TCO: Chapter Twenty-Seven
As the group of Vaznaun spread out before the forest trail, one grabbed a small horn hooked to his trouser belt and blew the alarm before the warriors were able to cross the clearing in time to stop him.
Tarak, limping from his injured leg followed behind the others as fast as could.
Out of the corner of his eye, Gyan saw the flash of Jalena's violet-lit gladaé as she ran it through a large Vaznaun before her.
Gyan! Jalena's sharp voice pierced his mind. Protect Tarak!
Gyan slowed for Tarak to catch up, just as an arrow whizzed past Gyan's ear and struck Tarak in the shoulder. Tarak stumbled backward, a cry of pain escaping him.
Heated energy surged through Gyan. With a yell, he turned and threw his knife with all the force he could gather. The knife pierced the chest of a large Vaznaun now charging Gyan and Tarak, knocking him back into the nearest tree. Gyan never broke stride; he yanked the knife from the Vaznaun's chest, turning the blade forward with a reverse grip. He blocked an incoming blow from another Vaznaun with his free hand and turned from the hip, running the knife across the Vaznaun's throat.
Valora, engaged in hand-to-hand combat with two Vaznaun, grabbed an arrow from the pack on a Vaznaun's back as he dropped from her swift blows. In one swift motion, she turned and stabbed the arrow into the neck of the other Vaznaun on her opposite side.
The last Vaznaun in the group turned and fled back toward the palace. Gyan moved to follow.
"Leave him," Jalena said aloud as she stepped over the two Vaznaun she had just killed. "More are coming, so we must hurry! We have no choice but to go through the forest. They will surround the borders."
"What of the gawl?" asked Gyan.
"We'll have to take our chances. There is no other way."
Tarak's right arm draped across Valora's shoulders as she helped support his weight. His shoulder dripped with blood from where the arrow had pierced him. When he and Valora met Gyan and Jalena, Tarak suddenly straightened with a look of alarm. The red halo encircling his irises began to glow as he removed his arm from around Valora's shoulders and yanked a small knife from Gyan's belt.
"What are—?" Gyan began.
Light erupted from Tarak's eyes as he took a large step—using much of his remaining strength—and threw the knife with enormous force toward a tree with his uninjured arm. The knife bulleted forward, splitting an incoming arrow in two. Without slowing, it continued beyond the leaves and struck the Vaznaun hidden in the branches. The arkaí dropped from the tree's upper branches and onto the ground before them, the knife protruding from his neck.
Tarak staggered backward and fell against Valora.
"Damn," said Valora, as she helped Tarak stand upright. She stared at the fallen Vaznaun, her eyebrows raised.
Tarak shrugged as the others looked at him wide-eyed. "I'm an arkaí," he said casually, as if his behavior was perfectly natural.
Gyan looked down at the arrow in Tarak's shoulder. "We have to take this out."
Tarak nodded.
"Wait." Jalena moved to stand behind Tarak. "This should help your leg some too, Tarak, although I do not have enough energy to heal your injury fully."
She placed her hand on the back of Tarak's injured shoulder. Her eyes lit up. "Now, Gyan."
Tarak grunted in pain as Gyan yanked the arrow from him. Light from Jalena's hand instantly flooded Tarak's shoulder and leg, and the wound sealed.
We must leave now, Jalena ordered them as Tarak gave her a nod of gratitude. She set out along the forest path. Stick to the same path we took before and remain alert. I'm not sure if the Vaznaun will try to follow us directly through the forest.
Can't we teleport to the ship with the Lumfáinne, Master Jalena? Valora asked.
We are too far. It takes more energy to get to your destination the further you are away from it. We need to save our energy and try to get as far as we can through the forest before we attempt it.
The warriors glanced up sharply as they heard the shrill cries of the gawl flying overhead.
Heart pounding, Gyan stealthily followed Jalena's path through the forest, staying close to Tarak, who was jogging with a limp. Valora brought up the rear of the group. The group quickened their pace as they heard running footsteps and voices behind them.
Gyan glanced back and saw one large Vaznaun shouting orders to the others.
Kar's deep voice echoed through the forest trees. "Take the northern path," he said, commanding some of the Vaznaun to surround the outskirts of the forest. "The rest of you keep with me."
"But, sir—the gawl!" exclaimed the same Vaznaun who had escaped the warriors earlier.
"You'll wish a gawl had got you by the time Mordán's through with you, Sinu, if you don't get that traitor back," Kar growled as he quickened his pace.
Sinu only hesitated for a short moment before following.
Gyan glanced back at Valora. Valora, you go ahead of us, he told her telepathically, feeling as if he and Tarak were pushing her too far behind.
Valora ran past them, looking up to keep a close watch on any activity within the trees. Try to stay close to me, she replied.
Halfway to the ship, a large clearing broke in the trees and light from the moons of Elsaria flooded the warrior's path.
As the warriors heard a shrill screech overhead, a voice shouted from behind them.
"I see them! There, in the clearing!"
An arrow whizzed by the heads of the team.
Valora jerked her head up sharply, turned and ran in the opposite direction back toward the Vaznaun—
Valora! What are—? Jalena stopped short.
Gyan immediately turned, following Jalena's gaze. The largest bird he had ever seen was flying down toward them, with a wingspan of at least twenty feet, its enormous claws stretched out wide.
Valora, her eyes alight, stood still, her hand outstretched toward the bird. A soft white light projected from her hand. The gawl stopped just before it reached Valora, flapping its large wings slowly as it hovered in midair. It retracted its claws and changed its direction of flight.
Gyan felt a change in the air pressure around him as more than a dozen arrows were released in their direction. Instinctively, he took two strides closer to Valora and stretched his arms. A shield of blue light erupted between the warriors and the Vaznaun, causing the arrows to bounce back harmlessly.
A large group of Vaznaun broke through the clearing. Several gawl, seizing the opportunity to attack, swooped down onto the Vaznaun, causing many of them to scatter back into the trees—
Run! Jalena shouted telepathically. Use the trees on the other side of the clearing as a shield while you focus on the ship. We are close enough to teleport!
The warriors bolted to the edge of the clearing without hesitation.
Kar emerged into the clearing, determined and unafraid. He slowed his pace to shoot arrows at the gawl and sprinted forward after the warriors.
"Hurry, Tarak!" Gyan yelled as he glanced back and noticed Kar readying his bow mid-stride. He pulled Tarak along faster, who winced with every step.
As the warriors dashed into the protection of the forest trees at the other side of the clearing, Jalena yelled. "Now!" She faced the others and wrapped both arms around Tarak, her eyes alight.
Gyan grabbed Valora's outstretched arm and Jalena's elbow nearest him. He saw Tarak's body jerk toward Jalena as the group focused on their destination. Heat immediately flooded Gyan's body as light poured through him and joined him with the other warriors.
"No!" Kar screamed as he witnessed the warriors gathering. "Do not let them form the circle!"
Arrows slammed into the surrounding trees as they failed to reach their target in time. The Vaznaun shielded their faces from the bright blue-white light that absorbed the warriors before them.
Kar stood where the warriors had vanished seconds before, looking enraged.
Jalena started the Xita-7 the moment they arrived inside, taking off at full speed. No one spoke for several moments for fear their luck may end. It wasn't until they flew across the Kraundor border and into Alsar territory that Valora made the first sound.
"You believe me now?" A smirk lit her face as she stared at Gyan.
Gyan smiled as he recalled the scene of the gawl hovering above Valora. He knew he would never forget it. He nodded. "I believe you now."
Valora grinned at Gyan as Tarak smiled wearily and Jalena's laughter filled the air.
