Knowing that they were exhausted, both from the night\u2019s traveling and from the battle, Gideon let them sleep for more than three hours. The sun was already one third of the way up the sky when Dan was pulled from sleep by Gideon shaking him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGet up!\u201d he hissed. \u201cQuick!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sensing that something was wrong, Dan quickly scrambled to his feet, brushing the leaves and dirt from his armor. It didn\u2019t take long for Gideon to rouse the rest of them, simply because there weren\u2019t very many of them left. They all gathered around Gideon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou remember Jandar\u2019s distraction?\u201d he said. \u201cThe one I told you about in Hyleran? Jandar had a huge army, ready to pour down onto Braunglayde and distract Valkrill\u2019s forces. Well, it seems like the attack was way more successful than we intended. Jandar\u2019s army is just south of us.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Silence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat are we waiting for?\u201d Laelia said. \u201cWe should go to them. They might not know what\u2019s happened.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll join them,\u201d Gideon assured her, \u201cbut there\u2019s something else: they\u2019re being chased back north, towards us. There\u2019s another army coming up from the south, and they seem to be retreating from it. I can only assume it\u2019s Utgar or Valkrill.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat do we do?\u201d Ana asked. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe join them,\u201d Gideon said. \u201cHelp in any way we can. And we hope they don\u2019t kill me and Dan on sight,\u201d he added as an afterthought. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They hurried through the forest, heading east, towards the sun. Soon Dan could hear the sounds of Jandar\u2019s army through the trees: the squeaking of cart wheels, the shouted commands of captains, and the low rumble of the Ghidan bellowing. What if they knew about Vydar\u2019s betrayal? Surely they would. Would they kill him and Gideon? Dan resolved to hang back until he knew it was safe. He hadn\u2019t come this far to die at the hands of Jandar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soon they broke the cover of the trees. Jandar\u2019s army was in plain sight, just a short distance away. It was large, consisting primarily of mounted knights, kyrie, and a few soulborgs. It was pitiful in size though, when compared to the force which Dan could now see on the southern horizon, rushing towards them with all the speed of a drow sword. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Utgar\u2019s army was vast, the blue tide \u2013 it seemed to mostly consist of mounted orcs \u2013 seething northwards, eager to clash with Jandar\u2019s army. One enormous figure dominated the orcs at its feet. It seemed humanoid, but it was tall, taller than any castle wall. Smoke seemed to billow from its very skin, and dark clouds of dust and ash followed in its wake. Dan instantly knew what had caused the dramatic change in the sky: it was this creature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan spotted the dragons a moment before Jandar\u2019s army did. He caught a glimpse of dark shadows above the clouds of smoke billowed up by the giant. Something was winging its way towards the army, something big. The smoke clouds stretched all the way, nearly to Jandar\u2019s army, and as Dan watched, the dragons burst from the clouds and dived, opening their maws as they fell from the sky, the sun glinting off of their gray scales. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jandar\u2019s army fled. The soulborgs stood and fired, bringing down several dragons, but the kyrie and knights raced for the shelter of the forest, right towards Dan and the others. They never made it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turning sharply in the air, the dragons angled for the front of the army. Then, they opened their jaws, and spat out\u2026 shadow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan had expected fire, from what Aviir had told him of dragons. But instead, the giant lizards breathed a thick, dark mist, which struck the ground between Jandar\u2019s army and the forest like a bolt of magic, and coalesced there, frothing back and forth. It wasn\u2019t natural. It stayed in one place, sloshing from side to side like liquid, rather than smoke. And then it rose into a great mound, and finally dissipated, allowing Dan to see the form within it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It wasn\u2019t a dragon, orc, drow, or any other creature Aviir had spoken of. It was\u2026 darkness. It resembled an armored insect, something like a giant centipede, with six legs, the two front ones bladed and sharp, the rear four used for walking. It turned on the spot, its long body following its head like a snake. And then it made for Jandar\u2019s army. Overhead, another dragon spat out a mouthful of shadow, which struck nearby. After a moment, another monstrosity burst from the mist, this one more lizard-like in shape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Then the rest of the dragons arrived, covering the ground between the forest and Jandar\u2019s army with the shadow-beasts. They guarded the ground, keeping Jandar\u2019s army from retreating to the forest. The orcs were growing steadily closer, and keeping pace with them due to its huge strides, was the enormous giant. Jandar\u2019s army was trapped. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A cloud of smoke blasted into the forest. Looking to the south, Dan saw that the giant was running now, its footfalls shaking the ground. Ash and dust exploded up from its feet, and the dark clouds above it seemed to race forwards, darkening the new day. The sun grew dark, what little light got through turning red and bathing everything in a bloody glow. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on!\u201d Gideon yelled, his voice strangely muffled by the dust billowing through the air. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan didn\u2019t move. He wasn\u2019t about to charge the shadow-beasts. From what he could see, Jandar\u2019s army was unable to touch them, soulborg energy blasts and knights\u2019 swords alike cutting through them like smoke. Only the mages, of which there seemed to be few, were successful in felling them. The shadow-creatures, however, were having no trouble knocking their enemies to the ground and trampling them under foot. Going up against them would be suicide. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be killed if we go in there!\u201d Dan yelled to Gideon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese are our allies, Dan!\u201d Gideon yelled back. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to try! We\u2019ve got to help them!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDan\u2019s right!\u201d Ana shouted from beside Dan. \u201cWe\u2019ll be useless to them; we\u2019ve got to stop that giant.\u201d She pointed to the enormous figure, which had slowed, and was now approaching the trapped army at an easy pace. The orcs were racing to catch up to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow?\u201d Dan shouted to Ana over the din of battle. \u201cWhat can we do?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ana appeared to think for a moment. \u201cThey need time,\u201d she called back to Dan. \u201cThe mages need time to deal with the shadow-creatures.\u201d Then she looked at Dan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In that look, Dan knew what she was about to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAna, no!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ana stepped forward. \u201cI can give them a few minutes,\u201d she said as the dust tore at her hair and clothes. \u201cThat will give the mages enough time.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut what about you?\u201d Dan shouted, running to her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThese are my allies, Dan,\u201d Ana said. \u201cI\u2019ve got to save them.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut at what cost?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ana looked at Dan. \u201cIt\u2019s a cost I\u2019m willing to pay,\u201d she said calmly. \u201cSome things are worth it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan grabbed at her arm, but he was too late: Ana raised her arms to the sky, palms outward, and closed her eyes. Instantly, a shimmering golden shield burst from her. It expanded faster than Dan could follow, racing to engulf Gideon, Francois, and the others, and then pushing forwards towards Jandar\u2019s army. It slammed into the first few shadow-beasts, causing them to let out shrieks of agony and leap away from it. A few evaporated the instant the shield touched them. A great cheer went up from the knights as the shield quickly chased away the creations of the dragons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Opening her eyes, Ana tilted her head. \u201cI didn\u2019t expect that,\u201d she said, as calmly as if she were noting the weather. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan remembered the last time Ana had used her shield: she had nearly died. This time however, she appeared unharmed. Nothing had struck her shield. For a moment, Dan thought everything would be all right. That hope evaporated as the ground shook beneath his feet. Looking up, Dan saw the massive form of the giant standing at the edge of the shield, regarding Ana with smoldering eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now that he saw it up close, Dan knew the creature was no giant. Smoke leeched away from its black and red skin, and tongues of flame wreathed it, flickering up and down its scaly body. Horns protruded from its bestial head, and red eyes glowed with the light of a hundred smoldering fires. It was no giant. The only word Dan could think of to describe it was much worse: demon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The demon opened its mouth, showing it to be full of the light of a deadly flame, and bellowed straight at Ana, the sound shaking the trees and sending shudders through the ground. Ana didn\u2019t flinch, but stared up at the demon. Dan couldn\u2019t say she looked calm. She looked downright terrified. But she didn\u2019t move. She resolutely stood still, protecting Jandar\u2019s army with her shield. Dan knew, without even knowing how he knew, that if the shield dropped, if the demon was able to reach Jandar\u2019s army\u2026 there would be nothing left. It would obliterate everyone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The demon cocked its head at Ana. And then it raised one hand, conjured a sphere of flame, and with the other hand drew from it, as if drawing from a sheath, a long, black sword. The sword was at least as thick as Dan. Its metal was pure black, with red lines tracing strange symbols across it. Red tongues of flame licked along its length, and as the demon drew it, an unnatural darkness seemed to cover everything. The red light of the sun grew dimmer, so that the demon\u2019s red glowing eyes and fire wreathing its skin were the brightest lights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking at the demon\u2019s feet, Dan saw that the orcs had arrived. They were as close to Ana\u2019s shield as they could be without touching it, and Dan knew they were waiting for it to drop. Ana seemed to know it too, judging from the way her face paled. Dan saw her glance back up at the demon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The demon seemed to be considering her, its hideous face lit with the red glow of its flame-wreathed sword. And then it raised the sword on high, uttered one fierce bellow, and brought it down on Ana\u2019s shield with all of its strength. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The shield exploded with energy. Golden lightning leapt from it in every direction, scorching the orcs, and flashing brightly in the darkness. The lightning concentrated where the demon\u2019s blade met the shield, and leapt to it, running up the length of the black blade, and into the demon\u2019s hand. The demon bellowed in pain as the lightning crackled on its skin, but it seemed unable to pull the sword from the shield. It was stuck, as if fused to the magical barrier. More and more lightning leapt to the demon, and it let out a shriek of agony. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ana wasn\u2019t silent either. The moment the demon\u2019s blade had struck, she too had become enveloped in golden light. A great gash had opened up on her chest, causing her to scream in pain, and her blood was now soaking her clothes and the burnt grass beneath her, but like the demon, she seemed incapable of moving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan didn\u2019t know what to do. He wasn\u2019t sure if there was anything he could<\/em> do. He watched as the golden lightning from Ana\u2019s shield ran up and down the demon, causing its frame to jerk and shudder. The demon howled in agony, its cry matched by Ana\u2019s own cry of pain. And then the demon exploded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It just\u2026 blew up. More and more lightning arced to it, and then, the demon simply exploded into shards of black and red. Smoke burst outwards, covering everything, and a foul stench assaulted Dan, as if he were smelling the half-rotted corpses of a hundred beasts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ana\u2019s shield instantly evaporated, and those orcs who hadn\u2019t been incinerated by lightning surged forwards, eager to attack Jandar\u2019s army. Dan however, didn\u2019t care about them. He raced to Ana, now free of the light which had encased her, and caught her as she fell backwards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It couldn\u2019t be more obvious that Ana\u2019s wound was deadly. It was deep, cutting far past the ribs. It was spewing blood in great bursts, Ana\u2019s heart not knowing that it was pumping away its owner\u2019s life essence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dan gently knelt down, allowing Ana to slump to the ground. He supported her carefully, not wanting her to fall. Tears splashed onto the gash in her chest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhy?\u201d he said, the words becoming choked. \u201cWhy, Ana? Why did you do that?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ana\u2019s face was drained, almost pure white. Her eyes were wild, but they found Dan, and locked onto his face. A faint smile flickered across her pallid face. \u201cJandar\u2019s army can escape now,\u201d she whispered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut\u2014\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ana only smiled. \u201cI gave those people a chance,\u201d she said. Then she coughed. Blood came up, but she didn\u2019t look away from Dan\u2019s face. She mouthed something, coughed, and tried again. \u201cThat\u2019s worth my life any day,\u201d she breathed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dan couldn\u2019t take it. He broke down despite himself, his head drooping to Ana\u2019s chest as the tears fell from his eyes. He felt her hand on his head, almost stroking his hair, and then\u2026 her hand was gone. He looked up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ana\u2019s eyes were locked on some far distant point, her smile still in place. The blood no longer rushed from her wound, but rather flowed slowly. Her heart had stopped. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ana had left them. Knowing that they were exhausted, both from the night\u2019s traveling and from the battle, Gideon let them sleep for more than three hours. The sun was already one third of the way up the sky when Dan was pulled from sleep by Gideon shaking him. \u201cGet up!\u201d he hissed. \u201cQuick!\u201d Sensing that something was wrong, … Continue reading Chapter Fifty-One – Defeat<\/span>
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