up a shield and the magic bounced off. The fox went straight for the attacker, grabbing him around the waist and puncturing him with hundreds of acid-tipped teeth. The scream was so much worse than the first one. The fox dropped the Tavean, smacking its mouth as if he had tasted bad. The Tavean hit the ground, rolling several times before coming to a stop, his body twitching helplessly. Kiora’s knees started to go weak.
A familiar voice entered her head: Kiora, you will get them all killed. I am coming.
“Arturo?”
“Shield, Kiora!” Arturo demanded.
Kiora didn’t look to see why—she obeyed. A loud crash startled her when another bolt of blue magic deflected off her shield. The white Pegasus swooping out of the sky distracted the group for a minute. The battle slowed to a stop as everyone, including Alcander, stared with wide eyes.
Arturo was almost on the ground. Get ready, Kiora, their shock will wear off soon enough. He landed and Kiora threw herself on top of him, clutching his mane as he pushed himself back into the sky. Emane took advantage of the distraction and shot another couple of arrows, taking out some Taveans.
Arturo flew her high, steering away from the battle.
“What are you doing?” Kiora yelled, flipping around to watch the battle growing small behind her. “I can’t leave them.”
Why not? You aren’t helping them, Arturo thought as calmly as if they were having a normal conversation.
“Of course I am—I just—” Kiora stuttered, clenching his mane in her fists.
No, Arturo said sharply, you are doing tricks. These people are not playing for fun, Kiora. They are after your blood. I know how you feel. I hear your thoughts. I feel your pain. But it does not change the situation. Arturo waited for a response, then added, I hear their thoughts too.
Kiora didn’t ask what those thoughts were. She could guess close enough to garner Arturo’s meaning.
You are the Solus. You are fighting for the greater good. You understand people will die. But what you have refused to understand is that people will be killed at your hand. It is the way it must be.
“But, I—”
No. There are no buts. You must make a choice. Either fight or I am taking you somewhere safe.”
“Take me down,” she said through clenched teeth. “I will fight.”
You cannot hold back.
“I know.”
Arturo turned, pulled his wings in, and shot towards the ground. Blue magic was flying as the surviving Taveans tried to knock Alcander out of the sky. Drustan was bleeding but had his jaw wrapped around the neck of the opposing dragon. And Emane was nocking another arrow, unaware of the Illusionist sneaking up behind him.
“Arturo,” Kiora yelled. “Go to Emane!”
Arturo tilted in the direction of the Illusionist as Kiora sent a bolt of white-hot magic straight at the hideous creature. The magic slammed into it, nearly taking its arm off. The creature howled in pain and immediately began creating Illusions in an attempt to defend itself. Emane disappeared into its growing fog and another Emane emerged, broken and bloody.
Kiora closed her eyes. “It’s an Illusion. Take us in.”
The Illusionist changed form and a dragon uncoiled itself from the fog, snapping its jaws. The snick of its teeth rang in Kiora’s ears.
Narrowing her eyes, Kiora demanded, “Straight into the mouth.”
Arturo shot into the gaping hole, passing harmlessly through the giant yellow teeth. The dragon vanished before them like the illusion it was. In the middle of the swirling fog, she finally saw it, the black Illusionist. Reaching out her hand she hit it again with magic and it collapsed, the illusion dying with it.
“Emane,” she shouted as Arturo turned. “Cover me.”
Alcander had been joined by Drustan. The Taveans were still throwing magic but having a hard time while avoiding dragon fire and fox spit. Kiora and Arturo joined the fight. Kiora threw bolts of white attack magic, mentally retreating deep within her head where she could shut herself off from what she was doing. Alcander swooped past them, throwing green magic.
The field was spattered with colored magic bolts as they flew from side to side. The Taveans were falling quickly, and despite her attempted mental seclusion, Kiora felt the pain of each lost life. One by one lives were being extinguished, some by her own hand, and Kiora struggled to keep herself above the sorrow.
Alcander gave a shout of alarm. Kiora looked up to see that a tracker had removed itself from the group and was running over the opposite hill. Alcander summoned