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The Guardian Crusade

Volume I



Chapter 13



Rayne laid her head on Aj’s shoulder. Her head was pounding so hard she couldn’t even think straight but what thoughts she did have were about her mom. Her body ached and every piece of her felt drained. She could barely lift her arm to wrap it around his neck as he carried her somewhere. Slowly she opened her eyes as she felt Aj lay her down on something soft, she looked up and saw Aj pulling a blanket over her.



“Where are we?” She asked as she looked up at him.



“Back on our ship.” Aj said as he took her hand.



“Did you find her?” Rayne asked trying not to talk to loud so the pounding in her head stopped.



“I think so, I haven’t seen Avit yet, I’m concerned about you right now.” Aj said and she saw the worry in his eyes. “What happened?”



“It is hard for me to remember right now.” Rayne said.



“What was with the sharks?” Aj asked her.



“Sharks?” She asked as she thought back to what had happened. “Oh. I think I was a little premature to try that.” She said with a light smile but he looked at her confused. “Remember when I sent Pac to find you?” He nodded to her. “The sharks were the next step, to be able to control nature, control life.”



“Wait you mean, you were telling the sharks to attack Dyn?” Aj asked.



“I had hoped it would scare him but when the boat tipped I let go of him, and lost the connection.” Rayne said remembering.



“How did Dyn get you on to his ship?” She was about to answer when men started shouting and they heard a loud crashing sound.



“What was that?” Kevin asked as the ship began to rock a little and for the first time Rayne had realized Aj’s friends were in the room too.



“I dunno.” Aj said as he looked at them. “I’ll go check with Avit, see what’s going on, you guys stay here with her, I don’t trust Dyn is dead, not till I see the body, even then I wouldn’t believe it.” Aj said as he looked at his friends. Kevin and Brian nodded as Aj turned to look at her. “I’ll be right back.” She lightly nodded as he kissed her on the forehead and left. Sitting up she pulled her hair behind her and took a deep breath.



“You should lie down.” Brian said to her and she looked at him.



“I am fine.” She said brushing him off. Her patience with this friend of Alex’s was wearing thin. He was very demanding in his demeanor towards her and as a Princess she wasn’t accustomed to that. But he was Alex’s friend, and he did save her life.



“Do you need any thing, like water?” Kevin asked.



“Yes, some water would be nice thank you.” She said with a light smile. Closing her eyes she relaxed her mind hoping that would ease her headache. A loud crashing sound and the ship rocking violently shortly after jolted her from her meditation. She looked around at Kevin and Brian and then stood up.



“Where are you going?” Brian asked as he followed her.



“To see what that was.” She said as she looked at him quickly.



“I’m sure Alex is coming to tell you.” Brian said. She stopped to tell him exactly what she was thinking, when the door opened and Aj rushed in.



“Sarila’s started firing at us, we just lost the Bowsprit.” He stopped when he saw Rayne standing in front of Brian. “Why are you out of bed?”



“I was coming to see what that was.” Rayne said as Aj walked up to her.



“We’re ready sir.” Avit said as he walked into the Chambers.



“Ok, I’ll be right there.” Aj said with a nod.



“Where are you going now?” Kevin asked.



“I am going with Harls, Avit and some of the Riders; we’re going to attack from above.” Aj said as everyone listened.



“I’ll come with.” Kevin said grabbing his chest plate from the chair.



“No dude, I need you here keep an eye on Rayne.” Aj said stopping him.



“Alex?” Rayne said and she waited for him to turn around and looked at her. “Did you find her?” She asked again. She watched as Aj looked to Avit and then back to her.



“Yeah, we found her.” Aj said nodding.



“Where is she I want to see her.” Rayne said and she couldn’t help but smile a little.



“The Priests are with her.” Aj said.



“Is she ok?” Rayne said as the smile left.



“We’re not sure yet.” Aj said as he took her hand. Her heart started to sink as she thought back to when she and Dyn had popped onto the ship, after he teleported them. “Rayne?” She heard Aj say and she looked up at him. “What happened?” He asked her again.



“Dyn had teleported us to the ship.” Rayne said.



“Can you teleport with someone?” Brian asked Aj.



“Dude.” Aj said snapping at Brian for interrupting her. “and no, I can’t.”



“I think it is only something the Evil can do.” Rayne said. “That’s why mother could as well.”



“So what happened with your Mom?” Aj asked her.



“Dyn dragged me into the Chambers.” She took a breath but kept her gaze away from Aj, she could feel his anger and she was pretty sure it wasn’t the fact she was a Druid that she could pick up on it. “I think, for some reason she was in there, whether he knew that I do not know but she went after him right away.” She said finally looking at Aj. “I got knocked down and when I saw her I just froze.”



“Sir.” Avit said as Rayne looked at Aj’s General.



“I have to go now, we’ll talk more when I get back.” Aj said as he looked back to her.



“Please be careful.” She said as worry started to come over her.



“I’ll be fine.” He said with a reassuring smile as he leaned in a kissed her. When they pulled away she held onto his hand and followed him out to the deck. She stopped for a second as she saw the destruction at the front of the ship. The long spear like nose of the ship was gone only a small jagged piece remained. The sails were ripped and torn so much they couldn’t hold any wind and the ship just sat there.



“Get down!!” Someone shouted and everyone on the ship dropped to their knees.



A cannonball ripped over their heads and slammed into the back of the ship and ripped the back railing of the Quarter Deck. It broke a whole in the middle sending pieces of wood all over the Captains Deck.



“Let’s go now.” Aj said to Avit as everyone stood up and recovered.

















“Land Ho!” A dwarf shouted and Nick looked up to the crows nest. “Sarila!” The man shouted again. Nick slowly walked towards the front of the ship as he saw the silhouette of the city in the distance. He looked up to the sky and wondered when the Gryphon’s would arrive. He was about to look back but a dot in the sky caught his eye. He squinted for a minute and realized it was moving. Quickly he looked around and saw Howie talking to the Captain.



“Hey D!” Nick shouted waving his arm and Howie looked up. “What is that?” He asked as he pointed to the dot he saw. Howie looked up and then slowly walked in his direction.



“It’s a Gryphon.” Howie said as he looked at him.



“Just one?” Nick asked.



“All I see is one.” Howie said shrugging. Nick frowned a little and turned around. He headed into Rossi’s Chambers. When he walked in he saw Rossi and Nalia looking over the map.



“There’s a Gryphon in the sky.” Nick said as Rossi looked up.



“Aye about damn time.” Rossi said with a huff.



“It’s just one though.” Nick said as Rossi stopped.



“Ye be sure?” Rossi asked.



“I looked all around only saw the one.” Howie said shrugging. That made Rossi frown, Howie was a Ranger and Rangers don’t miss things when it comes to their eye sight. The Dwarf made his way out of the room and onto the deck. He looked up as Nick walked out with Nalia and Howie. The Gryphon was close enough now for Nick to make it out.



“Still only one.” Howie said looking around.



“Do you think something happened?” Nalia asked Nick. He looked down at her and could tell she was getting worried.



“Dunno.” Nick said with a shrug. He didn’t want to jump to conclusions; he will wait until the Gryphon arrived. A couple of minutes later the Rider landed on the deck and the Elvaan jumped off.



“And where be your mates?” Rossi asked the Rider.



“King Alexander sent me ahead, we ran into Sarila’s ships just outside of Winnol.”



“What!” Rossi shouted and Nick wasn’t sure if it was shock or anger.



“So no one is watching Sarila?” Nick asked looking to Rossi.



“If the Mage is planning to go to War with Winnol then most of her army would be on her ships yes.” Nalia said with a nod and then as she said it, it hit all three of them.



“Sarila stands alone!” Rossi shouted. “Attack from the harbor, then through the city!” Rossi shouted.



“What about Winnol?’ Nick asked him. Rossi stopped and looked around.



“Tell me boy can you sail?” Rossi asked.



“Actually I can.” Nick said nodding.



“Aye then go to the Aris take it and make your way to Winnol.” Rossi told him as he nodded to his second ranked ship.



“But we’re against the wind we’ll never make it in time.” Nick said as they walked across the deck.



“My Mages can help you with that, but you need to hurry.” Rossi told him.



“I’m coming with you.” Nalia said as she walked up beside him.



“Me too.” Howie said nodding.



“Then let’s go.” Nick said with a nod. Two dwarves laid a plank across too the other ship. Nick stepped up and carefully walked across to the second ship. He turned around and reached his hand out for Nalia as she walked across.



“Hey!” Howie said as Nick turned around. Howie motioned for his hand and Nick rolled his eyes as Nalia lightly laughed.



“Thanks.” Howie said with a smile. Nick just shook his head as he headed over to the Captain of the Aris. The Captain left the ship in Nick’s charge and made his way over to the Tokia’s Master ship. When the Dwarf was across the plank was pulled back.



“When is Rossi going to give us some wind?” Howie asked Nick and as the words left his mouth the ship jerked and Howie fell to the floor.



“Now.” Nick said with a smile as he turned the wheel and the crew pulled on ropes to open the sails so they could catch he wind. “You ok?” Nick asked laughing a little.



“Yes.” Howie said with embarrassment. “I’m fine.”



“Wow we’re moving pretty fast.” Nick said as he looked at the water below.



“I hope we get there in time.” Nalia said worried.



“Do you think they would stall them?” Howie asked.



“I hope so.” Nick said as he cut the wheel around. He looked up at the sails making sure they were fully out and had a strong push to it. He couldn’t help but smile a little, here he was sailing an actual ship, a ship he had only seen in movies because the technology of his time and place had ships that didn’t need to use the wind to travel. Yet here he was and he had her cutting through the water like a hot knife through butter.



They sailed across the ocean, cutting back and forth to pick up patches of wind. Nalia told Nick that they were making good time but they couldn’t get there fast enough for Nick. He was worried about the guys, and worried about Rossi back in Sarila. When Nick heard a fluttering sound he looked up and saw the sails flapping in the wind.



“We’re losing wind.” Nick said. “It’s starting to come in front of us again.”



“Hey what’s that?” Howie said as he quickly walked over to the railing of the Quarterdeck. Nick looked to where Howie was pointing and he saw flashes of light in the distance.



“Magic” Nalia said as she joined them.



“Get the soldiers.” Nick said to her as he stared at the light show.



“Prepare for battle!” Nalia shouted as she ran down the steps. The crowd of dwarves cheered as they ready themselves. Thunderous yells could be heard from down below as the crew ready the cannon’s.



“Can you make out any ships yet?” Nick asked.



“Sarila is the lion head right?” Howie asked as he looked at him.



“I think so.” Nick said. “Winnol would be the Tree Castle anyways.”



“Then those are Sarila’s ships.” Howie said pointing.



“We can flank them.” Nick said with a smile. “Can you see who’s fighting?”



“No, to dark for that, now I know why Elvaan Rangers are so deadly.” Howie said as he raised his eyebrows a little.



“We’re ready.” Nalia said as she joined them again.



“Howie said those are Sarila’s ships.” Nick said nodding ahead.



“Cut the wheel and turn the bow east for our cannons, when we get close enough.” Nalia told him. He nodded in agreement; kind of proud of himself he knew to do that. And Kevin said watching all those movies when he should be sleeping would amount to nothing.



“There’s no Master ship.” Nalia said as they got closer.



“What?” Howie and Nick said at the same time.



“Sarila’s Master ship is gone.” She said a little shocked.



“No, I think that’s it.” Howie said pointing to the south west of them. He looked over to where Howie was pointing and saw the belly of a ship drifting in the water. Nick’s attention went back to the two Sarila ships, one ship was where the magic light show was happening, and the other was just firing its cannons at the first Sarila ship.



“Ok.” Nick said thinking. “We’ll fire at that one and then try to come up on that ship.”



“It’s Alex.” Howie said somewhat shouting excitedly.



“What?” Nick said looking. “How can you tell?”



“I think I see him, he’s fighting an Elvaan.” Howie said as he went to the ledge to get a better view.



“An Elvaan?” Nick said confused.



“Dyn?” Nalia said confused.



“I thought Aj said he was dead.” Nick said confused. He looked at Howie and his friend just shrugged. “Are we close enough?”



“Yes, yes I think we are.” Nalia nodded as she looked at the second ship.



“Ok, hold on.” Nick said.



“Hold fast!” Nalia shouted to the crew and the all grabbed a hold of something as they shouted for the men below to do the same. Nick cut the wheel to the left and the crew dropped the front sail. The stern, the back of the ship came up towards the front, so the ship sat sideways. With the Starboard side facing the Sarila ship, Nalia shouted for the cannons to fire and within a couple of seconds the cannons went off. The ship jerked a little as the first cannon released and the large solid metal ball sailed across the sky and smashed into the bow of the enemy ship. Three more cannons went off, two missed, just landing to the left and right of the ship. The last cannon made contact with its target hitting the deck and ripping a hole into the middle of the ship.



“Sir Nickolas glad to see you have arrived!” Someone shouted from above and they looked up and saw Avit hovering over their ship on a Gryphon. “Where is the rest of the fleet?” Avit asked as he started to land the Gryphon.



“Hopefully over taking Sarila as we speak while the Mage is here.” Nick said as he walked up to Aj’s General.



“I am afraid it is not the Mage who is in charge anymore.” Avit said with a frown.



“See I told you he was fighting an Elvaan.” Howie said nudging Nick.



“Dyn seems to have this Evil power now.” Avit said. “And yes, King Alexander is on that ship fighting him.



“Where is Rayne?” Nalia asked worried.



“She is on Winnol’s ship.” Avit said.



“We should go help Aj.” Nick said looking at Howie.



“What about the other ship.” Howie said pointing. “Oh.” He said as he saw only half the ship sticking out of the water.



“I will fly back to Princess Rayne and inform her you are here while you assist Alexander.” Avit said looking at Nick.



“Alright.” Nick said with a nod. He waited for Avit to take and then put his attention to the next boat.



Nick steered the ship towards the vessel that Aj was on, he cut the wheel hard and the back end slammed into the Sarila ship. Nick had to duck and cover as pieces of wood fell down around them.



“To close.” Nick said as he stood up and looked to Howie.



“Gee ya think.” Howie said looking around.



“Are you ok?” He asked looking at Nalia as he helped her up.



“Yes.” She nodded as she brushed off herself off. Nick turned around to find Avit when he heard Nalia shout at him and then felt himself get pushed down to the floor. His shoulder hit the deck hard and he grunted in pain, grabbing his arm.



“Nick!” He heard Aj shout. “Are you..” He stopped and Nick wondered what happened to him. He slowly sat up and looked up to the Quarterdecks’ railing, pulling himself up. He looked up and saw Aj fighting with Dyn and figured that’s why he was interrupted.



“Nick.” Howie said from behind him and he turned around as he rubbed his shoulder. All the air in his lungs rushed out as he saw Howie kneeling down by Nalia. Her head was bleeding; she looked like she was unconscious. Quickly he looked around for something to hold against her head. He saw a piece of sail hanging loosely from its restraint. Pulling on it hard he ripped it away and turned back to her. He knelt down beside her and pressed the heavy cloth against her head.



“Nali?” Nick said. “Wha..what happened?” He asked looking at Howie.



“It was an ice bolt, I ducked. I didn’t see what happened to you two.” Howie told him.



Nick looked back down at her. “Nali can you here me?” She didn’t move, she didn’t say a word.



Aj yelling took their attention away from Nalia and they both quickly stood up and looked towards the two men fighting. Aj was trapped between two pieces of wood, he didn’t appear hurt, but Dyn was slamming him with shocks of lightening.



“Shit.” Nick said as he looked back to Nalia.



“Go help him.” Howie said pointing to the ship. “I’ll stay here with her, and flag down Avit.” Nick didn’t want to leave her, not when he didn’t know what was wrong with her but he had to help Aj. Nick turned and jumped down the stairs to the main deck, then began climbing across the wreckage towards Aj. When he reached the other side he reached out his arm and sent a shadow spell flying at Dyn and the man fell back into the stairs. Nick quickly looked over to Aj and he was slumped over but starting to come too. He made his way over to his friend as he kept Dyn at bay with his shadow spells.



“Aj?” Nick said as he reached him and started pulling one of the pieces of wood.



“Hey man.” Aj said with a light smile as he wrapped his arm around Nick, still a little dazzed. “Where’s Dyn?” He asked as he stood up and Nick saw he was coming to. Nick looked over and didn’t see him by the stairs.



“I don’t see him.” Nick said as he looked back to Aj.



“Where’s Howie?” Aj asked.



“On the other ship with Nalia, she’s hurt.” Nick said as voice trickling off at the end.



“What happened?” Aj asked.



“She got hurt when that Ice spell came at us.” Nick said as he look to the ship Howie and her were on.



Nick stood still when he saw Dyn wrestling with Howie when Dyn started heading to Nalia, Nick let go of Aj and headed back onto his ship. He scrambled to get across, almost falling once when his foot got caught on a rope.



“Don’t!” Nick shouted as jumped down just as Dyn reached for Nalia who was still unconscious. Nick ran to the stairs and made it up in two, he stopped dead when he didn’t make it in time and Dyn turned with Nalia in his arms. “Let her go.” Nick said his voice showing panic.



“Oh I will after I turn her into a block of ice.” Dyn said smiling. “How long do you think it will take for her to sink to the bottom of the ocean?”



“Don’t, please.” Nick said looking at the Elvaan.



“Don’t? Please?” Dyn said laughing. “How you ended up being a Warlock I will never know.” Dyn said looking at him with disgust. “Locks control the dark, they take comfort in death, and they are as ugly on the inside as they are on the outside.” Dyn looked down to Nalia and then back to Nick. “I might as well toss her over now; ease her of the pain of watching you succumb to the shadow.” Nick looked at him confused. “What?” Dyn laughed. “They did not tell you.” He stared at Nick but Nick didn’t say anything. “Why do you think you have not seen any other Warlocks around? They will not fight in a War, they will watch and enjoy it, they live alone because they are unlovable and soon Nickolas that will be you.” Dyn said as he tossed Nalia towards Nick.



“On second thought watching her heart shatter would be more fun.” Dyn said as Nick caught Nalia almost falling to the Quarterdeck floor. Dyn jumped over the railing but was tackled by Aj. Nick stood there holding Nalia watching Dyn and Aj fight back and forth. The Elvaan’s words filled him with anger and as he watched the two fight down below, his feelings got stronger and stronger.



He watched as Howie jumped onto Dyn’s back as he stood over top of Aj. Dyn stumbled back as Howie hit him with a blinding spell and jumped off him, pushing Dyn into the Chamber wall. The Elvaan stumbled around not being able to see where he was. Nick ducked down as Dyn started firing off ice spells and fire spells in any direction.



Laying Nalia on the ground, in a place where he thought she would be safe, Nick stood up and looked at his friends. It didn’t matter to him that they were doing fine on their own, holding Dyn off and weakening him. He walked down the stairs and right over to Dyn who was still blinded.



“Dude careful.” Aj shouted to Nick but he ignored him. Dyn spun around and let off a fire spell but it didn’t affect Nick at all, in fact it was like Nick absorbed the spell. “Nick?” He heard his friend say but he still said nothing.



Reaching out Nick grabbed Dyn by the throat, his fingers started glowing purple, and then small, dark, black orbs broke from his fingers. They wrapped around Dyn’s neck like a python wraps around its prey. The darkness streamed from Dyn’s neck, up Nick’s arm, and covered him in a light purple glow.



Nick could feel the hate running through him, the feeling was so intense that it prevented him from letting go. The glow around him got brighter as Dyn screamed so loud Aj wondered if it reached the Winnol ships. Nick suddenly let go and dropped to his knees, the purple glow absorbing into him. His head started getting dizzy, the boat started spinning, and then everything went black as he felt himself collapse to the deck floor.









“Nick!” Aj shouted as he ran to his friend and knelt down beside him. He looked at Dyn who was rolling around on the ground gasping in pain. He wasn’t sure what Nick had done to him but what he saw in front of him was terrifying. Dyn was starting to welt, his hair was thinning, his face turned older and older, his skin winkled, his feature fell, he curled up into a fetal position, and his cries of pain became trailed off into silence.



“How..” Aj stuttered a little, still in shock from what he just saw. “Howie go check on Nalia.” Aj said not being able to look away from Dyn.



“Did he do that to him?” He heard Howie asked.



“Go check on Nalia.” Was all Aj could say as he turned and looked at Howie. Howie looked from Aj took Nick and then stood up and headed to the stairs. Aj looked down at his friend, hoping he had just been knocked out from the energy of what ever spell that was.



“She’s still out.” Howie shouted down to him.



“You have any flaming arrows left?” Aj asked him.



“No.” Howie said shaking his head. Then Howie’s head shot up and he looked over to the Winnol’s boats.



“What?” Aj asked as he looked over too.



“Gryphon’s, there coming this way.” Howie said looking back at him. Within a few seconds Aj saw the birds in the sky gliding down towards the ship. He was surprised to see there were three Gryphon’s that landed. Aj stood up and lightly smiled when he saw Rayne jump down from behind Avit on his Gryphon. She ran right to him and wrapped her arms around him.



“You’re ok.” She said relieved as his hands slid around the back of her waist but then she quickly pulled away. “Nalia?” Rayne said as she let go of Aj and headed to the stairs. Aj turned around and realized she saw Nalia lying on the Quarterdeck. “What happened to her?” Rayne asked as she looked down to Aj.



“Nick said she got hit with an ice spell.” Aj said as Harls and a Priest came over to Rayne and Nalia.



“What happened to him?” Brian said pointing to Dyn as him and Kevin cringed at the sight.

“Nick did some sort of spell, I’d never seen it before, but that’s not shocking.” Aj said looking to Rayne as she came down the stairs staring at Dyn.



“He drained him.” Rayne said quietly.



“He what now?” Kevin asked.



“Drain, it’s a spell, drains the persons life from them.” Rayne said as she looked at the guys. Aj looked at Brian and Kevin, then back down to Nick. He couldn’t believe Nick had done that or even knew how.



“Drain’s their life?” Brian said stunned. Aj looked at Rayne as she looked down at her former friend.



“There’s no life in him.” Rayne said and Aj watched as she fought back her tears.



“What about the Evil?” Howie asked. Aj looked at him, and then looked at Rayne; she had a puzzled look on her face. Her eyes went from Dyn to Nick, and Aj looked down to his friend.



“No.” Aj said looking up at Rayne quickly. She looked at him and her eyes etched in sympathy.



“What?” Aj heard Kevin say.



“Are you sure it didn’t die with Dyn?” Aj asked her.



“I do not know, Dyn was dead and it was still able to use him, it is possible it..” She stopped as Aj’s eyes went wide.



“Shit.” Aj said as he covered his mouth.



“Alex.” Kevin said with a stern tone. “What’s possible?”



“I think.” Aj stopped and looked to Nick. “I think the Evil might of, jumped to Nick.”



“What?!” Howie Brian and Kevin yelled at the same time.



“No there’s no way.” Brian said shaking his head.



“How?” Kevin asked.



“No not how, it didn’t happen.” Brian said looking at the two.



“If it knew Dyn was dying it could have taken Nick over like it did with Johon, with Rayne’s Mom, with Dyn.” Aj said looking at Kevin.



“Oh baby you gotta be kidding me.” Kevin said he started to tear up. “How do we get it out?”



“I don’t know.” Aj said shaking his head.



“What do you mean you don’t know?” Brian said angrily.



“Exactly what I said, I don’t know!” Aj yelled back at him.



“Guys!” Howie shouted. “Stop, we need to calm down.”



“Calm down?” Brian yelled again. “Nick has been taken over by some thing that wants to kill everyone.”



“We don’t know for sure.” Aj said to Brian. “Maybe, maybe it died when Dyn did.”



“Maybe, yeah maybe makes me feel all better.” Brian said as he threw his hands up.



“Then bitch about it some more!” Aj shouted at him.



“Alright, enough.” Kevin said as he held out his hands. “Where’s Rossi?”



“He went to hopefully take back Sarila.” Howie said. “We figured most of the Army was with the fleet coming at you guys.”



“Most of the men started deserting when you arrived.” Rayne said to Howie.



“Then let’s get back to the ships, and get back to Winnol, maybe they have gotten word from Rossi via the globes.” Kevin said as he looked at Aj. He nodded in agreement and made his way over to Avit. His General was keeping a look out as the Winnol ships came to pick up any stragglers, and them.



“I need to ask you something.” Aj said as he walked up to Avit.



“Of course Sir.” Avit said as he looked at Aj with some puzzlement.



“Do you know if Marsa had said anything about the tale, is there an actually copy, did he see it in a dream?” Aj asked.



“Lord Marsa was visited by Pixca in a dream telling him about the arrival of you, and about the tale.” Avit said remembering.



“Was there ever a copy of it?” Aj asked.



“Hundreds of years ago, but she took it back to protect it.” Avit told him.



“I swore Marsa said it was written down.” Aj said as he looked out to the boats that caught his eye. “Has Rayne seen her Mom yet?” Aj asked.



“No, when the Priest came out he said she needed rest and was not to be disturbed if at all possible, so she just stood watch for you.” Avit said.



“Yeah I saw the Sea Hawk flying around.” Aj said as he looked back to her.



“She is a very powerful Druid, some Elvaans are even jealous of her.” Avit said.



“Really?” Aj said shocked, he didn’t think Elvaan’s got jealous.



“She’s human Sir and well human’s usually put themselves first and everything else second. Especially when it comes to Nature and the Animals of the land, they have a hard time respecting that. And to have a human be such a powerful Druid is a little hard to swallow.” Avit said with an embarrassing smile.



“I see.” Aj said nodding understanding. “She’s a good person; she’s not like that at all.” Aj said too him.



“I agree Sir; she defiantly is a good person.” Avit nodded.



“General Avit!” A man shouted and Aj and Avit looked up. One of the ships had made it too them and sailed up along side of them.



“We have injured.” Avit shouted back to them. The man got down from the railing as he yelled to help the injured and Aj turned around and looked for Rayne. She was sitting over with Nalia who was still out. He looked at Nick who had Howie, Brian and Kevin all sitting around him. He was still out too and Aj sighed as he remembered what he saw Nick do. Then he shivered at the thought of Dyn shriveling up like a grape in the sun.



“Careful.” Brian said as some soldiers picked Nick up as he laid on a board.



“Calm down man.” Kevin said looking at Brian.



“I hate this place.” Brian said as he threw up his hands. “I don’t know what you see in it.” He said as he looked at Aj. Brian shook his head and headed up the plank. Aj looked over to Rayne; she was waiting by the stairs to the Quarterdeck as the Winnol crew attended to Nalia.



“I’ll calm him down.” Kevin said as Aj looked up at him. Aj lightly smiled as Kevin turned and followed the men carrying Nick up the plank to the ship.



Aj walked over to Rayne as some men came down with Nalia. He walked up to her and wrapped his hand gently around the back of her neck, and pulled her against him. Wrapping his arms around her, he held her tight, thankful for the quiet of the moment after the night they had just been through.



“The Priest said the spell hit her in the head.” Rayne said as she pulled away a little from Aj.

“I’m sure she’ll be ok.” Aj said as he brushed her bangs out of her face. She took a deep breath as she laid her head against his chest.



“Alexander?” Avit said as Aj slowly turned around as Rayne pulled away.



“We are ready to leave.” Avit told him.



“Good, let’s get the hell outta here.” Aj said with a sigh. He took Rayne’s hand and they followed Avit up to the ship.