/Still Gabrielle Goldmore POV

"I know we needed mounts but, wasnt that risky ? Horn could attract more than just direwolfs." asked Celina of Leo when he was riding nearby. She was huging prince Tomas from behind on the back of Alpha direwolf. It was totaly coincidence that, when we were choosing mounts, i indirectly blocked her path, and she ended up riding together with my cousin.

"No need to worry. Even if there were somone within reach of horn ..." answered Leo then put horn to lips and slightly blew. All direwolfs glanced at him at the same time.

"As you noticed, humans cant hear it. Only some demi-human races and beast are able to hear its sound." continued Leo.

"And no demi-human are allowed in Zolmor army. I see ..." smiled Celina and leaned closer to cousins back. And i could see him tremble a bit with face red. With chuckle i leaned closer to Jade as well. With seven people and five mounts two of them had to carry more. At first i was worried when remembered her lightning spirit. Thinking that this might be painful journey for cousin, but he, as well as direwolf, showed no discomfort from her touch at all.

After few hours of travel trough forest, we finaly found cave. Our large detect range helped with that a lot. It would be hard to do that without, while hindered by trees and lack of light at evening. While we were setting up camp Leo and Ace departed to hunt and by the time we finished, they returned while draging corpse of bear. That was quick. After geting some of its meat for our travels, rest was feed to direwolfs. Camp was separated for girls and boys. Maybe cousin had some illusions of more my 'help', but i wont budge. Just today Celina became mother against her will. Should be happy with pleasant ride i setup for him.

Next morning we departed while it was still a bit dark. After few hours we spoted village to our right with detect. Some Zolmor soldiers were making mess there, by forcing some girls come with them and villagers tried to prevent that. Its only mater of time till people start dying.

"Cant we interfere ? With three mages, spellblade and surprise on our side, barely any will be left just from starting barrage of magic" asked Jade.

"We cant" shortly cut her Leo.

"But .." started object Jade

"This isnt time to get emotional Jade. Our Captain is right. Our job is to reach Arcae without giving them clues and reason to send army at our tail." Cut her Lars. While Ace put his hand on Jade shoulder and shaked his head.

I myself could only cleanch my fist. I know they are right, but this doesnt feel right. They are our people.

"We would only make matter worst for any of us." spoke prince. "Lets assume we go in and manage kill them all. And like some heroes leave after. What will happen next ?" he asked.

"We ..we will be exposed. But we will be far away by then. They cant do anythig by then." tried justify Jade.

"Exactly. We will be away but villagers not. First with this location and Luara as start, they will deduce that somone capable dealing with squad, is heading for Arcae. Second, people they send to check for missing squad will be numerous and thirsty for blood. It wont end just with few dead and some missing woman. Will be lucky if whole village wasnt blazed to the ground, just to be sure. And third, if they know our destination, its not only army that we have to worry about. What if they have spies at Arcae ? High rank commanders have communication tool. You remember what hapened with our portal gates at Luara dont you ? In the end it will spell their doom and possibly ours." what cousin said is right. I havent though this far, we cant let our emotion rule over us.

"Grrr" growled Jade and turned away from village.

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"I have suggestion" interrupted Celina. And Jade quickly turned to her with sparks in her eyes.

When everyone turned her way she continued.

"I will go and get their attention with spell here or there, as female mage im way way more interesting and expenisve than few villagers ..."

"No ! This is out of question !" quickly interupted cousin.

"Let me finish please. After some magic show i will pretend im runing low on mana or somthing gone wrong and start run to north. After some time i will start fly at low attitude in the same direction so they assume its my destination, and once out of their sight, rise over clouds and return to you undetected. They will head to report about me and my destination of flight. Village will be safe and no revenge thirsty soldiers to worry about. What do you think ?" asked Celina with a smile.

                      /Nina and Celina POV

After flying in lightning form, we crash landed not far from soldiers with a bang and created cloud of dust.

"cough cough ... Uhh i hope no one heard this. Dramatic entrance would be totaly ruined." complained in whisper mother.

"You put too much attention to your image." I complained.

"Image is very .. veerry important" whispered back mother.

"For starters girlish laugh to create atmosphere." whispered mother again and sent lightning trough ground and lightly electrocuted all soldiers before they could act. Ragged village girls and ones that tried to protect them ran away with this chance.

"He he he he" mother started to giggle while leaving cloud of dust.

"Shocked to see me ?" asked loudly, but no one could respond, still being in slight paralysis from shock. He he shocked ..

"You are right to do so he he he. Now kneel and beg for your lives, for you are in pressence of 'Empress of Lightning'. " said mother loudly in pompous voice.

"Oh im so exited" whispered mother "A few more feats of power and 'Empress of Lightning' will be set in stone. Now to satisfy my other desire." and with that, lightning started to gather and form into three orbs of light. They slowly spined around body four feets away and grew larger from lightning striking them from body now and then.

"She is mage ! Qickly knock her out, before she has chance to cast spell." Paralysis was tempoary because we heard shout from one of soldiers, that looked like some leader. He quickly toke out silver handle and chanted "Water whip !". With those words water whip formed from handle and hanged in the air.

"A spellblade huh ?" mutered mother, then raised her hand and with fingers snaped one of flying orbs launched to leader splattering him in the process with innards and blood flying in all directions. Remains of orb hit ground and electrocuted soldiers again, making them stop for a moment.

"Ahhh ..so refreshing, to kill stuff without snap just doesnt feel right." muttered mother with ecstasy on her face. Then lifted another hand while lowering previous and with snap another soldier turned into fountain of blood by second orb of light. By the time third soldier meet same fate, all had look of terror in their face.

"This is your other desire you talked about ?" i asked mother.

"Yep yep. I was itchy all over with desire to snap somone. But lightning coulnt express image i had in mind for finger snap motion. Anyhow time to play weak" muttered mother.

"Tremble and feeaar .. ! " started mother with pompous voice while lightning formed new orbs of light and then amulet on her neck shattered.

"Eh ?!" mother faked surprise and then fear, while lightning orbs dissipated.

"W ..wait a b..bit" stuttered mother while pretending trying form orbs of light again, without any success.

"This is our chance ! Get her !" shouted one of soldiers that recovered from last paralysis and started charge with others following.

"he he this is so fun" i couldnt help but laugh from all that acting.

"Aaaahhh !!" screamed mother and started to run away in north direction. With lightning making her just a tiny bit faster than soldiers, leading them away from village.

"Cant wait to get my hands on her" shouted one of chasing soldiers.

"First will have to somehow turn off that lightning thing around her" added other.

"How much will she get us as slave ?" asked slowest soldier.

"Dont count ahead of time, she still might have some tricks up her sleeve" shouted chase leading soldier.

While runing, mother pretended to attempt incantation only to fail from stuttering. And after half hour of runing she finaly 'managed it'.

"Elements of Lightning. Answer my call. In thy embrace let me ride to the sky. Flight ! "

And with that turned into lightning, started to fly low and just slow enough, for soldiers to see her destination still being north.

"You think after this they will call you as 'Empress of Lightning' ?" i asked.

"Hmm ... i need performance without runing away dont i ?" asked mom a bit sad.

After we flew away from soldiers eyesight, twenty Bo or so, we launched into air at full speed and pierced clouds. Then after a bit of sightseeing above clouds returned to prince and co.