“They’re not attacking,” Tegan watched them as the Drakhyn flung themselves against the fence. “They could easily have been over it by now, what are they waiting for?”
“You’re right, they aren’t attacking,” Tove frowned and looked quickly for Marcus.
“Who protects the rear?” Tegan snapped at one of the Sentinels.
“The Sentinels,” he answered quickly as he looked around in alarm, “but there are a large number of ushere.”
Tegan took off running to the back of the property, she heard Tove cursing behind her and then her running footsteps.
“They’re drawing all our numbers to the front,” Tegan shouted as she ran. “The back is defenceless.”What was wrong with these Akrhyns?she thought as she ran. They left themselves open to attack at every turn. No wonder the Great Council had stationed her here.
Slowing her approach, Tegan rounded the back corner and her anger trebled at the Elite Sentinel in this House. She watched as the Drakhyn gathered here moved stealthily and with purpose as wire cutters were trying to be used to breach the fence. The defensive spells protecting the fence were reacting and causing difficulty though. The Drakhyn wore an assortment of normal clothing; jeans, pants, shirts, t-shirts – they looked like a normal bunch ofmen, but with three things in common, bald, gloved hands and sunglasses. Yet they didn’t necessarily draw attention.
As she stepped out of the shadows of the building, the Drakhyn stilled in their movements. “We are many,” one of them spoke calmly.
“You are dead,” Tegan replied just as calmly as she withdrew her sword with a confidence that seemed to register with some of the Drakhyn at least.
“You will be mine I think,” the one that spoke smiled, showing his razor-sharp teeth. A burst of flame suddenly erupted in the face of the Drakhyn as Cord moved behind Tegan. He watched calmly as the Drakhyn stood waiting for the flames to die before it seemed to panic and tried to fight off the flames.
“It cannot die that way,” Tegan whispered to Cord, transfixed when the Drakhyn started to scream in pain.
“It can withmyfire,” Cord assured her.
“The front?” Tegan enquired.
“I have set fires amongst them, they fight it more than they wish to fight us,” he looked at her quickly, “the fence holds.”
“Maybe more than one here would be of benefit?” Tegan suggested, she couldn’t resist her smile when she saw Cord’s wicked grin. He didn’t even need powder she realised, the magic answered him without aid of powders and potions.
“Impressed you, haven’t I?” Cord smirked down at her.
“Yes, I hate to admit it,” Tegan said quietly. She held her breath as she felt him step closer to her, pressing into her back.
“It’s your turn to impress me, little tiger,” Cord’s soft voice in her ear made her skin shiver again.
Unable to keep her uneasiness at his proximity at bay, Tegan burst forward towards the fence line. In a practiced move she jumped from the lawn to the fence and scaled it swiftly. She heard the cries of astonishment behind her, as she topped the fence line she looked once over her shoulder. Cord’s hood was thrown back, the surprise evident on his face. Tove appeared beside her, they clasped hands and with a grin, Tegan dropped into the horde of the Drakhyn below. Freeing her sword as she fell bringing it down in a wide arc, Tegan effectively cut into the Drakhyn as she landed. As she fought the Drakhyn, more fire burst into life around her, making it easier for Tegan and Tove to kill Drakhyn. Tegan heard the other Elite drop down into the mass of Drakhyn and knowing her back was covered by Sentinel andCord, she pushed forward to eliminate the threat. As she forged through the creatures, she realised her Elite had formed an arrowhead and were slicing through the Drakhyn, Cord’s fire burning the fallen ones behind them. Her smile was wide as she fought her way through the throng.
“Enough!”The Drakhyn froze at the command, making Tegan eye them suspiciously. A taller than average Drakhyn walked through the parting crowd, the confident swagger and smirk as he stood in front of the Elite was a little unnerving. Tegan glanced quickly at her Elite and saw her own surprise mirrored on their faces.
“I am here for a request only,” it spoke again, its words clear and concise, his words formal.
“What request?” Tove demanded, raising her knives.
“Tove, daughter of Larcius, we come for the girl,” the Drakhyn moved its finger back and forth in mock admonishment.
If Tove was surprised that the Drakhyn knew her name, she didn’t show it. She glanced quickly at Tegan before giving the Drakhyn her full attention. “What girl?”
“She will give us many Drakhyn,” it replied. “It has been seen, therefore it is so.”
“Which girl?” Tegan asked stepping forward, ignoring the sharp intake of breath from Tove.
“You know will know soon,” the Drakhyn replied. Tegan watched as the Drakhyn began to back away as one. “You have two weeks to give us the girl,” and then they were gone, dispersing into the trees as quickly as they had come.
“Follow them!” Tegan shouted and began her pursuit, she glanced over her shoulder several times to ensure her fellow Sentinels were following her, Salem’s words of the other night clear in her memory.
“The trees!” She heard the shout from behind her as she looked up, almost too late, as two Drakhyn dropped to the ground, their talons exposed as they slashed at her, barely missing her. Tegan fought them both, keeping her movements sharp and concise, the dense trees which had been a benefit to her when she arrived, now hindered her movement. As she dropped to the ground to avoid a long-armed strike, a clang of metal against the sharp talons was followed by a hoarse scream. A hand yanked her to her feet, and she had moments to register Cord was beside her.
“Stay close to me,” he instructed.