Ascendants of Ancients Sovereign - By Phillip Jones Page 0,269

mist. “Goodness!” Shalee yelled once she reappeared. “That was close! I felt the chill!”

Sam shook his head. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea. I don’t want to get you killed ... or the men. Perhaps I should take us all home. I don’t want this crystal badly enough if it means losing you.”

Shalee grabbed Sam’s arm and led him away from the men who were nearby. “Look, we both know we need this piece of the crystal to save the worlds. It was just a close call, that’s all.”

“That’s all? How can you be so nonchalant about it?” Sam rebutted. “We’ve already lost the rest of our families. I can’t lose you, too.”

Shalee’s firm tone was covered with a smile. “Sam, this is our life now. You need to buck up and get the job done. We have nothing to go home to if we don’t find a way to fix this.”

“I know,” Sam admitted. “But if you get hurt—”

“I won’t,” Shalee insisted. “So stop worrying, and trust me.”

“You say stop. It’s not that simple. Look at me, Shalee. You’re the only thing keeping me sane these days. It’s one thing to sacrifice myself, but to sacrifice you and all these men, I don’t know if I can do that. No! I know I can’t do that.”

Shalee’s voice softened. She stepped forward and placed a hand on Sam’s cheek. “I understand how you feel, but you’re stronger than you realize. Bassorine saw that. I see it, too. You and I were selected to come to Grayham for a reason, so let’s be strong. Let’s do it together.”

The sorceress smiled. “Let’s show everyone why the gods chose us.”

“Do you really believe we’re that strong?” Sam queried.

“I do. But even if we aren’t, we still need to figure this mess out, or nothing else matters. We’ve got to get that crystal, Sam.” The sorceress lifted Sam’s chin with her fingertips. “I have some news that will cheer you up.”

Sam took a deep breath. “And what would that be?”

She winked. “The stallion is still bound by my magic.”

Sam smiled and then took a deep breath. “Since when did you become a leader? I’m so impressed with you right now.”

Shalee grinned. “Well, duh, I’m like the hottest queen ever. Did you expect anything less out of the bombshell that is me?” She laughed to try to relieve the tension.

Sam shook his head. “I love you. Only you could say something like that and pull it off.”

Shalee snapped her fingers. “You know it.” She looked at the lake. “Now let’s get to work.”

Sam lifted his bow and aimed at the water beneath the feet of the bound stallion. As soon as the arrow penetrated the lake’s surface, the herd shimmered. With the stallion’s reflection being disrupted, it caused the rest of the herd to lose form. The king waited for the water to settle, and as soon as the stallion’s reflection regained its shape, the rest of the herd solidified.

“Did you see that, General?” Sam shouted. “Get over here, and watch this!” Again, Sam shot his bow and again, the herd shimmered. “General, the herd is effected when the water beneath that stallion is disrupted. I want the archers to aim for that spot, but don’t hit him.”

“Yes, Sire!”

Soon, the herd of mist mares no longer had the power to maintain their form and faded into nothingness, leaving only the segregated stallion.

Sam looked at Shalee. “Okay, okay. Now that we’ve got only the one horse to deal with, how long do you think your magic can hold him there?”

Shalee sighed. “Not long enough for the army to cross, and we still have to get back.”

“That’s not going to work.” The king put his hands on top of his head and scrutinized the situation. “Okay, okay. The stallion is unable to come on land ... so, what if we bring it ashore? Maybe it’ll lose its power.”

Sam pulled Kael from his sheath and commanded the blade to protect him from ice, and then he started to walk.

Shalee grabbed his arm. “You don’t need to go out there. You don’t even know if Kael’s protection is strong enough. Let me bring him to us.”

Sam lifted the blade in front of his face. “Is your power strong enough to protect me?”

“Of course, it is!” Kael snapped, the pulsating of the blade was solid red. “But protecting you won’t fix the problem. I hate to say it, but your female is right. Bring the stallion on land.”

Hearing the