Knightqueen - Page 85

They carried on and the trees got thicker. Most had dark-green foliage, but some had needle-like purple leaves.

Then, they broke out of the trees. They stood on the edge of a large clearing. Ahead was a rocky outcrop. She saw the Gek’Dragar at the top, hiding among the boulders.

One big soldier popped up, aiming a weapon at them.

“Watch out!” Ashtin yelled.

Laser fire hit the ground nearby, and Carys rolled. As she got back to her feet, she saw Kaden and Nea duck back into the trees. Then a heavy weight hit her, knocking her off her feet.

Sten pinned her to the ground, covering her body with his. A second later, Kaden and Nea charged out of the trees, one blasting blue energy balls and the other throwing jagged red energy spikes.

“Up, Sten.” Carys elbowed him. “They need our help.”

He rolled off and helped her up.

“Stop!” a Gek’Dragar yelled from the rocks. “Or we’ll release the weapon.”

“It’s too far from the city,” Sten said. “It would dissipate and have little effect.”

“They’re stalling for time,” Ashtin said.

Kaden nodded. “Nea and I will sneak in from behind.”

“Go,” Carys said with a nod.

As the two knights pulled back, then teleported away, she turned to Sten and Ashtin. “Let’s keep the Gek’Dragar focused on us, so they don’t spot Kaden and Nea coming.”

Sten smiled. “It’ll be my pleasure.”

She turned, letting her energy coil inside her. Blue light flared on her palms. Ashtin stepped up on her left, his glowing blue sword in his hand. Sten moved to her right, his broadsword forming.

“Go,” she said.

They ran. Carys threw her energy balls, and kept up a steady rain of them. The Gek’Dragar got off a few shots, but they went wild.

Sten and Ashtin leaped into the air, jumping to the top of the outcrop.

Carys paused at the bottom, throwing more energy at a Gek’Dragar. She saw both knights swinging their swords.

Boom.

The top of the outcrop exploded in a ball of flames.

Carys was lifted off her feet, tossed into the air. She hit the ground and rolled.

Her ears were ringing. Stars. Her thudding heart echoed in her ears. Gul, had they released the Blue Death?

She scrambled to her feet. Suddenly, Nea was there, pulling her up.

“Are you all right, Carys?”

“The Blue Death?”

Nea shook her head. “Just a regular explosive. It was a trap.”

Carys’ body locked. “Sten?” She took off at a run.

“Carys!” Nea ran with her.