your magic. Take her away before she starts the transformation.” Seraphine seethed, the guards nodded and grabbed Ashalan around the wrists.

Ashalan looked up to see a hooded man lean in to whisper in Seraphine’s ear, in the chaos she hadn’t seen him approach. His eyes were like Seraphine’s, full of hate and darkness and his skin had an unhealthy pallor. She shuddered as he glanced at her.

“My love, our time is close, we want people to have a taste of what is to come. To begin to fear us.” He whispered leaning closer to Seraphine but with his eyes on Ashalan. Hearing every word he spoke, Ashalan wondered what he meant.

The sorceress nodded then raised her staff.

Ashalan watched in horror as Seraphine chanted a spell and conjured the air around her. She swept it up into a whirlwind then threw it at a cart full of the captured elves. Screams and cries rang out as the magical wind tore through them, ripping their souls from their bodies, carrying them back to Seraphine who waited with a gleeful look upon her face. Opening up her arms, the wind of souls cascaded down into her chest, enhancing her aura with a golden glow before it faded.

Seraphine’s skin radiated with pure light, illuminating her complexion with a more youthful glow. Ashalan looked over to where the cart was, the elves remained standing but between life and death, their eyes black holes of darkness. She felt bile rise in her stomach as she buried the urge to scream out in horror.

Cackling Seraphine lowered her staff and turned her focus on Ashalan. Seeing the glint of pure malice in Seraphine's eyes, Ashalan felt shivers run up her spine before she was turned and led away.