and wait, watching to see if my magic will be enough. When the air coalesces with the arrows, their momentum falters. They twist through the air before reversing their direction and flying back into the forest.
Everyone rights themselves and turns towards me, mouths slightly agape in amazement. Even Colton and Liam are looking at me in awe. “Thank you, Ryanne. You saved us all,” Tom says. It’s not like I was going to just stand here and let them get impaled with arrows when I know I can at least try to do something. “Everyone get ready. They’re close.”
Dravin walks out of the forest, slowly. When his eyes connect with me, he smiles evilly. “Give me the girl and this can all be avoided.” His voice rings out. Liam and Colton both put their arms out in front of me, as if they expected me to give myself to Dravin. “No? Fine.”
He raises his arms over his head, signaling the others to attack. Mages start running out of the forest towards us. Tom yells and everyone behind me runs forward to meet them halfway, weapons drawn. As we discussed earlier, Liam, Colton, David, Emma, Logan, and Bragden are to stay back with me, unless it is absolutely necessary to join the fight.
I start fidgeting and getting antsy when I see Tom fighting someone even though he has the upper hand on him. Tom’s already gotten in a hit on his shoulder, making his movements more restricted. He punches him the face with the hand not wielding the sword. The man’s head whips back and he falls limply to the ground. Tom turns around and starts fighting with another man. This one is more aggressive. We are outnumbered and they’re slowly surrounding us. I turn towards Bragden, Logan, David and Emma, telling them to go. We need all fighters. They run into the yard prepared for the attack.
Besides us, Claire is the only person left on the porch. She is to stay here and use any spells necessary to block out their magical advances. I turn towards Liam and Colton, “We have to help them. There are too many.”
Colton looks torn. He wants to help, but doesn’t want me to join the fight. We have to fight if we want any shot at coming back from this. He slowly nods before turning back to Liam and me. He and Liam share a knowing glance.
I look between both guys, “I love you guys.” Before the tears can come, or they can say anything to stop me, I run past them and into the middle of the yard where I know Thomas will be. I find him standing over a girl, sword raised over his head. I run straight for him and jump kick him in the side as his sword is coming down. I briefly remember talking to her earlier, but can’t recall her name. “Go!” I shout to her as Thomas falls. She scoots back on the ground before rolling over and getting up. Turning around, she runs off and begins fighting someone else.
I’m now directly in the midst of the chaos. Dravin is nowhere to be seen, but I already knew that was going to happen. All around me, people are engaged in fighting. Opening my mind, I let the thoughts in of those directly around me. Liam and Colton are running towards us. Liam is worried about me. He’s basically screaming his thoughts at me. He doesn’t want me to be in this fight, especially not fighting against Thomas. This is about me and I’m not going to sit in the background and let everyone fight for me.
Thomas gets off the ground and turns towards me. I call some magic into my arms and legs. Fighting Thomas is not going to be easy. He is larger than Bragden and I had trouble with him. However, I am already angry at Thomas. No one is going to get away with hurting me like he did.
Dravin said to bring the girl back alive. But I’m getting really tired of the all the trouble she’s causing. She needs to be taught a lesson. He growls menacingly and runs straight towards me, sword pointed outward. I have a Sherlock Holmes moment. I can see every move he is about to do in my head. I’m aware of others fighting around me, but Thomas is the only person on my mind.
Jumping to the side, I avoid his sword, and kick his arm, loosening his