"On your command, my Lady," Dorian quirked an eyebrow up at her playfully despite staring headlong into what was bound to be a fierce battle before them. Lightning danced up his arms as she felt the exotic aura of his Tevinter magic rise trying to match the intensity of her own. "To be honest, it has been a while since I had a good fight. I'm almost looking forward to spanking them for ruining a perfectly good party."
Evelyn appreciated the light banter, "Say, don't cats sometimes toy with their prey?" Her eyes were dark and dangerous as her mark sputtered red crackling light. She swore since Hakkon touched her, the violence of her temper was quick to catch like wildfire. "Dorian," he looked over at her, "how large can you cast a static cage?"
He scoffed, "My dear, as large as you'd like. I may not have earned the mark of a god, but I am just as talented."
She smiled at him, "Good." Surveying the field of battle, she made her decision, as Cullen rejoined them for the moment. The large meadow was flat, with large boulders scattered intermittently about. The grass was all different heights, depending on whether one was close to the road out of Redhold or near the tree line. On one side were the walls of the Hold that stretched a long distance in either direction and opposite to it were the dense brush and trees of the Basin. "Let's divide their line. Their warriors are all riled up, let's give them something to fear." Axlan had charisma and could no doubt convince his clan to do anything he bid with a few words as he was demonstrating. The brute stormed up and down his long line of warriors roaring all the reasons to show no mercy to the lions of Redhold. "How does that plan sit with you, husband?" It was almost scary how naturally she used the title, and both blinked at each other for a moment letting it sink in.
"It sits with me just fine," he pointed, "Bran and Cassandra can then push their flanks into the center towards your attacks. I'll let them know."
"Wait," she grabbed his arm to halt him, "give us time to erode away their morale, then attack." War was a bloody business, and all the men and women standing on the opposite side of the field came for one thing: blood. If they wanted a fight, the Phoenix would give them one the likes of them had never seen. "Where will you be?"
"Wherever Axlan is." His whole countenance darkened. She would've protested, but this was personal for him. He turned and stomped away as vengeful as she had ever seen him with an eye fixated on his rival. Evelyn couldn't help the stab of worry she felt watching him leave, but she reminded herself that he was the best warrior in Redhold. Not only that, but Cullen was intelligent and insightful, making him resistant to rash action. It should be her and her drastic measures that they should be concerned about…
Calming her nerves after the situation had spiraled out of control after having just completed their vows, Evelyn opened her hand gazing into the mark. "Hakkon give me strength and all those whose blood I spill today is yours in tribute," at her whispered words, it hummed with magical vibrations, as if she had just struck a deal with her master. Blood was Wintersbreath's currency, giving him power. The more she'd give him, the stronger his influence would become.
The air was charged with anticipation as she harnessed the elemental power within her. With a commanding gesture, she summoned forth two towering walls of roaring flames, strategically positioned to cleave the opposing force into three distinct sections. The intensity of the fire walls danced with a mesmerizing brilliance in the wind that blew in cold contrast to the flames through the meadow. They roared and cracked, creating an imposing barrier that not only separated Axlan’s people but also instilled a sense of awe and fear. As the middle section of the opposing force found itself encircled by the spiraling inferno, Axlan was off to the left of it trying to descry what was happening to his clansmen.
"Now, Dorian!" An orb of lightning appeared above the group of a few hundred warriors caught between the flames, who upon seeing it let out a gasp. Panic was already taking root as they tried to run away from it, only to be shocked back into the center. Thick smoke from the burning grass of the field reduced visibility as those outside the fire wall craned their necks to see what was happening to their brethren.
"They are looking rather nervous; shall we add some fear?" With his hands, the Tevinter mage circled them about conjuring a dark purple and black ethereal cloud of smoke. When it grew large enough, he shot it over into the center of their snare, and like a cloud of noxious gas, it filled the lungs of all those trapped. Their light panicking devolved into utter terror as the warriors of Wolf-Fang Hold screamed and pleaded to the gods for mercy. The other two lines of Avvar watched on in a trance listening to the tormented cries echoing through the once peaceful meadow. In the distance behind the smoke, she could see there were a few mages attempting to douse the flames of her wall to help their clansmen escape, but having had her mana unleashed by Hakkon, her spell was too strong to completely dispel. They tried winter magic as well, trying to counter her flames, but as quickly as the ground frosted over, the Phoenix’s fire sparked up again. Another mage attempted to shield them from their offensive spells to no avail, for combined she and Dorian having the advantage of being trained for combat in the primitive schools of magic, overpowered their healers. Having the advantage of fighting at their home, the Redhold mages had an ample supply of lyrium should they be able to get to it, while those of Wolf-Hold had to ration what they brought, and soon their resistance ceased.
Pleased with how they had successfully turned the tide of morale in their favor, Evelyn knew by the way Cullen stalked up and down the line that his patience was wearing thin. "And now for the finale," at her words, the two mages looked at each other bringing forth all the fury of their primal energies. The Phoenix's eyes and veins were glowing like hot embers, cyclically changing colors to match the intensity of her emotions. As fire and lightning danced about their forms in a spectacular display, it attracted the attention of the enemy. Their archers fired a volley at them, but it was stopped by a magical barrier. Looking over her shoulder, Dhara stood on the walls beside their own archers shielding them. The quirky Augur winked at her, and just as the enemy barrage had ended, the two veteran mages were ready to unleash their apocalyptic wrath.
Grabbing her staff, she twirled it about raining fireballs down on the enemy line. Her wings sprayed out in a beautiful display of fiery feathers, stretching out wide and then up to the sky. At their sight, the warriors of Redhold roared a cheer of their own, knowing the Phoenix - the prophetic hero of their age - was on their side. While focusing her efforts in the center, she sent a few other fireballs wide of her target, keeping the enemy from charging forward. Her missiles were not softly lobbed, instead they were shot at them like whistling ballista arrows. On impact, everything from dirt to bodies was thrown up into the air. Dorian's bolts of lightning shook the ground, incinerating anything within each strike's vicinity. The carnage was so sudden and violent, that when it ceased abruptly, having spent a large amount of their mana, a hush fell over the battlefield.
As the smoke cleared, the enemy line watched in horror as hundreds of their clansmen's bodies littered the charred earth. Contorted in death, some were burned beyond recognition and ripped apart by the primal magic. The distraction lasted momentarily until an arrow embedded itself into Kitsa's shoulder. She roared tearing it from her in a fury with her teeth before charging across the field. In response, the shadowy dire wolf sprinted out to meet her, with its bright white fangs. Cullen had been beside her, and Evelyn wondered for a brief and horrid moment if that arrow had been meant for him. Not allowing their Hold Beast to attack alone, his plan of holding the shield wall was tossed aside to order a full-blown charge in Kitsa's defense. Evelyn watched him sigh from afar in frustration, knowing how he liked to be in control of every situation. She should have felt better about the odds, having just eliminated a large portion of their force, but her mark flared up, blinking as if it were speaking of hidden dangers.
Feral yells and roars from both sides sounded as they sprinted across the sparsely grassed field. Evelyn's gut twisted as she hung back knowing her friends and clan were about to fight a fearsome foe. The rumble of the earth beneath her feet and the sound of hundreds of Avvar stampeding like a herd of Druffalo was enough to unnerve most. Pair that with their war cries and it surely was a terrifying thing to behold - if you weren't a veteran as she was. With a loud thunderous clash of steel, the two lines met in the center. A red mist sprayed up into the air over the fighters, and the flowery scent of the field was soured by the tang of blood and gore. Dorian strode quickly into the wall to prepare for the wounded to start being carried in by volunteers from within the wall brave enough to navigate the field, leaving her the single Redhold mage outside of the wall.
Immediately, her attention was turned to a pack of their young recruits on the right flank engaging the enemy. Watching their training kick in, she felt a swell of pride knowing Cullen and Cassandra had prepared them well. Yet, this was their first time in a real battle, and having once been in their shoes, she felt her protective spirit spark within. As their Lady, she was responsible for the lives of her clansmen, and she would save as many as she was able to this day. They weren't on the training grounds any longer, and the change to a more unpredictable foe could be quite a startling adjustment. She had promised Cullen she'd stay behind the shield wall, but seeing how the battle devolved almost instantly after Kitsa took matters into her own paws, how could he be mad at her if she just happened to find herself on the battlefield? He knew she never listened anyway, why would he be surprised? In favor of asking for forgiveness later and having pocketed a few lyrium vials, she downed one to fortify herself before fade-stepping to the group of young warriors. "For Redhold!" She yelled garnering the looks of the fresh-faced warriors, whose resolve hardened seeing their Lady beside them. Remembering some of the formations they had taught, she chose one that was more defensive, for the wolves threw themselves at them without abandon. They were relentless, and she found herself needing to cast more mind-blast spells than was typically needed. Some of the enemy seemed deranged and even unfeeling as she slashed open their middles and continued to fight until the blood loss was too great. Red bulging veins snaked about their bodies and their eyes as if they had an infliction.
"Uh, sis, do all Avvar look like this? Is this some weird ritual thing?" Owayne had caught up with her and was taking them down with expert precision. Her brother had a way of making his blade work look effortless as if his enemies were made of butter. The rogue had a deadly eye for finding the breaks in armor with his dual short swords.
"No, I've never seen this before." To her right, one brutish enemy took down three of the young warriors in one charge, even though he had been impaled with a spear. Yelling at the others to leave him, she ran over kicking a leg down over the haft sticking out of his body. Evelyn avoided burning him, for she wanted to inspect this beast of an Avvar for similar taint. Shockingly unfazed, the hulking man swung at her a few times, growling at her agile movements. Stabbing the man through the back of the knee with her staff blade after ducking from his haymaker, he bellowed out a guttural wail as the young warriors swooped in to finish him off. A quick inspection of the brute revealed he too had the strange red veins about his body. "Whatever it is, it is making them incredibly strong. Stay with these young warriors, they'll need you."
"And what about you? That madman is after you as well!"
"Oh don't start, I've fought in more battles than you! I'm finding Cullen. You can catch up later, can't you? Just make sure they're alright first." Hearing a commotion over the other side of the battlefield, she spotted who she thought was her husband. Through the bodies moving about, the man certainly moved like him, and having shed his shirt, she couldn’t be sure who it was without getting closer. Fade-stepping between foes and taking down those she could in passing as she ran, she made her way over to him. When she got over to the man surrounded by enemies, she was surprised to find it was her brother-in-law, "Bran? I thought you were your brother!"
"Yeah? So do they!" His voice sounded strained, as blades were coming at them from all sides. "I usually don't mind our likeness," he stabbed and kicked an enemy away after receiving a solid hit to the gut, "but today, I mind! As soon as one of them cries ‘Thane,’ it doesn’t matter if you are or not!" One of the wolves called out over his shoulder to some of his friends that he found the Thane and his Lady, causing the two of them to get swarmed by hostiles. "See?! Goes to show how stupid these whoresons are, I'm not even blonde!"
"Well, unfortunately, I don't think me being here is helping much." With a sweep of her hand, she blasted a few of them with a stream of fire.
"You think?!" Branson's voice squeaked out unamused. As the two of them thinned the pack around them, in the distance she heard what could only be Kitsa and the dire wolf fighting. Knowing Cullen was most likely there as well, she tried to make her way with Bran in tow over to them. Embers and smoke followed the Phoenix wherever she went on the battlefield, alerting everyone to where she was. To remedy that, she shot a few fireballs in the tall grass and trees randomly in the hopes of disguising her whereabouts more. That in turn produced smoke that not only choked out any who got too close to the fires, but the light from the sun.
Suddenly, a massive bearded warrior roared and charged them. Pushing her back, Bran stepped in front of her taking the brunt of the hit, making good use of his shield. His feet dug into the soft spring-thawed soil, slowing the beast to a halt. Stumbling away after being pushed, Evelyn fell over an upturned root onto her back. Immediately she was grabbed, having her staff kicked away from her. Axlan wanted her alive, but that didn't stop them from trying to knock her out with kicks and punches. Flipped on her stomach, there were at least three of them trying to restrain her hands and feet with ropes, belts, and whatever else they had on their person. Bran, still engaging with the large warrior, yelled back to her telling her to hang on. Unknowing who she’d be cooking with her flames, she tried to use her melee skills instead. Her attackers hurled insults at her, and one even told them to kick her harder to kill anything that the Lion may have put in her belly. After her initial horror and panic of it all, she slowed her thrashing, curling in to protect her vital organs, and unleashed her aura upon them. Unable to burn through the bindings without burning herself in the process, she needed to buy herself time for either Bran to get to her or find her staff. The men and women holding her yelped and winced as the air about her waved as if she were a mirage in the desert. Looking up, as they backed away, Bran came to her rescue dispatching the three wolves, but not before having his side split open by the red-veined brute. Probably having thought he knocked the man out, judging by the gash oozing from the enemy's head, the Wolf-fang warrior seemed to have recovered and sought revenge. Her kin ducked and dodged agilely despite his size, reminding her very much of Cullen's fighting style, but his enemy was just raining down hard hits with his large axe waiting for him to make a misstep.
Rolling to her staff blade, Evelyn scooted and lined herself up with it so she could cut through the bindings, but froze watching the bearded man leaping at her with his weapon held high. His face was contorted in rage as his red eyes locked on to her with unbridled hate. As he fell toward her, she watched Branson dive into him, knocking him off course in mid-air. Able to take a breath having held it as she cheated death again, she quickly sawed her bindings off and got to her feet. When the two men landed, a wave of red sprayed about as the enemy's axe cut deep into Bran's shoulder. With a torrent of fire, she ended their foe before he could get up, and concealed the two of them in a ring of flames.
"Bran, stay with me!" She pressed a hand on his shoulder and tried to heal him with her paltry talent. He writhed and groaned despite her attempt. "I'm going to get you to a healer, just stop bleeding everywhere!"
He chuckled painfully at the humor, "Would if I could." From beyond the fire barrier, her brother arrived and she waved him in making an opening.
"Oh, shit." Owayne fumbled with a potion handing it over into her blood-covered hands. She poured it into his mouth as quickly as he let her, but it wasn't enough. The cut was to the bone and down part of his chest. Bran was losing blood quicker than they were healing him.
Taking out one of her healing potions, in frustration, she dumped it right on the wound having no idea if it would help. Tears were welling up in her eyes, as Bran's began to roll back into his head, "You need to take him to Ilara, please Owayne, as fast as you can!" For once the rogue didn't argue and threw the large auburn Rutherford over his shoulder. The spare Trevelyan heir was not as tall as these Rutherfords, but he was still strong and sturdy where it counted. Sweat glistened on his face with specks of dirt and blood sporadically sprayed about. "I'll cover you, run like I set your pants on fire!" Sucking in a few deep breaths, he nodded to her and she dispelled the wall of fire. With lightning speed, he was off in the direction of the hold walls. She trailed them incinerating any who sought to stop them until he had cleared the Redhold line.
Once again hearing the fighting Hold Beasts, she sucked up her tears, reprimanding herself for such weakness amid battle. She knew she could trust her brother with his task so she focused her mind now on finding Cullen. Rather than fade-step through the fray, she fought her way over there using immolation spells, fire mines, and her spirit blade. The Phoenix's white dress was soiled with dirt, blood, and scorch marks. Her ribs ached after the beating she took, but she could ignore it, allowing the mark to flood her with rage at what had befallen Bran after he saved her. Clearing herself a path, she came upon the animals but had yet to see her Thane. Kitsa was pinned under the weight of the great wolf, its black fur in contrast with the lioness' light coloring. Not wanting to get anywhere near their slashing claws and snapping jaws, she gave a hard force-push spell knocking the canine off Kitsa and into the trunk of a tree. The wood splintered and creaked as it fell taking the wolf down with it.
Jumping to her feet, the cat spared her a glance, Thank you, Phoenix, but you must go to the Thane. He needs you. Evelyn's brow creased with concern at Kitsa's words. Go. I've been waiting for this fight for months now, I will not fail the Hold. With a huff, the lioness threw her head in the direction Evelyn should go, just as the wolf was slowly getting back up. With a mighty roar, the cat pounced into the brush after the usurper.
Worried now, she fade-stepped around the carnage finally spotting him. He, Rylen, and Cassandra were fighting for their lives against Axlan and about two dozen of the infected warriors. They had closed ranks around their Thane when the battle plan went to the Void, focusing on cutting the head off the snake - or wolf so to speak. It was then she noticed a glowing red carved crystal strapped to Wolfbane's hip. Looking at some of the enemy, she couldn't understand how they hadn't succumbed to their injuries yet, somehow able to sustain more before dying. The three lions didn't look any better, but they weren't augmented by this red plague.
"Cullen!" She yelled jumping into the fray, but she was immediately slammed back by one of the enemy warriors with amazing speed. This time though, she rolled back to her feet blasting a stream of thick flame at the foe on the ground and another one who was running at her. Whirling her staff around, she shot a few more wolves with fireballs, giving the trio a much-needed reprieve as she fell into line with them.
"What in Korth's name are you doing here? You were to stay behind the line!" He was trying to be angry but his panting was making it difficult. A thick line of crimson ran down his face and lion helm, but thankfully it was not his blood. On quick inspection, however, he and the others had been cut up quite a bit. Rylen had been adorned with his ceremonial Master of the Hunt paint, which had since smeared from the grappling and melee. With no shield, he wielded two axes, leaving himself exposed which showed. Cassandra's decorative armor was just that and had taken a beating. She was missing various pieces from the exposure of the straps, that were usually hidden better on actual armor. Though she was more protected than the men, deep cuts were torn in the leather and the metal of her pauldrons and shield were dented.
From behind them the massive dark form of Thane Axlan Wolfsbane appeared, "Ah, Phoenix! Nice of you to--" Summoning as much power as she could in a quick second, Evelyn blasted the area in front of them with a mind-blast spell. Anyone within ten feet of them was thrown back a considerable distance, including that of Axlan and his nonsense.
She turned back to her husband, "Gods, he's annoying." They shook their heads, but for different reasons, "Considering that when you charged there was no shield wall anymore, I seemed to have found myself in the middle of the battlefield." He gave her a droll stare not buying her reasoning while he knocked back a potion. "I've crossed the whole bloody battlefield to get to you, you know!"
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When his eyes went wide, he threw his shield up, tucking her into him behind it. The distinct crackle of magic enveloped them, and with their bodies huddled close together, he looked down at her, "Now that you're here, think you can do something about that mage?" An icy squall surrounded them as the other two warriors closed ranks to shield them all from it.
"Ask me nicely." When he gave her a look as if she was mad, she snorted a laugh, "Brr, it's getting a little chilly!"
"Evelyn!"
"Alright, alright," the warmth of her aura spread as she faded through their shield and the meager magic. Appearing behind the mage, she spun with her spirit blade decapitating the woman, putting an end to her magic. Looking up from behind their shields, she flashed them a smile at the simplicity of it. The victory was short-lived however, when Axlan stabbed her in the bicep with a red crystal. With a hard push, she fell back over to her three comrades, shaking from the intense sensation filling her veins. As she lay there, propped up by Cassandra, who pulled the sharp shard from her arm, they watched as the veins around the wound turned red. However, despite her shaking, she didn't feel weakened by the poison, "W-what is this? I-is it l-lyrium?" She rasped out, watching the red glow creep further up her shoulder.
"Aye, it is lyrium. We found it, along with this," he held up the oddly carved crystal idol. "There is a god within it that speaks to us." Evelyn grimaced as a high-pitched hum accosted her ears. "You will Her song soon, Phoenix."
Her hand shot to her head groaning against the crippling sounds and tones. "Evelyn?" Cullen was holding her face, able to do so as Axlan's warriors stood unblinking and unmoving around them… waiting for something. She looked up at him squinting, but the ringing in her ears was so loud she could only watch his scared lip-mouth words. Panicking feeling the burn of the lyrium swim up her neck, she watched her three allies talk above her before her Thane turned his attention to his counterpart.
Shutting them out by closing her eyes, she tried to fight through the cacophony, when it suddenly stopped. In the quiet, rose a haunting melody with a voice singing words of no language she had ever heard. Even though she couldn't understand it, she felt odd feelings and urges that compelled her to sit up and peer around her. Axlan seemed pleased by her reaction with a wolfish grin spreading across his handsome bearded and rugged face. The Phoenix blinked slowly, turning then to those crouched down beside her. The face she took in was of a woman with short raven hair. A braid coiled about her head and several scars were cut into her cheek. Evelyn felt as if she was looking at her friend for the first time as the voice spoke to her, trying to rewrite their personal history. Jolting from the trance, she grabbed Cassandra's hand as if trying to reestablish a connection with her, but the voice sucked her back in. The dark brunette man with the facial tattoos was next. Her eyes focused oddly as if her pupils were dilating in and out as her gaze bore into him. The hunter was taken back, speaking out of the corner of his mouth to the others as if she was frightening him. But he was not the one it was after, no, the song wanted the blonde man.
Turning to him now, memories of her initial capture came to the forefront of her mind: His refusal to contact her superiors; holding her prisoner under guard; making her an apostate; ending her old life; forcing her to marry him… The thought made her raise her hand to view the firey glow of her bonding mark. As she examined it, he held his up to hers as he spoke soundless and seemingly pleading words. When something chimed to her left, she winced again looking over to Axlan tapping his hand on the idol. In an instant, her vision went red and she lost control of herself. Her marked hand shot to the blonde's throat as she gritted her teeth. Her mana flared pumping fire through her reddening veins, and yet, her mana also seemed to bring some of her consciousness back. The more her fire pumped through her, the less control the lyrium had.
She was still looking into his amber eyes when his voice finally broke through the din of her mind, "… fight it. Whatever is processing you…"
"Cullen?" Her voice was meek and unsure. A growl from her left followed by more ear-piercing chimes hammered her head causing her to lose her grip on him. She growled digging her fingertips into her hair, "Get out of my head!" The ringing only increased until she was all but banging her head against the ground. Through her squinting eyes, she could see that those around her had stood to argue with the other infected people around her.
"Release her now, Axlan!" Cullen commanded.
"No, for you see, She has a plan for your bride. It will make the Phoenix kill you before all the Hold and pledge herself to me. Together, she and I will rule the Basin and the name of Rutherford will be forgotten!"
"She will see through your lies!"
Axlan laughed with a dark haunting tone, "Not when the Goddess is through with her. She will break the Phoenix."
"What goddess?"
"She has no name, but she sings to us."
The song was becoming deafening but she clung to Cullen's voice as a lifeline. "You would dare worship another god? She is marked by Hakkon. I don't think He will be pleased…"
"Hakkon!" She suddenly cried out desperately, opening her eyes and thrusting her marked hand out. The magic of the mark spurted to life with a vengeance. An eerie laugh echoed about the field, and while the enemy before her paused swiveling their heads about trying to divine the source, she knew it to be her Lord. "Help me, and I will kill this heathen goddess," she seethed in an angry whisper, and a moment later the earth quaked as a sizable fracture opened. As if pulled in by an unseen force, she was swallowed by the earth.
Everything was dark, and though she couldn't see, she could feel her body curled in a fetal position. It was incredibly hot, but the heat felt rejuvenating matching the temperature of her mana. Otherworldly voices began to speak, but she couldn't converse back, simply listen to them as she floated about a nameless void.
What is this poison that infects her? That was a voice she knew well; it was the menacing intonation of Hakkon.
Hmm, the other male voice was so deep, it was almost raspy and she felt it reverberate in her bones, she is plagued by the same parasite that weakens me. Red Lyrium. Once the red is in your veins it is hard to purge.
But you can force it from her?
My, my, Hakkon, you're quite taken with this mortal.
She heard a feral growl rise up, She is strong and proves herself with each new obstacle that is more difficult than the last. The Phoenix has earned my favor, and in return, she pays tribute to me in the blood of her enemies. If you and the Lady are too weak to care for the mortals, then it falls to me. Now, I did not beseech your company to chat, Korth. Heal her so she may fight this foreign god's hold on our people.
A tingling sensation enveloped her arm. It was cold and numbing as if Korth was sucking out the sickness in her blood. You should know this god mucking up the earth's lifeblood is one of the Blighted Ones. It seeks to spread the sickness. Myself, The Stone, and its titians work to prevent its spread, but it does not help that the Maker remains absent, for it is spreading rapidly in the Lowlands without him to stop it. His words were enough to stop her heart, for even if she was no longer part of that world, knowing that she had friends and family at risk was terrifying. I've taken her blood into me for cleansing, she is yours again. I trust you will not allow her to be taken once more, for the more she consumes the stronger the Blighted One becomes.
No, I won't. Though the voice still had no visible source, it felt as if Hakkon was speaking in her ear, Phoenix, you are free now, and I command you to kill the infected. That is the will of your Lord, Hakkon Wintersbreath. Go.
A geyser of lava exploded from where she disappeared, spitting out a molten Phoenix. Everyone had not moved from where she left them, as if the gods had stopped time. Her vision returned as her body rose from the cradle of Korth with wet wings spread wide. Hardened black plates of armor covered her vital parts and her dripping wings folded back into her shoulders and body disappearing. Her long-braided hair was a continual fountain of magma as it flowed the length of her body to the ground. Eyes of pure white light looked about at the infected surrounding them. The trio beside her slowly backed away, unsure of whose influence she was under.
Her head snapped around to Axlan, pointing at him with a molten finger, "Lord Hakkon has ordered that all the those infected by the red lyrium die. It is only he who can command me." Running swiftly up a nearby boulder to elevate herself so everyone could see her, Evelyn addressed her fellow Avvar, "If you are a true Avvar, our gods have willed the purging of the Red Ones! For the love of Korth, whether you are from Redhold or Wolf-fang Hold, you will cut them down! The red lyrium poisons the Mountain-Father and in turn, our people! He needs us, He needs you to protect our people!" From where she stood elevated above the others, the battle seemed to have been going in favor of Redhold, but just barely. Her people looked spent and exhausted, their heads tipped slightly down as their weapons grew taxing in their arms. Yet, there was a spirit in them that didn’t allow them to falter in the duty. Be it the actual Hold Spirits, the gods, or that Avvar tenacity, the dirty and blood smeared clansmen and women set their jaws and steeled themselves for one last brawl. As her blinding gaze turned towards the line of enemies, a prickle of fear crept up her back as they twitched strangely as their goddess sang her treacherous tune to the infected wolves. Immediately, a few hundred Avvar traitors turned their heads to look at her. Slowly they began to walk to her on the far end of the battlefield, ignoring all else. "You three need to back away towards the wall," she couldn't spare a second to see their reaction as the Red Ones' eyes were locked onto her with murderous intent. Hopping off the rock, she refused to turn away from them.
"No. We'll stay and fight beside you," Cullen's tone was grave, and while she appreciated his support, there were too many of them.
"Cullen," out of the corner of her eyes she saw his bloodied blonde hair turn toward her, "I said go." Evelyn was running out of time to prepare her attack with them standing beside her, afraid they would get hurt by her magic. Behind her, she was making a pool of lava to retreat to if need be. The infected were starting to pick up speed, and gritting her teeth she growled out her orders, "Go now. I'll need you when this is over and my mana wanes." She knew her husband knew what happened after she used the mark, hoping that would be enough incentive for him to get safely away so she could take as many of the enemy out as she could before the other warriors were needed to finish them. Feeling the magic of their bond fade, she knew he was finally heeding her command.
With a bright flash and plume of smoke, she once again forged her arm into an obsidian blade. Seeing it as a direct threat, the enemy charged. Wielding it with the efficiency of her spirit blade, the volcanic glass edge cut through their bodies as if they were made of soft animal fat. When it dulled after slicing through dozens of bones, she'd hit the blade again as if flintknapping to resharpen it. In the distance, she could see the clans working together to pick off those in the back of the horde. The flash of Dorian's magic and arrows from the walls assisted the warriors with the augmented wolves, but the Phoenix was quickly overrun. Severing the obsidian sword from her body, her molten arm regrew and whipped lava about, all the while stepping back to her fallback spot. With every axe that hit through her, every arrow, spear, and blade, her mana drained as it was forced to keep her core molten hot to survive. Her blackened plates absorbed some of the damage, but not enough for her to continue as she was.
When her foot reached back for the pool she had created, she jumped in pulling all those within reach in with her, drowning them. Splashing up like a whale, she sent waves of lava at the enemy, melting dozens with each swell. Sending them in all directions, after a time the pool dried up and it was time for one final attack before her strength left her. Touching her core, she let it burn as hot as she could bear before succumbing to a firey explosion deadlier than a mountain of gaatlok.
As the smoke and ash settled, Evelyn's body failed her laying limp and vulnerable in the middle of the field. Her naked body shivered slightly at the loss of her heat against the gritty charcoaled earth. The blue sky had been completely blotted out by the dense black smoke from her magic, and embers glimmered white hot until dying out. Across from the Hold walls burned a wildfire so intense the once living trees were already groaning as they fell over. Coughing from the smoke’s dryness, feeling it coat her throat, she reached a hand out feebly to try and quell the inferno, but failed. When she felt calloused hands on her shoulders, she picked her head up expecting to see Cullen, but her jaw dropped letting a gasp escape. Axlan began dragging her away quickly toward the tree line, still in the cover of the aftermath of her final attack. Not able to muster the strength to cry out, her words came out as raspy pleas. In the distance, she could hear Cullen calling her name, but she had no way to reach him… but Kitsa could. A short distance from the forest’s edge, stood the beige cat with red spots and stripes, though they were harder to discern with her sleek fur stained with blood. The large feline was struggling for breath, like everyone else after the explosion, but she straddled the path before them bellowing out a tremendous roar.
"You, fucking overgrown cat!" Releasing her, Axlan swung his large battleaxe back, and in a desperate act, remembering the importance of their Hold Beast, Evelyn draped her body over the head of the weapon. The sudden weight on his backswing caused him to drop the head low, but not before cutting into the Phoenix's unprotected belly. Flipping on her back, holding the wound as her lifeblood fled her body, she heard Cullen's battle roar rising quickly. Looking up in time to watch the Lion of Redhold shield bash the unsuspecting Wolfbane to the ground, the force of which made her fatigued muscles bounce. Evelyn hugged herself, but her body was quickly covered protectively by the wounded Kitsa. Any enemy who got too close to her was quickly mauled or swatted to the ground. Once again, the great lioness made her feel like a defenseless cub, though this time the Phoenix was grateful for it. Thankfully, the numbers of infected were dwindling thanks to the combined efforts of the clans, but Axlan was still threat enough. Unable to do much but watch from beneath Kitsa, Cullen was on his own. Evelyn fought her lightheadedness as her blood spilled forth soaking the earth.
Watching it pool on the ground beneath her, she heard the God of War again in her state of delirium, Phoenix, the offering of your blood is touching and intoxicating, but you promised me that of your enemies, not your own. He laughed manically, as his clawed knarred hand emerged from the puddle pressing on her belly hard. A pain like she had never felt before gripped her. She choked for air, unable to voice the sensation of his touch aloud. Each one of his talon-like nails poked into her muscles carving what felt like shapes into them, but as quick as the immense pain came, so too did relief. Now able to look down, she saw that he had sealed her wound, but left odd symbols along the fading scar. Once finished, the large pale hand sunk back into her blood, taking it all with it in payment.
Feeling a semblance of her strength return, as her life stopped ebbing out of her, she looked to her protector. The lioness was passively watching the duel between the Thanes. Axlan and his inhuman strength was crashing up against Cullen's shield as he held the brute back from them. They were just out of reach of Kitsa, who growled each time Axlan looked like he'd be in striking range. The situation worsened when the cat's challenger reappeared and stalked closer. Its matted black fur displayed evidence of their vicious territorial fight. Forgetting the Thanes, Kitsa lowered herself to pounce the dire wolf if it wished to resume their feud. "I'll be alright, Kitsa. This Hold is yours. Show this pup what happens when it faces a true huntress."
If I leave you, you will be vulnerable, Kitsa spoke through their channel.
"My wound has been healed, I think I can move now." The lioness snorted before hissing at the wolf showing off her sharp fangs. "Finish him." At her command, Kitsa's paws tore the earth apart as she ran at the challenger with such speed that dirt and grass were uprooted in her wake. The pounding sound of her footfalls reached Evelyn's ear which rested on the ground.
The next moment, the Thanes were above her, and after Cullen had won out for control above her, from behind his shield he tried to speak to her. Occasionally, she felt his boots bump or push her limbs, as he struggled to not yield ground to Axlan. "Evelyn, you need to get up! You can't stay here!" Looking up, she could see his shield was buckling in from the brutal attacks he was defending against. His boots were soiled from being dug in stubbornly not yielding an inch to the augmented enemy he faced. He had been taking beating now for over an hour and she worried after the state of his limbs and sore muscles. He'd never admit to his own weakness, that much she knew, ignoring it stubbornly until his heart gave out. When a pained wince escaped him, she knew he needed help. Axlan had taken several stabs and slashes from Cullen, yet the red lyrium kept the man fighting on. By all rights he should've been out of the fight long ago, allowing her husband his victory, but this goddess and her schemes were taking it from him. Cullen was spent, but it was then that she remembered her people's greatest strength - the clan.
Whipping her head around, she called to the warriors closest to her. The familiar faces of two lions that she had seen while shopping in the market answered her plea, throwing themselves at Axlan. The woman was first, her agility allowed her to dodge the brute's large swing before climbing his back trying to put him in a chokehold. The man followed, swiping low with a spear taking the enemy's feet out from under him. At the reprieve, Cullen stumbled back a step looking as if he was going to fall, yet stiffly panted the foot down beside her.
"Cullen, we need to get the idol away from him!" Panting and gasping for breath, he nodded. His break didn't last long before Axlan threw the two warriors off of him jumping back on his feet. Locking eyes again, Cullen let go of a heavy exhale raising his shield for the next onslaught. However, he was saved again when Rylen flanked Axlan, checking him face-first into the grime littering the battlefield. "Get the idol, now!"
"Here," before he gathered his weapons and dove into the fray again, he chucked his wedding shirt at her. Hardly white any longer, she quickly pulled it over herself, glad that it was just long enough to cover her.
Willing her sore muscles to stand, she looked about for her spirit blade. Knowing that this idol was probably protected by some strange magic, it would most likely take her magical weapon to destroy it. Reassured that Rylen was with Cullen, she spotted her staff slightly sticking up out of the earth off to the side by the tree line. Running and tripping her way over to it in her bare feet, as the ground was covered in bodies, discarded weapons, and blood, Evelyn fell to her hands and knees in search of the Everite blade. The debris made it harder to spot, as did the tall grass, but her blind prodding found it embedded in the mud. With the hilt found, she just needed the magic to summon it. Forcing her weak and shaky legs up again, she froze feeling the ground quake beneath her. Turning and ducking in time, Kitsa and the other Hold Beast tumbled out of the forest, landing just in front of her with such force, that had she had taken another step, she would've been dead. Blocking her path, the wolf, whose intelligence matched that of the lioness from the way it glared at her, stood its ground against the two of them. Beyond them, she saw Rylen get thrown over Axlan's shoulder and pounded into the ground by his fist. No doubt Cullen was next, so time was of the essence.
"This looks bad," Owayne appeared beside her.
"How did you…" Rather than answer, he opened his leather vest to display his arsenal of powders and potions. Scanning the vials, one in particular caught her eye, "I need that lyrium!" She swiped it from his pocket and downed it.
"You're welcome," he said with a bit of sass. "I know mother raised you to have manners because I was raised the same way, minus all that girlie stuff…"
"Owayne! Just shut up! We need to help Cullen and destroy that idol!"
"I know, why do you think I'm here? To chat?" When the massive black wolf snarled at them, the two Trevelyans took a step back out of reflex to such a menacing sound. "I don't have any more concealing powder; how do you want to do this?" Kitsa roared making them jump and getting the challenger's attention. In the momentary distraction, the Phoenix grabbed her brother and fade-stepped them past the wolf. She thought she had cleared the animal with plenty of space between them, but with one ferocious leap, its claws sunk into her brother's leg. "Evie!" Being dragged underneath the wolf, to be guarded like Kitsa had done to her earlier, except this time it was to savor the kill. Looking toward Cullen he too called her name, tossing the red lyrium idol a short distance away from her. He was pinned beneath a different kind of beast, struggling to fend Axlan off. The brute no longer had a weapon and was throwing mighty punches and kicks at anything near him. As more warriors sought to aid their Thane, Wolfsbane simply crushed and snapped their bones as if they were made of sticks.
Torn in two, it was as if time slowed allowing her to make a decision, but once again, it was her clan who saved her the choice. Cassandra boldly slid under the dire wolf holding her shield up against its snapping jaw. With Owayne's added strength in fending off the attacks, it gave Kitsa enough time to angle herself for a critical strike to her rival. Jumping, grabbing, and twisting the wolf away from them, she slammed him into the large rock Evelyn had stood atop earlier. With the black furry mass dazed, the bloodied lioness dragged her prey into the brush to finish him uninterrupted.
Leaving Cassandra and Owayne to sort themselves out, she sprinted to the idol. Her presence attracted that of their enemy and every one of the infected ran like madmen at their crystal goddess to keep it from her. Their feral and guttural screams chilled her blood knowing that nothing but death would stop them from getting to it. Casting a fire wall and mines about as quick as she could, Evelyn tried to catch her breath from the safety of her barrier, but the enemy, all coming from one direction, piled their bodies on her flame wall so high that they were climbing over their dead comrades to get to her. Igniting the magic of her spirit blade, she cut down a few of those clawing their way desperately to her before bringing the blade down on the idol. As she had assumed, there was an energy barrier surrounding it, and the harder she pushed down on it to break it, the more frenzied the infected became. Knowing they could not stop her no matter the cost, the Phoenix's aura rose to an alarming level. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw her allies back away from the inferno she was stirring up. With blazing orange eyes, her wings shot out once more as two of the infected latched on to her. Her blade was so deep in the idol's shield, that it held her steady despite the added weight. Feeling the lyrium flare, it was then she remembered how volatile the mineral could be.
Before her concerns could outweigh her reason, bounding his way up the bodies of his clanmates, Thane Axlan leap off the pile at her. Desperate to end it, Evelyn's mana crackled about the area piercing the idol's defenses. A shockwave struck all but Evelyn back as she held fast to her blade, pouring everything she had into it. The thick bloody hands of Axlan wrapped around her throat from behind, but before he could do any harm, a blinding white explosion erupted from the idol. The familiar sensation and presence of the 'goddess' was felt, as the lyrium's energy rippled through the air. An otherworldly wail permeated her ears, making her clutch her head before the force of the blast shot her backward. The force that struck her was so strong, she felt as if she had just been tail swatted by a dragon. Unsure of how far she was thrown, on impact her consciousness was propelled into the Fade. As she drifted, her final thoughts were of Axlan's hands still gripping her and wondering what had become of her husband…