Chapter 24

Talia’s body cringed with pain and she slowly awoke to an unfocused blur. She did her best to move, but failed and tried to speak but could not. She began to panic when suddenly a kind and warm feminine voice spoke to her.

“Peace, my Lady Divine. You are safe. I know you cannot see at present, but that is only temporary. This is Mayella and I am with some of your friends. Here, drink this, it will soothe your throat and then you may speak. Rayne, would you please tend to the other wounded?” Talia could hear light footsteps, moving away as she felt a cup lifted to her lips, which she gladly drank from. She felt a soul soothing comfort slide down her throat and after a moment, she tried to speak.

“Is everyone alright?”

“Yes My Lady. There were no casualties on our end from your trance. Sir Zerendil wishes to speak to you.” Talia did her best to nod her head. It must have appeared so as Zerendil began talking.

“Did you know that you are absolutely the first Divine to summon Aneira’s wrath and live?” Talia did not respond. “I hope you realize that you are never to use that art again.” Again, Talia attempted to nod her head. “What exactly were you thinking when you decided upon such a reckless course of action?” Talia knew that she could not hide from the answer, but it seemed as though Sir Zerendil had backed down.

“I felt as though my world had ended.” She began through a strained voice. “In that moment, when I saw that he was gone, my hopes died. I felt anguish and anger, such anger that I have not felt since the day that same army took away my home and before that my mother and father, Relina and Dormund Degracia. I felt that no matter the cost, I wanted them to know the extent of my rage. I wanted for no one else I love to be claimed by those who have forsaken the Holy Mother’s love.” The room grew silent after Talia’s reply. Talia graciously accepted another drink and waited for Zerendil to respond.

“Do you hate them?” Zerendil asked. Talia thought for a moment before answering.

“Yes.” She still could not see but, from the feel of the room, she could tell that at least Zerendil was disappointed.

“Then I suppose that you are not yet ready.” Zerendil sighed. “Please remember the true essence of Aneira. There is much you must learn before you can call yourself worthy, My Lady. Please rest well. Myself and the others have much to do.” Talia could hear as Zerendil and the others left and she felt a cool rag dabbing her forehead.

“Is that you, Miss Mayella?”

“It is, My Lady Divine.”

“Do you blame me?” Mayella did not speak at first.

“It is not that anyone blames you, my lady. It is in our nature to harbor feelings of hatred for something that has caused you so much pain. Sir Zerendil has been around a long, long time and, if anyone knows what it means to be Valorian, it is he. I believe the reason that he sounds so disappointed is that he expects you to be something more. You are a Divine and not just any divine. It is you and you alone that possesses Aneira’s sight. It is up to you to find and guide the rest of your kind and defeat the heart of malice.” Talia considered Mayella’s words.

“Lady Mayella, how long do you guess it will be until I can see again?”

“I would imagine somewhere within the next few hours and this evening.” Talia shook her head and realizing that she could move, began to slowly raise her body.

“My Lady Divine, please, you must rest.”

“That I am afraid I cannot do. I had a vision that should I fail to support my friends that they will perish. I will not allow that to be. I was warned that I would not be able to save everyone and yet far too many have already been lost. It is time to use my visions to rewrite their fates.” Talia’s feet touched the cold floor and she began to feel around with her hands as the cool air chilled her skin in some places.

“My Lady Divine, please allow me to assist you. You mustn’t use your left hand. It was too badly injured and your torso and part of your face are heavily bandaged.” Talia felt a gentle tug on her right arm and found comfort in its support.

“Miss Mayella, might you be willing to help me dress?”

“Of course, My Lady Divine.” Mayella spoke as Talia felt her left arm gently passing through the sleeve of her shirt. A brief moment later, Mayella grasped Talia’s uninjured hand and began to lead her out. Talia began perceiving the world differently as she walked blindly into the streets of Valascaa. As they made their way through the doorway, Mayella halted for a brief moment.

“Rayne, please stay here. There will be more wounded by the day’s end, I am sure.”

“Yes, Miss Mayella. I will do everything I can.” Talia, still facing forward, could hear the manic buzz of activity all around her and yet from time to time, she only saw the faintest of brief, fuzzy images pass before her. Far off on the other side of town, Talia could hear that the battle had resumed. Talia quickly began to chant protection auras to shield herself and Mayella from harm.

“My Lady Divine, you must not worry about an old woman such as me. Please conserve your strength. As you are, you should still be in bed.”

“I will not be at peace until I have insured that my friends are safe. I do not wish to lose anyone else.”

“Understood My Lady Divine, I shall be your escort.” As they neared the gates they could hear cheers from up ahead.

“It’s the west garrison! They have returned to help fight off the enemy!” The mob continued to cheer and Talia smiled. They continued to walk when she heard Eliza’s voice.

“I thought that you were to stay in bed, young lady?” Talia could not see her clearly but imagined that her hands were on her hips and that she was scrunching her face as if scolding a child.

“Please, Eliza, I am feeling much better now. Once my vision has cleared, I shall be quite alright.” She could see Eliza’s outline staring at her before Eliza spoke again.

“Well, I need to head back up the wall. I am part of the archers assaulting the enemy flank.” Eliza trotted off as Mayella and Talia continued moving forward.

“The Lady Divine has brought us victory and good fortune!” She heard many cheer. Their cheering must have caught the attention of several others as, moments later, she heard Colette’s voice from ahead.

“My Lady Divine, commander Zelus has asked that I extend his gratitude at seeing you are well. I feel the same way as do all of us. He has asked, regrettably, that you stay back for now as the enemy is at our door and could…” Colette paused as Talia began wildly searching around, a most foreboding feeling having just sunk in.

“My lady, what is it?”

“Colette, Mayella! I sense a terrible power being summoned. The enemy is doing something most horrid.” She continued to search when she heard one of the loudest blasts that she had ever heard. Quickly everyone flinched, ducked, or shielded themselves in one manner or another, Colette and Mayella defending Talia.

“What in Aneira’s name was that?” Colette asked. The three continued to look around until Talia saw something that troubled her greatly.

“Colette! Lady Mayella! There is something wrong with their eyes.” Talia tried to discreetly point in the direction she was intending.

“Lady Divine, I do not see what you mean. What is wrong with their eyes?” Talia kept staring as several dozen armed men turned to face her with their ominous glowing blue eyes.

“Their eyes...their eyes are glowing.” By now, several of the glowing eyed soldiers had turned to face Talia and began moving forward.

“Stand back, please. The Lady Divine has already had a rough night and needs a little space.” Colette ordered, but not a single man or woman halted.

“Move back I say!” She spoke as she drew her sword and shield.

“Please stand behind me.” Colette placed her body directly in front of Talia. Talia could see a shift in the bodies of the glowing eyed men and immediately remembered her vision.

“They are going to open the door!” Talia quickly traced out a force rune and launched it at one of the men, who toppled backwards. Several of the deranged soldiers began moving towards Talia, Colette and Mayella as many more bolted for the castle doors.

“Quickly! We have to stop them!” Colette yelled. The soldiers whose eyes did not glow turned around as the first of the crazed struck. Immediately, several friendlies fell as the ones who struck them began pulling on the header.

Talia blasted several more soldiers aside with force runes as Mayella jumped in, clubbing the disoriented lot with her staff.

“It is as if they’ve been bewitched. Their minds do not appear to be their own.” Mayella suggested as another soldier swung at them lethargically. Colette blocked the attack and Talia blasted him backwards with force.

“Keep them from opening the door!” They could hear Zelus cry from afar as another tremendous blast sounded off in the distance. Everyone, even Talia turned abruptly towards the sound. Zelus jumped from his position above and joined in the fray, his back against the wall.

“Hold the line!” She could hear him yell as the chaos continued to break out. Another blast sounded off and this time the reason was clear.

“The Forsaken have breached the western wall! They are flooding in as we speak!”

“That means the Highmoorian sector is under attack!” Colette and Talia both exclaimed. Tear came up from behind them, Talia immediately sensing her approach.

Dominic and his knights are just beyond the door. They need our help if they are to survive.” Colette and Mayella turned to face her.

“But My Lady Divine, how could you possibly know that?”

“Miss Mayella, if I may,” Talia interjected, “Tear is the aspect of wisdom and intuition. If she says that it is so, I am willing to follow her hunch.” Colette turned back towards Zelus as Tear stepped forward.

“ZELUS! OPEN THE GATE!” Colette cried out.

“ARE YOU INSANE!” He yelled as he continued to fight off the enemy. From up above Talia could hear Eliza call down.

“Dominic’s men have forced their way through enemy ranks! Open the gates!”

“Has everybody gone mad?”

“JUST DO IT!” Eliza screamed authoritatively.

“ALRIGHT! BY THE GODDESS, I’M DOING IT! QUIT YELLING AT ME!” Zelus yelled back as he turned to face the door.

“Alright men! Let’s welcome them home!” Zelus began pushing against the header as several of his unengaged knights reluctantly ran to help.

“Go save the Highmoorian sector. We’ll send help as fast as we can!” Zelus yelled as he and his men began to remove the massive wooden bar. Tear looked at Colette, Mayella and Talia.

“Go. I will help them.” She spoke as her eyes began to glow. “The land is crying out for recompense and I shall be its sword.” Tear’s body was fully alight as she assumed trance. Even in Talia’s blinded state, she could see Tear’s light.

“Alright, let’s go then.” Colette spoke as she turned away and headed towards the gate to the Highmoorian sector. Talia and Mayella followed as Talia attempted to focus her vision.

“Colette, Miss Mayella,. I can still aid you with my magic just point me in the right direction.” They both confirmed that they understood. As they approached the gates, they saw that Nathan, Giles and several other knights had already engaged the men guarding it.

“We need to hurry! They are burning everything!” Giles yelled as they rushed forward. Talia could smell thick clouds of smoke and could see that the eyes of their foes also glowed.

“They are enchanted; the enemy has control of them. Let us try and neutralize them without casualty.” Giles and Nathan both lurched forwards pommel striking their opponents in the face. As they crumbled, Talia used force to clear a path while Colette and Mayella each took down an adversary.

“Where did they breach the wall?” Talia asked. Nathan shrugged, unaware of Talia’s condition.

“They do not know.” Colette told her. Talia thought for a brief second.

“Our first priority is to the civilians. We must hurry and secure the orphanage. If needs be we can gather everyone there.” Without delay, the troop pressed on making its way towards the orphanage. Flocks of people began flooding their way as they ran.

“My lady, what do you think? Foe or ally?” Talia could not see any of the glow eyed variety amongst the people.

“I believe these to be innocents.” Talia answered and so Giles stopped.

“We are going to try and make safe the orphanage. Will any of you lend us your aid?” They were met with little response, yet three middle aged women and two young men remained as the others fled.

“There was a lady knight headed there, she asked us to call for help. I believe she had the same idea.”

“Mariah!” They exclaimed as they renewed their pace. Only a few seconds in, they were met by the enemy.

“Lady Divine, Forsaken, please be careful.”

“These are the Forsaken?” Nathan asked. Talia could already confirm as the beings before her no longer represented Valorians. She could see them as clearly as when her vision was unclouded. The creatures before her were crafted entirely out of magic and as such glowed before her eyes in their ghoulish forms.

“Cut them down. We cannot let them flank Zelus.” Talia yelled as she struck out with multiple runes. “I can see them. Quickly, I need a weapon!” She yelled, her entire vision filling with glowing bodies as the streets became flooded with Forsaken warriors that were climbing across the walls as well as blocking the street.

“Relina, here.” Talia felt as Colette placed a weapon into Talia’s right hand. Talia accepted the sword and gripped it tightly as the enemy continued their approach.