The blood flowed through Vaela and she breathed it in. Sight. It felt the same as when she fought in the darkness of Hermit’s Veil. Alnea’s blood was like a wild animal prowling inside her–a powerful will within her own body, refusing to be cowed.

Behind her, Adyr drew a stilted breath, air rattling through her chest. How much had they bled her? It’s a wonder she was even still able to stand, let alone try to help Vaela.

Vaela stabbed her will into Alnea’s blood and spared a glance back at Adyr. This woman, she would See. Whatever it took, she wanted nothing more in the world. Desperate love welled within Vaela and she forced it around Alnea’s power within her. For Adyr, she would See.

Timura charged, closing the distance rapidly. Sight roared its defiance and Vaela tore it apart. She broke it to her will and channeled it through her body.

Timura brought the staff down–the angulation of her shoulders betraying her target. Vaela tilted her head and the staff whipped past her face. She dipped into a lunge and the return strike whizzed over her head. Timura’s weight shifted–the center of her balance twisting for a low strike with the butt of the staff. Vaela intercepted it with her shield and smashed her stick into Timura’s arm. Timura stumbled to the side, but her expression remained flat, eyes burning with dark energy. Without hesitation, she countered and Vaela barely raised her stick in time to block.

Vaela fell back two steps. Yes, Sight could help her outfight Timura, but only if she was smart. In their days of sparring, she had never seen Alnea truly overwhelm Hermit–his ability to Fade was as strong as her Sight. Vaela eyed Timura. Can’t assume any strike would have an effect against her. Not with Shadow Flowing through her body. Vaela stepped forward and engaged Timura in another exchange. Wood and metal reverberated off of each other and Vaela landed another strike.

She didn’t hesitate and stepped out of the way of the immediate counter. The staff flew past her and she swept Timura’s front leg out from under her. Timura fell back, hands thrown high for balance. Vaela pounced after her, smashing her stick into Timura’s right arm. Timura grunted and spun away, whipping her staff in an arc. She regained her footing, her shoulders heaving as she reestablished her stance. Shadow crept up her neck, swirling along her skin before starting to Fade into her body. It took longer than previously. The Shadow writhed as it sank into her body, like it was squirming in rebellion. A thin red line wet the sleeve covering Timura’s shoulder.

Vaela’s arm throbbed with sympathy pain, but she forced it away. No room for that. She rained down a hail of blows on Timura. Timura ceded ground, her face contorting with exertion and panic. Vaela struck her ribs, then her thigh, but Timura didn’t flinch. Her staff cut out and slammed into Vaela’s side. Pain stabbed through her body, cutting her breath short. Timura shouted and threw her weight behind a desperate strike.

Vaela hissed and shifted out of the way. The blow breezed past her and she lashed out with her foot. It smashed into Timura’s chest and Timura hit the ground hard. Vaela circled around her to Adyr at the far wall of the tent. Timura groaned and rolled to her hands and knees. Shadow lapped up from the ground around her, like hands grabbing at her body. She pushed to her feet and Shadow swirled around her, clinging to her skin. Her arms shook, the staff trembling, and Shadow pressed close to her, but didn’t Fade into her. She grunted and the Shadows flared up like a wave. It crashed into her, enveloping her, but only a little bit seeped into her body.

Vaela backed up and joined Adyr, keeping Timura in sight. She was tired, losing control over Shadow. Vaela used her shield-hand to swipe her knife from her belt and pressed it to Adyr. “Cut the wall. We have to leave.”

Timura stepped into her stance, planting her feet, and slammed the butt of the staff down. Much of the Shadow dissipated, the lingering darkness sinking into her skin and dancing beneath the surface. “Even with my training, I can’t beat you…” She breathed heavily, pain flickering across her face. “You know the Church, what they can do. Hunt you to your death…” Timura stood tall, eyes pleading. “Please. Don’t leave.”

“I–” Vaela stopped, following Timura’s gaze. Timura wasn’t looking at her–she was looking at Adyr.

“Help me protect her.”

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Adyr froze, the knife poised at the wall of the tent. She turned back, meeting Timura’s eyes. “I will.” She faced the tent again. “I swear I always will.” She thrust the knife into the fabric and sliced downward. Vaela backed away from Timura, edging towards the slit.

Timura shook her head and slid into her stance. She approached Vaela, staff pointed at her once again. “Maybe I can’t beat you, maybe I can’t save you. But if you leave with her, you’ll be in danger, both of you. So…” She clenched the staff and stabbed it at Vaela. “So beat me, bleed me, knock me down again and again… I won’t stop trying.”

The tent rustled behind Vaela and she spared a glance back. Adyr pushed through the flap and stepped into the open air. Vaela continued to retreat until she reached the slit. “You can leave, too.”

Timura shook her head, blinking back tears. “I’ll get stronger. I will be stronger.” She tensed her legs, clenching her staff.

Vaela stopped moving and raised her shield. One last exchange, one last push and she and Adyr would be free.

Behind Timura, the entrance flap of the tent fluttered open. Kaverlna stepped through, a calm expression on her face, the curved knife in her hand. She took in the situation in a glance and nodded at Vaela. “You won’t be going anywhere, Champion.”

Vaela’s blood ran cold and Timura spun around. Vaela reached for Alnea’s Power. They were too late. Kaverlna–if she really were Incus, she’d be as strong as Hermit, Jace, or Alnea. No hope of defeating her, even with Alnea’s Power. Had to get out. Run away somehow.

Kaverlna strode into the middle of the room, toying with the knife. “It occurred to me that Hermit and the others, fools as they are, wouldn’t come back without reason. Not even to save a former ally–one of no real importance. No. There’s only one reason they would risk coming to this camp.” She smiled and pointed the knife at Vaela. “If one of their precious Champions were in danger.”

Adyr’s voice floated from outside. “Vaela? Are you–” She pulled open the slit and froze. “Kaverlna!”

Kaverlna shook the knife at Adyr with a tut. “Wayward blood. Trying to drip away again.” She ran a finger along the knife. “I suspected you hadn’t released all that traitorous blood yet. No matter. I will be much more thorough.” Adyr drew back, as if physically cut by the words.

Vaela backed up to the exit, shielding Adyr from Kaverlna. Incus or not–she wasn’t letting Adyr fall back into the Church’s grasp. Vaela tightened her grip on her shield and stick.

Kaverlna faced Vaela and stepped closer. “You came back for her. Developed a taste for her blood, have you?” She nodded and leered at Vaela. “Excellent taste. Her Power is quite refined.”

Rage boiled up in Vaela’s stomach. Between her and Kaverlna, Adyr’s bloodsoaked sleeve laid on the ground near the discarded vial of Alnea’s blood. She stabbed her stick in Kaverlna’s direction. “You’re not getting any more of her blood. Not another drop.”

“Oh?” Kaverlna’s eyebrow arched, a half-smile on the corner of her mouth. “You want it all for yourself?”

Adyr grabbed Vaela’s arm and tried to scoot around her. “Leave. I’ll hold them as long as I can.”

Vaela pushed her back to the flap and tipped her chin Kaverlna. “Yes.” Adyr gasped and Vaela assumed her fighting stance, shield and stick raised. “I want her blood–and I’ll fight anyone who tries to take it from me ever again.” There would be no escape. Adyr was too weak to run. And there was nowhere to hide, anyway.

Fine. She was tired of running.

Vaela clanged her stick off the shield. Some of Alnea’s Power was still within her. It’d have to be enough. Adyr stepped through the slit and stood beside Vaela, shoulder-to-shoulder. Her pulse blipped through her skin, gently drumming against Vaela. It was labored, weakened, but burning with anger.

Timura faced Kaverlna, spreading her hands. “My lord, we can recapture the wayward blood.” She gestured to Vaela. “Let this one go. Won’t her capture just prompt Hermit and the other Twisted to attack the Church?”

Kaverlna strode over to Timura. “You did well to stop them from leaving. For a little bit, at least.” She lashed out and the knife carved through Timura’s sleeve and flesh. Timura cried out and spun away, blood spurting from the gash. She clutched her arm as blood wept between her fingers. Kaverlna raised the knife and licked some blood from the blade. She spat in on the ground, shaking her head with disgust. “But you’re still weak.” The blade darted out again and stopped against Timura’s throat. The point drew a dot of blood from the skin. “Capture the wayward blood. And don’t fail this time. Or it will be your life that I spill.”

Kaverlna skirted around Timura and circled towards Vaela. Timura wheezed, blood oozing between her fingers. She bent over and shakily retrieved her staff. Upon straightening, she wavered on her feet, before shuddering a breath in. She circled towards Adyr and placed her other hand, slick with blood, on the staff. The tip of the staff trembled as blood continued to run down her arm and drip from her elbow. Adyr pivoted and raised the small knife, her only weapon.

Vaela kept her eyes trained on Kaverlna, her heart racing. Even with that injury, Timura would overwhelm Adyr. She had to end this as quickly as possible, before it was too late.

She took a deep breath and wrested control back over Alnea’s Power. The world around her slowed, every movement from Kaverlna sticking out. Blood pounded inside Vaela as she burned away at the energy. It wouldn’t last forever. It was now or never.