“What kind of ninja are you? Why are you so powerful?” His voice rose and boomed against the walls. “What makes you so special? Answer me!” Once more he kicked her, sending her sprawling a few feet away. She grunted from the pain, feeling her bones throb. Then a sensation like fire surging through her body burned her. She writhed on the ground screaming, mindless of the pebbles she rolled over that added more bruises and scratches to her fleshy collection. The sorcerer released the torture spell as soon as he’d summoned it. “Answer me, you worthless little rat!” Liana gritted her teeth and pushed herself up on her hands and knees. Sweat trickled down her face—or was that something else? She could certainly taste something salty in her mouth. Her muscles burned from both fatigue and the torture spell. At last she turned her head in Raven Frost’s direction. “You can’t scare me anymore.” Whether or not that was a lie, it elicited a thundering caterwaul of rage. Claws raked down her back and tore through her gi. Gasping from the sting, she tried to crawl away. Teeth clamped onto her leg and she felt herself flying. Then the breath was driven out of her. She’d been flung into the wall like a doll. “For any other human scum, it’d be terrifying to perish in the dark. But I suppose it changes nothing for you.” Over her head he sneered, “I’m just sorry I didn’t dispose of you properly when you were a kit.” Liana wished she could think of some clever comeback, but her body felt enflamed with too much fresh pain. With trembling limbs she turned and started to get up. Another wave of burns electrified her. It felt like a dozen flaming knives piercing her. Purely out of pride she gritted her teeth in an attempt to not make a sound. The invisible fire continued to rip into her, however, and she couldn’t help but release a raw groan. Just finish it, she pleaded silently. Just finish it quickly, or let Cole come, please…
* * *
Cole was using his scythe to cut down three warrior cats at once when he heard her voice; strangled, in his head, but his focus immediately switched to the familiar presence. Help. Cole, one of the east tunnels… hurry… For a second he only stood there, blood turning cold. That was definitely Liana. She was in trouble. Someone had captured her and taken her into one of the tunnels. There wasn’t a moment to lose. “Skylor, cover for me!” Without waiting to see if she’d heard, he ran at full speed, scythe still in hand. He barely saw the faces of friends and foes flash by his vision. He paid no heed to the bodies littering the ground nor the dark puddles beneath them, nor to his own stinging wounds. They were nothing compared to the threat of what might be happening to Liana right now. His mind raced with images he wished he didn’t have to imagine, that he didn’t want to dread. Not her. Please, First Spinjitzu Master, not Liana.
He could feel her connection to his mind. It was warm but fading fast. How much leftover strength was she using to keep up the connection? He wished he could absorb the element of speed like Skylor had so that he could be where he needed to be in the blink of an eye. Legs pumping, he leapt over rocks, groaning people and cats, and ducked into a narrow crevice at the east end of the cave. The tingly connection in his mind wavered, yet he clung to it as he entered the tunnel. He slowed his pace, wary of running into something in the dark. He wished he had a flashlight on him. He soon realized, however, that a flashlight wouldn’t be necessary. A hazy orange glow from torches could be seen in the distance, just around a bend in the tunnel. He ran softly toward it, pulse racing. Thankfully the tunnel widened enough that he could lift his head and breathe normally. Then he heard the screaming and crying. He froze in his tracks. “Where are your special powers now, little rat? Come on, show me! Show me what makes you so special!” Rage burned through Cole. He ran and turned around the corner. “Party’s over, hairball!” A scraggly black-and-white-furred nekomata stood in the tunnel, who turned and snarled at the sound of Cole’s voice. Judging by the ice-blue eyes, Cole could tell immediately that it was Raven Frost before he spoke. “Mind your own business, Son of Earth! I have a score to settle with someone.” Cole’s gaze flickered past Raven Frost and on a figure lying curled up on the ground. His stomach dropped with horror, then rage. Liana looked broken, more than ever before. Her stray locks of hair fallen across her face did little to hide the wounds and her tears. She stiffened at the sound of Cole’s voice, eyes lighting up with hope. “You absolute scum!” Cole roared. He turned on Raven Frost and swung his scythe up. “You’re going to pay for—!” He saw Raven Frost smirk at him the split second before darkness shrouded his vision. He stumbled and hesitated, dazed. Then the feeling of knives raking his eyes came out of nowhere. Bellowing, Cole stumbled backwards. He dropped his scythe and grabbed his face. His fingers came away wet and sticky. Words could not describe the pure, fiery pain that wrenched itself from his sockets to his brain. “Why, this seems familiar, doesn’t it?” Raven Frost purred nearby. He rose his voice over Cole’s strangled cries. “I don’t think your little blind ninja will be able to heal your eyes this time.” Cole dropped to his hands and knees. Noise continued to come out of his mouth but he hardly noticed it anymore, not over the agony. Did he just—? No, not again. Surely he didn’t just do it again… But it feels so real—! “Cole!” Liana’s voice broke through the blaring haze in his brain. “It’s not real! He just summoned a memory!” “Shut up!” There was a thud and a low groan, but Liana did not stop. Her voice sounded hoarse.
“I heard him! He’s still over here, he never touched you! It’s not real, Cole! It—! Don’t touch me—!” There was another thud, as if a body had been picked up and slammed down. Cole gritted his teeth and concentrated. His brain was telling him he was hurt, that he was blind. Rocking and groaning, he forced himself to pick up a pebble and held it up to his face. Feel this pebble. You can see it. You don’t think you can, but you can. It’s right there. He slowed his breathing, then gently rubbed the pebble on his cheek. His brain flinched, telling him it was a sensitive spot, that his whole face was enflamed. No. My face is fine. I am OK. I can see. He dropped the pebble and, with a deep breath, touched the flesh around his eyes. A sting like fire—no, was that flesh? His flesh felt normal. Another sting, but half-hearted. He wondered if his brain was confused and jumping back and forth between sending pain signals or not. I’m OK. I can see. I’m not hurt. I’m fine. Shapes appeared around his vision, dark and hazy. He sat up and waited, blinking. I can see. I am whole and well. The feeling of flesh in agony faded away, as did the darkness. Relief flooded through him like a wave and he nearly laughed out loud. He was OK. He could see. Relief vanished as soon as it came, however, when Liana cried out again. He looked to see her writhing on the ground, though nothing touched her. Immediately he knew what was going on. “Why can’t you fight like a man, instead of using all your stupid spells and mind tricks as a crutch?!” he demanded. Raven Frost turned and smirked at him, whiskers twitching. “But I'm no man.” “No, but I’ve seen mice braver than you,” Cole spat. The werecat wizard’s eyes flashed. “Say that again.” “Coward!” Raven Frost voiced a furious yowl and lunged for him. Too late Cole realized he’d dropped his scythe. He danced to the side to dodge Raven Frost and whirled around. Metal glinted out of the corner of his eye. The scythe was lying several feet away. He was running over to grab it when a heavy weight slammed into him. Claws dug into his side. He rolled and threw up his hands to grab Raven Frost’s throat. The huge cat leaned over him and hissed in his face with flattened ears. He planted his paws on Cole’s chest and he found it hard to breathe. “Not a coward. Never a coward.” Raven Frost’s breath was rank and Cole gagged. “Just much, much more powerful than any one of you. “ Cole struggled to free himself, but Raven Frost shifted his weight and put his paw on Cole’s shoulder—the sore one. A blaze of fresh pain swept over him and he groaned out loud. “Get— off!” he cried with a grunt and swung a fist into the cat’s nose. Raven Frost jerked back with another yowl. It was just enough for Cole wriggle out from under him and to deliver a kick to his face. On his hands and knees he crawled hastily to his scythe.
Raven Frost hit him over the head with one paw. Then he picked up the scythe with his teeth and flung it away. Metal rang harshly out of sight. “What new trick do you have to show me?” he sneered. Glaring at him, Cole jumped to his feet and spun around. “Ninjaaa—!” “Seen it.” Fire, hot and red, burst over Cole’s head. Feeling the heat lick his skin, he released the Spinjitzu vortex and rolled on the ground, covering his face. His shoulder throbbed. When he looked up, he saw a familiar flame dancing in Raven Frost’s open paw. This fire didn’t whiz like the magic flames the sorcerers made up on their own. Cole knew this fire, and it made him furious. “Hey! That’s Kai’s power!” “It’s mine now. He’s dead, anyway, so he doesn’t need it.” The old cat looked smug. Blood pounded hotly in Cole’s ears. He couldn’t bear the idea of one of his best friends being dead, but he especially couldn’t bear that stupid smug grin on that stupid cat’s face. “I’ll show you dead!” Urging his power, he summoned several large rocks to come and surround his fists. With a wordless war cry he ran up and swung one of his rock-encased fists at Raven Frost’s face. Raven Frost dodged back and shot a wave of fire out of his paw. Cole ducked his head and rose an arm over his face as the heat washed over him. Though his protected fists took the worst of the flames, he realized his forearm felt numb a second before stinging. Chest heaving for breath, he advanced with swinging blows. Tails thrashing, Raven Frost edged back a ways before shooting another wave of fire. Cole summoned bigger rocks from the ground to hover before him and shield him from the roaring flames. He felt the heat behind the rocks. He released the ones around his fists so as not to be burned. Raven Frost kept shooting fire, as if hoping it would eventually seep past the rocks and get Cole, but they mostly evaporated against the stone. Cole kept building up this wall of rocks until he and Liana were completely shielded. It took a toll on his strength to hold all of them up. “You all right, Liana?” he called, gasping for breath. No response. “Liana—?” An explosion shook the tunnel like a thunderclap. Cole was thrown off his feet and several of the rocks that once protected him now bruised his torso and legs. He curled up into a ball to protect himself from the worst of it. Raven Frost was on him in the blink of an eye, before Cole could get up. Claws raked down his body and he struggled to free himself. He jumped up and kicked back, but before he could whip around and spin, teeth clamped down on his right arm. Raven Frost yanked him off his feet and slung him into the wall. With a groan Cole crumpled into a heap. His body throbbed all over, his shoulder most of all. He could feel fresh scratches lining his arms. He moved to get up, but his muscles wavered.
A cuff to the head shoved him to his hands and knees. Then a paw slammed into his head and smashed his face to the floor. Cole gasped for breath and struggled. “A pity I couldn’t have drank your powers for myself before ending you,” Raven Frost sneered. “Moving rocks seems more impressive than I would have thought. Oh, well.” He sighed and seemed to feign remorse. “I suppose fire will have to do.” Cole growled angrily and tried to get up. He felt that paw shove him down again, this time with claws digging into his scalp. The sound of fire burst over his head. This is it, he realized as his blood turned cold. Liana, I hope you got away, because I don’t think I’m going to make it. Liana could hear them fighting. She wished she could do something about it. With every one of Cole’s grunts and groans her anger was fueled like no other time. Every one of his cries twisted her heart further, and she hated Raven Frost for it. Her hatred for him was almost as strong as her love for Cole. She was on her hands and knees trying to catch her breath and stop her head from spinning. Streams of something warm and wet were trailing down her arms and her face—she hoped it was only sweat, but the many stings and aches of her body said otherwise. Get up, she told herself fiercely. Get up and fight! Cole cried out again, followed by a low moan. Had Raven Frost kicked him? She hated him when he did that. Actually, she hated him, period. Abruptly she became of a warm, tingly sensation. It spread from her head to her heart to her limbs. The stone ground seemed to heat up beneath her, and she thought she could detect a low humming sound. She couldn’t tell if it was only in her head or not. Another thud echoed through the tunnel. A horrible gargling sound followed along with Raven Frost’s voice. “You think you’re so clever to turn half the tribe against us? Ha! We’ll destroy them once this is over!” Her body felt warmer—stronger, even. To her shock she found she was able to stand; slowly, taking care, but standing. Her pulse quickened. What’s happening to me…? “But not before we make them watch us publicly execute your friends, oh no.” Raven Frost cackled, “If they’re not all gone already, I would like to have a little nap and let all their nightmares come true! Then and only then will we wake them up for the execution.” Liana’s breath came out stronger. Energy flowed from her hands and seemed to twirl around her in a tight circle. She could feel it, almost like an encouraging presence. “You’re lucky, Son of Earth, simply because you can be so bothersome. I’m going to end you right now.” Raven Frost’s claws were digging into Cole’s chest and throat—not enough to be fatal but enough to be painful. He choked and gasped for breath beneath the huge weight. His lungs screamed for air. Stars appeared at the corners of his vision. He was ready for it to end already.
His vision was swimming; the orange glow from the torches was fading and turning blue. Wryly he wondered if going colorblind was the last thing he would do before going to the Departed Realm. Raven Frost paused, looking perplexed. He glanced over his shoulder. “What in the…?” Over the big cat’s shoulder Cole could make out the blue glow overtaking the torchlight. A wind seemed to be picking up, tossing around Raven Frost’s fur and Cole’s hair. The torches went out with subdued hisses. The sound of wind was joined by a roar of energy, much like the sound Lloyd’s power made. The light seemed to be coming from— “By Ember Star and the ancestors!” Startled, Raven Frost released Cole and skipped back a pace. His fur was bristling and his ears were flat on his head. Gasping gladly on air, Cole coughed and forced himself to sit up. His vision swam and flickered, and the pale blue light blinded him momentarily. Blinking through watering eyes, he peered down the tunnel. He wondered if he was going crazy. Is that…? Liana stood there, head held up high and her arms outstretched. The unearthly glow and wind swirled around her; like a Spinjitzu vortex, but wider, brighter, and shimmering with something looking like stars and lightning combined. Her pale hair, appearing silver, flew in wild tangles around her face—now contorted with a combination of concentration, pain, rage, and triumph. Her scars looked stark white against her bloodied face. “You’re right, Raven Frost,” she shouted above the roar of energy. “There is something special about me.” “What— what power is this…?” The nekomata looked unnerved. His tails were lowering between his hind legs and he appeared to be on the verge of backing away. “What kind of Daughter are you?” Her chest heaved for breath, but she replied, “I’m not a ninja. My power is like yours.” Cole’s jaw dropped open. “I’m a Sister of Darkness. I’m a witch.” Liana’s voice hardened. “And it’s about time I kicked your butt.” A bolt of light shot from her hands—she seemed as shocked by it as Cole and Raven Frost were and she stumbled back. The light shot across the tunnel and struck Raven Frost in the chest. The big cat caterwauled, more out of shock than pain, and was thrown against the opposite wall. Cole felt too stunned to move—not that he could hardly breathe, anyway. His shoulder was screaming in agony, as well as his scalp, and something warm and wet was oozing into his eye. He could only watch as Liana stepped unsteadily past him toward Raven Frost. The sorcerer staggered to his paws. Cole could see that his white chest fur was singed and red where Liana’s power had hit him. “So,” Raven Frost wheezed. “You’ve unlocked your true potential. Cute. That, however, does not make you a master, little kitten.” He straightened up and glared at her, lashing his tails. “You’re wounded and weak, still easy to control.”
Liana’s mouth twisted into a snarl. “I don’t care. Leave Cole alone.” He bared his teeth into a mocking grin. “Make me.” He pushed himself up and balanced on his hind legs, and a plume of red fire burst from his paws. Liana’s face flashed with panic. Cole’s heart stopped. “No—!” Shielding her face behind one arm, Liana thrust a hand out, palm open. A white sphere appeared out of nowhere and acted as a shield for her. The fire surged over the sphere and evaporated. Raven Frost’s eyes flashed. More bullets of fire followed. Panting, Liana used the sphere to ward them off. Eventually the sphere seemed to crack and disintegrate. Another burst of flames was shooting toward her face. She heard them and ducked low, spinning around on her feet before standing up again and summoning another sphere. That seemed to be her newest and strongest move. “Gah, mouse dung!” Raven Frost stepped back. “Sleep!” Something dark and small like a shadow seemed to zip out of his open paw. “Liana, look out!” Cole croaked, hearing the stupidity of his own warning. The shadow struck her forehead and she stumbled back a pace—but remained standing. Glaring into space, she curled her hands into fists and trembled against some invisible force. A Nap Attack! Or some version of the Dark Sleep, Cole realized with a jolt of panic. He’s trying to take control of her mind again! His theory felt confirmed when a strangled whimper came from her. Rage bloomed in Cole, and he forced himself to get up. Every muscle in his body throbbed and his shoulder and scalp burned hotly in protest. His vision swam—he nearly staggered into the wall but kept his eyes on Raven Frost. Chest heaving, eyesight flickering, he started running toward the big cat, and bellowed hoarsely, “Leave— her— alone!” He barreled into Raven Frost and shoved him down. His reward was claws and teeth to his face and shoulders, and he threw his arms up over his face in a feeble attempt to protect himself. Fresh stings laced the soft flesh beneath his gauntlets. “Mind your own business!” the sorcerer yowled angrily. Cole lashed out with a fist to the cat’s jaw. A heavy paw smacked him in the head and he fell back. The world spun and his vision flickered again. He wished the tunnel would stop spinning… Another high-pitched caterwaul bounced off the walls. Raising his head, he saw that Liana had broken free of Raven Frost’s attack and was now throwing herself on top of him. She looked frail and tiny compared to the lion-sized beast, yet she pummeled her small fists at his head. “You want pain?” she cried furiously. “Let’s see how you like it!” Raven Frost looked as if he were about to claw her face off when he suddenly stiffened. His eyes widened and his fur bristled further, making him look twice as big as he was. “Get out— no, you can’t be in here. Only I can do that! Only I can!”
He backed away, shaking his head and growling. He shoved her off and she fell on her hands and knees. He continued stumbling into the wall. His angry orders were becoming panicked blubbering. “You little—! No, get out—get out of my head! No, not that, don’t show me that. Not again, not again— no!” Suddenly angry, Raven Frost shook his head and glared at her. “How dare you!” With lumbering steps he charged her. Liana panted heavily, still on her knees. She flexed her fists again and the blue glow grew brighter. Tiny stars seemed to spew from her fingertips and they lit up the tunnel. She wasn’t moving. Raven Frost came at her with bared teeth in a flash of black and white fur. Cole raised his arm feebly, heart in his mouth— Teeth flashed for her throat. The blue glow in each hand took on a solid shape. Her hands flashed in the air, and she sank both of the shapes into the big cat’s shoulders. Raven Frost staggered to a halt with a lung-rattling gasp. He stared down at his chest—then he stared at her. She stared back. Cole gasped and blinked, making sure he wasn’t losing his mind. Liana was staring at Raven Frost. The sorcerer’s eyes widened in astonishment. “You— you can see!” She blinked. Her eyes were blue, like the sky. “Yeah. I guess I can.” Without a warning, she yanked both knives out and swung one toward his eye. A bloodcurdling scream shook the air. Cole flinched but could not take his eyes off the sight. Liana stood there, trembling. She looked shocked to the core, yet yanked out the knife. Raven Frost reeled back with open jaws, still screaming. “That was for Cole,” Liana said, voice quivering. Groaning, Raven Frost blinked his remaining eye at her in rage. “You—!” Liana flew at him again with a battle cry and used the second knife. This elicited another scream as she yanked it out. Raven Frost staggered backwards and hit his rump against the wall. Her eyes flashed like blue fire. She strode up to the nekomata, and reached for his chest fur. Something snapped; she pulled her hand away carrying a Lifesource that glowed silver and violet. “And that was for me.” With that, she threw the Lifesource and smashed it on the ground. The crystal ball shattered into a hundred pieces. As the pieces flew she cried out as if hurt and grabbed her head. A roar of mingled pain and rage flew out of Raven Frost. He staggered toward Liana, bellowing and swinging his head blindly. At last Cole stumbled to his feet. He ran and grabbed Liana by the waist to yank her out of the way. He could feel her trembling against him. They watched the wounded nekomata stagger past them with haunting groans and whimpers. Then the cat suddenly stopped and whirled around with a loud snarl.
Cole flinched back. Raven Frost’s eyes were gone. Like something out of a nightmare, the screaming beast lurched toward them. As if on instinct Liana wrenched herself out of Cole’s arms and shot her hands out. A blinding light lit up the tunnel and scored into Raven Frost’s heart. Blinking through the glow, Cole saw the nekomata’s mouth gape open in another scream just as his fur seemed to fall off—no, not his fur. His entire body, his shape. It all seemed to turn into black dust and waste away in the wind. His body, limbs, tails, and head shifted and evaporated like sand in a breeze, and the last thing Cole saw were Raven Frost’s dark sockets before they too vanished. Liana collapsed. He fell to his knees and held her close. The wind picked up and whirled around them in a roar. Stars and flickering lights swirled around Cole’s face as he hugged Liana and ducked his face from the unearthly force. He felt her arms wrap around his torso tightly. They knelt together in a desperate embrace. Then the wind died down. The roar faded into a whisper. Cole blinked, and the blinding light had dwindled to a faint glow that surrounded them. The bolts of lightning were gone, leaving only the tiny stars that now drifted around them in slow-motion, like sleepy silver fireflies. Quietness sighed through the tunnel. His mouth was dry. Swallowing, Cole dared to inspect their surroundings. The only sign that Raven Frost had been there were the random dark spots on the floor. Liana stirred. He moved to give her space but she held onto him. When she moved her head back and looked up, he found himself staring into her eyes; her now clear, bright blue, very much not-blind eyes. The scars remained, but they did not take away the beauty of the sight. She stared back at him wordlessly. Her gaze seemed to rove over every inch of his face, taking in every little detail. He suddenly felt self-conscious about how bruised and sweaty he must look. “Hey,” he said, not knowing what else to say. Her lips quivered. “Surprise.” Cole stiffened; the color of her eyes was changing. The blue iris and vivid black pupil were once more melding into a milky gray, like a cloud rolling across the sky. “No— your eyes!” he cried. She blinked into space and looked perplexed, yet murmured softly, “It’s OK. I think I prefer it this way.” Her eyes seemed to search for his face again. “I’m just glad I got to see the real you.” He didn’t know what to say to that. After a moment he rasped, “What was all that?” She shrugged and feigned a wane smile. “Magic.” “Did you know…?” “No.” A crazed giggle broke out of her. “Not until now.” That giggle dissolved into tears, and Cole held her close.
The courtyard was in chaos. Soldiers ran up and down stairs and towers in a metallic clamor, shouting and cursing at one another. A bell from one of the towers was ringing, and its gong reverberated throughout the fortress. Judging by the alarm and clumsiness in getting organized, Kai guessed these soldiers had not seen an attack on their city for a long time, if ever. No one took notice of him and Garagan running past the lines of soldiers and their shouting commanders. They raced out of the keep and toward the gatehouse, occasionally jostling men out of the way. Before anyone could notice Garagan’s grungy attire and realize he didn’t belong there, he’d slammed open the gatehouse door, ushered Kai in, and locked it behind him. They ran up the spiraling staircase until they reached the top floor; Kai was gasping for breath by the time they arrived. Half a dozen soldiers were there, but they paid the intruders no heed. All of them were peering out the arrow loops—long, narrow holes in the wall made for archers to shoot from. Finally catching his breath, Kai started toward them. “What’re they looking at—?” “Never mind them!” Garagan yanked him away, rebuking in a harsh half-whisper, “Stop gawking. Look.” Kai looked; a massive winch sat in the middle of the room with thick chains wrapped around it. The chains stretched out to a couple of openings in the wall; each chain was supported by a pulley. Kai realized this was what controlled the drawbridge. He lowered his voice. “Are they close enough for us to lower the drawbridge yet?” Garagan looked uncertain. Another boom echoed from the city. The sound of crumbling buildings followed, and the soldiers staring out the arrow loops murmured nervously. “Eh. Sounds close enough to me. C’mon.” Garagan grabbed the large handles of the winch and pushed. Kai joined him, although the best he could do was push using his shoulders and back. The sounds of chains rattling and wood beams groaning caught the soldiers’ attention and they stared in alarm at the intruders. “Oi! Have ye lost your mind, mate?!” “You lot should do a better job at guarding,” Garagan sneered. It finally seemed to dawn upon the young men that Kai and Garagan were not on their side and they drew their swords and spears. “Get away from that winch!” “Make me.” Garagan started toward them but Kai stopped him. “No, you lower the drawbridge. I’ll take care of these bozos.” Garagan nodded and continued working at the creaking winch. Kai faced the Pingousers and let his hands blaze to life. “All right. Who’s first?” Spears jabbed at his face. He ducked his head back and dodged them. They advanced, but he leaned back and kicked a couple of the spearheads away. As the two men in front attempted to get their spears up again, he let a wave of fire billow over their heads.
Panicked cries followed as the soldiers scurried back. When the flames cleared, half a dozen terrified faces stared back at Kai. He grinned haughtily. “Nice to meet you guys. They call me the Fire Mage.” A grunt from Garagan had Kai whirling around. Another soldier had appeared, unseen, from the other end of the room and was jabbing his spear at Garagan. The spearhead slashed into his shoulder. “Hey!” Kai blasted fire at the solider. Garagan cried out but Kai couldn’t see him. Then something flashed at the end of his vision. He ducked and a spear flew over his head where his face had been. Hands snatched at his arms and shoulders. Someone grabbed his wrist, eliciting a scream of pain. Before they could drag him down entirely, he spun into a Spinjitzu vortex and flung them away. Men cried out as they smashed into the walls. Garagan grappled over the spear with his opponent. The other man was able to wrench it out of his hands and delivered a kick to Garagan’s chest that sent him reeling. Metal glinted as the solider plunged the spear to his torso. Something crunched, and Garagan gasped. Kai started toward him, but Garagan snatched the spear and yanked it away from the soldier. With a loud groan he shoved himself up to his feet and, before the Pingouser could realize what was happening, grabbed him by the breastplate and slammed him into the wall. Kai felt someone slam into him from behind and shove him to the floor. He’d been distracted for too long and allowed the other soldiers to overtake him. Their bodies swarmed over him as they pinned him down. He started to get up when someone’s boot smashed onto one of his hands. Kai couldn’t remember the last time he’d screamed that much; the shock of it was almost too much to bear. Rage followed that agony; his scream turned into an infuriated roar, and fire blasted hot and deadly out of both hands. The soldiers staggered back as their tassets and pants caught aflame. Something sharp and cold dug into the back of his shoulder. Still roaring, he stumbled to his feet and shrugged the thing out; a spear clattered to the floor. He ignored the stinging coming from his shoulder. Flames continued to spew out of his hands. “The drawbridge!” Garagan cried through the rising smoke. “Lower the drawbridge!” To the winch Kai went; with a single kick at the handles he sent the wheel spinning. Chains clattered loudly as they reeled over the pulleys and a great groaning of wood could be heard outside. “No!” One of the older men lurched toward the winch. “Don’t let the rebels get in!” Kai shot another spew of flames outward, but the man ducked low and tackled him around the waist. They fell and Kai thrashed, trying to free himself without using his hands. His boots found the man’s thighs and he kicked at them. Hands clasped themselves around his neck; he choked and thrashed harder. He threw one hand up and blasted his attacker in the face.
“Aaauuugghhh!” The soldier rolled back with a hideous cry, covering his burned face. Kai could breathe again and stumbled to his feet. The other soldiers were advancing. A few of them had finally managed to recover their shields. When Kai shot more fire at them the soldiers ducked behind these shields and walked through the waves of heat. “Fine,” he grunted. “Guess we’ll just have to do this the old-fashioned way.” He took a running start and delivered a sound kick to one of the men, but it only hit the shield. In turn the man shoved his shield forward and caught the ninja off-balance, forcing him to take a step back. Out the corner of his eye Kai could see two men edging around him toward the winch. He hesitated, trying to figure out who he should fight first. “Oi! Back off, you lot!” Garagan appeared bearing a spear and jabbed it at the two. He joined Kai’s side, shouting, “No one’s touching that winch!” Boosted by a surge of confidence, Kai shifted into a fighting stance and advanced alongside Garagan. Together with the spear and Spinjitzu they drove the Pingousers back. The soldiers attempted to break through with their spears and swords. Yet the room was too small and Kai’s Spinjitzu was too chaotic for them to predict, and soon enough they found themselves being flung out of the door. Their cries followed them as they tumbled downstairs. It was only when they were gone when Kai noticed the flames licking at the ceiling beams and floorboards. They were few and far between, but with some unease he noted that wood shavings, straw, and other such litter were feeding the flames. He’d started stamping on one of the tongues of fire when a sound like a roar caught his attention. Still shaking and gasping for breath, he stumbled over to one of the arrow loops and peered outside. Hordes of armed people were surging out of the town toward the fortress. Some wore armor, others appeared to be civilians bearing only pans, brooms and poles as weapons. There was only so much he could see out a hole as wide as his thumb, but he could catch sight of Pingous soldiers trying to resist the crowd; red against brown and green. Yet they could barely stand against the raging sea that was the rebels—the people come to regain their home. “It’s them!” Kai exclaimed excitedly. “It’s the rebels! I see Tinny Bird in the lead! Some of those dog-people, too! I don’t recognize anyone else, but I bet Jukeni and Kaeden are—” A low moan interrupted him. He turned to see that Garagan had collapsed against the opposite wall. “Garagan!” He darted to the older man’s side. “What’s—?” He stopped with a gasp. Red splotches stood out on Garagan’s white undershirt, coming from his shoulder, a spot below his ribcage, and one at his belly. His face, Kai now realized, was pale and lined with sweat and he was panting for breath.
“No!” He crouched down by the older man but could only stare helplessly at the wounds. “Are— are you—? We need to get you…” “The drawbridge is down, right?” “That— that’s so much...! We need to get you—!” “Oi!” A hand snatched his collar and Kai found Garagan staring up at his face. “The drawbridge is down?” He nodded. “Good.” Garagan released his grip. “How close are they? The rebels?” “They’re just outside. They’ll be in the courtyard any second now.” An distant sound of something exploding and wood shattering seemed to confirm Kai’s prediction. The building shuddered, but he felt protected within the thick stone walls. “Good,” Garagan said again. “Get ‘em in here, raid the fortress… no needless killing, though… the Pingousers… they aren’t— we aren’t the enemy… it’s the politic—” His rambling ended with a cough. Dark spit dribbled down his grizzled chin. Kai’s stomach dropped. “C’mon. We have to get you out of here.” He started wrapped his arms beneath Garagan’s armpits, but old warrior shook him away impatiently. “No, no! I’ll stay up here and make sure the drawbridge stays open.” “That’s stupid! There’s gotta be someone down there who can help you!” Kai started pulling him up again. “C’mon! We can—!” Both Garagan and Kai cried out in pain at the same time; Garagan because of the wounds scattered across his torso; Kai because of his burned hands. Kai released him quickly. “I don’ think I’m going anywhere, kid. Not like this.” Garagan coughed, “Go on. Don’t wait for me.” “No… I— I can still carry you, somehow,” Kai began babbling. “Or I could use my dragon! No, wait, it wouldn’t fit in here, it’d just have the roof caving in on us… uhh, I could— I could—!” “You could shut your yap and get out there with the others!” Garagan snapped, rolling his eyes. “I’m useless now, but yer not. Go on and help ‘em take over the castle. It’ll be the first step in regaining Pawreleses’—and Pingous’s—freedom.” He reached up and grabbed Kai’s shoulder. “Ye did good work, lad.” Kai hesitated. “Will I see you again?” “Not if ye don’t move your blooming legs and run.” An wry smile made its way up Garagan’s face. In a lower voice he added, “Go get ‘em, Spiky.” Kai opened his mouth to protest again, but Garagan sighed and leaned back, closing his eyes. Kai was left standing over him in the empty gatehouse while the sounds of chaos raged outside. For once—though not for the first time—he felt small and alone. “OK.” He took a deep breath and stood up. Though his hands were burning, his body was throbbing and quivering, he steeled himself. “OK,” he said again. “I won’t let you down.”
The cries of the crowd were drawing nearer. Another explosion made the buildings shudder—closer this time. Smoke was wafting through the arrow loops, and they weren’t from his own small fires. He scanned the room to make sure the flames would not get out of control. Allowing his gaze to linger on Garagan for a moment longer, he then limped to the door and started downstairs. The tower seemed deserted. He heard no sound from below and hoped that the defeated soldiers had fled. Still, he made his way cautiously down the rugged steps—as cautiously as he could, anyway. Now that his focus had shifted away from lowering the bridge and Garagan, his wounds seemed to throb more intensely than ever. His hands ached and out the corner of his eye he caught the trail of red splatters he left behind on the stairs. His hands weren’t the only parts of his body that hurt. The plates of armor weighed heavily on him. Despite the thick pads covering his shoulders, one of soldiers had found a way to wedge a spearpoint past the lining and pierced the back of Kai’s right shoulder. He had no idea how deep the wound was, only that it hurt to move his right arm too much. He relied on his left arm for balance as he staggered slowly downstairs. His head swam. Though he focused on looking at where he was going his vision flickered, and he wondered if he was going to pass out. The commotion outside seemed to seep past the walls and into his head, hammering around in his skull and creating a dull headache. “No…” he murmured out loud, as if speaking to an unseen enemy. He gritted his teeth and took deep breaths. “I’m so close. I’m not giving up.” As he reached the foot of the stairs and staggered toward the door, he groaned again, “I’m not giving up. I’m going home.”
* * *
“Wait, stop.” Cole waved the hand away from his head. “You need to save your strength.” “You need it more than I do. That energy surge gave me an extra boost, anyway,” Liana protested. Despite her words she had one arm slung over his shoulders as he supported her. Her legs had been shaking so badly after Raven Frost’s demise that Cole had insisted on assisting her. She’d accepted the help gladly. He rose a hand up to his face to touch the place where the gash had been; the flesh was healed now. It was as if the cut had never been there. Liana had healed that and other wounds like it on him, restoring some lost energy along with them. He was afraid it would take too much of her own strength—although he wasn’t sure how this magic really worked. Did it sap energy like elemental powers did? Or was it more mental, like mind-bending? Just trying to piece it together confused him. “I still say save your strength,” he muttered. “This battle isn’t over yet, you know.” “I know.” He looked at her. Her eyes had darkened grimly. “You gonna be OK?” “I don’t know,” she murmured. “I just want this all to be over.”
