I used the edge of the knife to get under it and rocked back and forth to pry it loose. The nodule came out with a "pop" flying into the air. I caught it in my palm on the way down. Wiping it on my fur, I studied the thing Titan said held a troll's strength, holding it between my thumb and first finger. It was perfectly round, and reminded me of a black pearl.
"Now what," I murmured, wondering how I would get the small black nodule into the stone.
I dropped the knife, and lifted the amber stone hanging around my neck.
Touch the nodule to the stone, Snow White insisted.
"How will that help," I said aloud, but did it anyway. As soon as the nodule brushed against the stone, the gem consumed it and it settled at the bottom. "Easy enough," I said, standing. "Now I need to find Ryden and Envy."
I hope they're okay, Snow White said, her voice trembling.
I do too.
Running from the room, I entered the corridor, and beat my wings, allowing them to take me back to the top, to the door Titan brought me through. No one paid me any heed, and I was grateful. When I reached the door, I pushed it opened, and flew out, into the sunshine. Inhaling a deep breath, the aroma of battle stung my nose first, but I also smelled fresh grass, pine, and salt.
I pressed my wings firmly against the air, lifting higher until I passed the edge of the mountain, higher than the tips of the trees. The battle still raged on, both sides riddled with fatalities. Greasy smoke from oil-dipped arrows clouded the sky.
"Where could they be?" I wondered aloud.
Finally I spotted Envy, pinned down by a large troll.
"Get off her," I roared, tilting my wings, aiming for the troll. On my way I picked up a spear jutting from the gut of an elf, and ferociously tossed it at the troll's head. It slammed into his skull and went straight through. He fell forward onto Envy, covering her so that only the tips of her wings could be seen. The troll let out a groan, grabbing his head, and then he lay still.
I landed with a grunt, and pushed the troll off the unicorn. She lay of her side, breathing rapidly, blowing out air with a snort.
"Envy." I kneeled next to her, tucking my wings. One of Envy's legs was bent at an odd angle, and a wing was torn, several feathers ripped away.
Please be all right, Snow White sobbed. Her sadness tore through me, and I growled the pain away. All that matters is that I win, I told myself, but my insides ached.
"Envy, can you hear me?" I asked, gently touching her side.
She winced, and opened an eye. "Yes," she said, the word garbled.
I swallowed. Regardless of my personal desires, I didn't want this poor creature to suffer. "You can heal yourself, right? What can I do to make it easier?"
She snorted. "I must do what I must, what I can, what is necessary."
What did she mean? I shook my head. "Let's get you out of here. I'll take you back to Devoran's where you can rest, and heal. You'd like that, wouldn't you?" I tried to smile, and was surprised tears gathered on my eyelashes. What was this human vampire doing to me?
Envy lifted her head, her eyes suddenly full of fear. Understanding radiating through me, I yanked the spear from the dead trolls head, stood and turned in time to jam it into a charging troll. With a loud growl, I used my magic and formed a force field around myself, and the little unicorn. Envy's head fell back to the earth.
"Come closer, Silindra."
I got on both knees, leaning my face next to hers. "I'm here, Envy." A faint scent of lilacs surrounded her.
Envy took a deep breath. A black swirling mist surrounded her just as it had when she gave herself wings. I hoped this time she was healing herself.
When the mist vanished, her body was still broken-except her horn. It spiraled up to a point, fully-grown and beautiful. Its colors were silver and indigo. It was the most exquisite thing I'd ever seen.
"Envy, your horn. It's stunning."
She smiled. "It's my gift, present..." She coughed, and blood dribbled from her mouth.
She's dying. Oh, Silindra, don't let her die. Please. Please. Please. She can't die. No, Snow White wailed.
There is nothing I can do for her, I answered, angry her profound grief affected me.
Yes, you can. You have magic. Use it. Do something.