By the Sword - By Sara Flower Page 0,65

unnatural thing. His confusion had turned into an obsession.

As the strange sword maiden from Sanctus occupied his mind, something had been stirred inside of him. Something that was probably similar to what his father had felt for his mother. There was not a moment that Jalarn hadn’t thought of Talya. Thankfully, in the end, he had come to his senses. Where would he have gone if he had turned his back on Malinor and the prince?

I would have been a nobody in the world’s eyes, but maybe I would have been everything in Talya’s eyes.

Jalarn shook his head. It was disturbing that, even now, with a raging battle nearly in his grasp, all he could think about was her. She really had infiltrated his mind, working her way into a heart that he had been barely aware of. He had to forget about her and move on while there was still a chance to regain Ittonifer’s favor.

He shook his head.

General Jalarn of Malinor had fallen for a girl – for an enemy. He had been the prodigy general of a mighty empire, servant of a nation that did not allow any room for compassion, let alone love. He had acted like a sentimental adolescent, nearly losing everything.

Never again.

The enemy was close now. Very close. He could hear them marching. The army that was led by Talya’s father.

Jalarn unsheathed his sword, his pulse racing. This was what he was born to do. Fight. Kill. Rule.

Despite that, Jalarn knew that Talya’s pleading face was going to haunt him for the rest of his life.

*****

Ittonifer’s lips curled into a satisfied grin as the sword maiden cried out to her God. He rarely grinned, but he really did love a good torture.

Talya’s pain had only just begun and nothing was going to save her. God’s Son did not even exist. She would see that now, as she died, indignant and alone. General Edandir would lose another loved one to the empire.

A traitor deserves nothing less.

“Forgive them!” she cried.

Ittonifer frowned. What was she talking about?

The bright beam of magic that surged violently into Talya’s flesh was suddenly driven back onto Aterun. The warlock began to tremble as his own spell worked its way through his frail body.

Talya dropped to the floor in a heap.

Ittonifer backed away as he quickly recited the spell again.

“Acca tabrusca beruna.”

Nothing happened.

“Aterun!” shouted Ittonifer.

The magician was supposed to be an anointed one of the prince, but he had allowed that girl’s God to overpower him.

“You incompetent fool! I will not be bested by Him!”

Ittonifer spat at Talya and stalked over to Aterun.

“Karaphal!” Ittonifer shouted.

The lightning-like surges ceased.

Aterun fell onto his backside, panting and groaning.

Ittonifer unsheathed his broad sword and drove its blade through the magician’s heart. He walked over to Talya’s cell and unlocked it. It was time to put an end to this girl and all of the madness that surrounded her.

Talya rolled onto her back. Her eyes widened as he came closer to her. Instead of cowering, she sat up and got onto her knees, looking right into his eyes. After everything that had happened, there was not a glint of fear in her gaze. What a warrior she could have made for Malinor. For the prince.

The world was about to be rid of another delusional rebel.

Ittonifer lifted his sword just above Talya’s head, his black stare boring into her eyes. She closed them as a tear slipped down her cheek. She wished that she had been able to reach Jalarn, to make things right with Tanel and her father. It was too late for all of that now. In moments, she would be in Heaven. With Jesus and her mother. And Hanten. She bowed her head.

“Lord, into Your Hands I commit my—”

A piercing clang resounded just above her head.

Talya opened her eyes and looked up.

Jalarn stood at her side. His sword was blocking Ittonifer’s blade mere inches away from her face.

Talya rolled away from beneath the clash of metal just as Ittonifer’s sword broke free from Jalarn’s blocking move and slammed down onto the ground – right where her head had been.

“Run, Talya!” shouted Jalarn.

*****

General Edandir was grateful that he had chosen a dragon as his steed for the battle. He needed its powerful body and sharp fangs for the best chance of making it to the castle quickly. He had to get Talya out of there.

From the top of the hill, he could already see the monstrous beasts that Ittonifer had drawn from the deep. They were