Aedon saw a streak of black. An arrow blossomed from the Zombi’s left eye. Aedon looked around and saw Sean holding his bow. He had another arrow ready to go.

“Show off!” Aedon said.

“Not really,” Sean laughed. “I was aiming for the right.”

The Zombi took a step back and ripped the arrow out of the socket. The eyeball was still skewered on the point. It took a step forward, and another arrow sprouted from his right eye.

“Now, I’m showing off!” Sean yelled.

The men cheered as the Zombi fell to the ground. It thrashed about trying to find the shaft. A column of flame erupted and engulfed the struggling creature. The men cheered louder.

Nearly a dozen piles of ash now littered the field. If this kept up, they wouldn’t need reinforcements. At least, not until the other Zombi arrived.

“We have a problem!” Alexis screamed.

“What is it?” Aedon asked.

“I’m only getting a trickle of energy suddenly,” Alexis said.

Another Zombi broke from the line and spoke. “That’s right, half-mage. Now that your real mage is drained, I no longer need to feed power to my Zombi. Enjoy the slaughter.”

Aedon looked at Reka. He was sitting on the wagon floor with his back to the wall. “Is he telling the truth? Are you done?”

Reka tried to stand. “Almost,” he said. “That last one was harder than it should have been. He’s been waiting for this.”

Aedon heard a scream. He looked down the line and saw a man fall from the wagon. He fell forward into the mass of Zombi. Four of them stopped attacking and began dismembering the poor fellow.

“Alexis,” Aedon shouted. “How much power do you have left?”

“Very little,” she cried. “It’s like these things aren’t even alive.”

The Zombi pressed the walls, and his men’s screams came more frequently.

“It is time to consider retreat,” Reka said.

“Are you joking,” Aedon said. “We couldn’t disengage now if we wanted.”

“Aedon,” Sean yelled, “look!”

Sean was pointing behind them, toward the town. Aedon turned to look. He jumped from the wagon and started running.

Mika was shimmying down the wall of one of the rear wagons. As soon as her feet hit the ground, she turned and ran to him.

“Mika!” He said. “Get back to the Inn. Tell everyone to flee now!”

Mika came to him. Her face was grave. “I’ve come to help, Papa.”

“No, Mika,” Aedon said. “You need to get out of here.”

She pulled Domhain from her pouch. “No, Papa. I have to help.”

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When he tried to speak again, she reached up and put a finger to his lips. “It’s ok, Papa. Don’t be afraid.”

She walked to the lead wagon, and Ulf, of all people, helped her up.

“I’m going to kill you,” Aedon muttered.

He rushed to join Mika. She had to get out while there was still time.

The ground trembled. He fell down and had to crawl. He couldn’t make it to the lead wagon, so he settled for the closest one. The shaking increased, and it was all he could do to stay on all fours.

He grabbed the edge of the wagon wheel and tried to get to his feet. He made it to a knee, and the trembling stopped. As quickly as he could, he climbed into the wagon. What he saw nearly made him fall out again.

A rolling wave of earth carried the Zombi away from his men. He could occasionally see one tumbling and flailing about before the wave swallowed it up again.

He turned and saw Mika holding Domhain high and staring into the distance.

The wave carried the Zombie several hundred yards away and vanished. Mika might have just bought them enough time to regroup.

“Bows!” He shouted. “Grab your damn bows!”

Already the Zombi were on their feet and rushing the wall. The ground trembled again.

Another wave of earth formed halfway between the Zombi and the wall. It didn’t advance, though.

The wave separated into small mounds. The mounds writhed. Roots and rocks mixed with the black earth to form roughly human shapes. They stood, awaiting the charge.

“I don’t believe it,” he said softly.

Apparently, neither did anyone else. His entire force stood silent, transfixed by the scene before them. Mika still stood in the wagon, holding her stone up. She swayed a little, but her eyes remained fixed on the Zombi.

They advanced on Mika’s earth people. Roots rose from the ground to entangle their feet as they ran. Most of the Zombi managed to break free, but the few that couldn’t didn’t have long to wonder what was happening.

The roots encased the creatures, working their way around and through their bodies. Even from this distance, Aedon could hear the cracking of bone. Once entombed, the Zombi began a rapid descent into the earth. Before the lead Zombi reached the earth-people, tiny mounds were marking the place where the others had been. Then the real carnage began.

The Zombi met the earth people and lashed out. They no longer had their weapons, so they struck with hands and feet. Where they made contact with the earth people, roots sprung forth and grasped their limbs.

The first Zombi was able to pull his arm free of the grip only to have his foot ensnared. The earth person reached out and hugged the Zombi. In an instant, it engulfed him. In another, it was nothing more than a small mound of dirt resting peacefully on the ground.

The same scene repeated until all that remained were mounds of earth dotting the landscape. The closest pile was still more than two hundred yards away.

Mika lowered her arms and collapsed.

“Mika,” Aedon shouted. He ran alongside the wagons, jumping walls to get to his daughter.

When he got there, Ulf was holding her head up. Aedon yanked his arm away. “Get out of here!”

He lay her down and put his hand on her chest. “She’s not breathing,” he cried.

“She drew too much magic,” Alexis croaked.

“But, she’s not breathing!” Aedon shouted. “Don’t just sit there! Do something!” He turned to Alexis. “She’s dying. For god's sake, please help her.”

“I can’t,” Alexis said.

“Yes you can,” Aedon cried. “Do the thing…like you did with him! I saw you! You can do it!”

“I can’t,” Alexis said. “I don’t have enough magic.”

“Yes you do!” Aedon said. He clutched Mika to his chest. “She’s dying, and you can help!” He buried his head in Mika’s chest. “She’s dying…”

Alexis knelt and put a hand on his head. “I’m sorry, I can’t help.”

“I can,” Reka said.

Aedon’s head shot up. “You can?” Oh gods, please, whatever you need, just help…gods, please help.”

“You don’t have enough magic for this,” Alexis said.

Reka reached into his pouch and pulled his white diamond. “Damn that woman,” he muttered.

“What woman,” Alexis asked.

“Mira,” Reka said. “I made this stone nearly fifteen years ago. She told me it would cost me my life. I gloated when I completed it without dying.”

“What are you saying?” Alexis said.

“Tell Mika, it was no mistake,” Reka said. He crushed the stone.

“Reka!” Alexis shouted. “What are you doing?”

Aedon looked up from his daughter. Reka glowed painfully bright. A delicate tendril of light extended from his body and latched onto Mika. The light surrounded her.

The tendril thickened, and the light around Reka dimmed. “Go to the Bucket,” he moaned. “Ask the barman for Bartholomew Jones.”

“Who’s Bartholomew Jones,” Alexis asked.

The light around Reka continued to dim. Mika’s chest rose in a shallow breath.

“Reka!” Alexis wailed.

The light faded completely, and Reka lay still. Tine rolled from his limp hand.