Page 104 of A Trial of Two Worlds
Astro first looked at me and then Shaw, asking, “What are you comfortable wielding in battle? What weapons do you prefer?”
“Iam the weapon,” Shaw answered with a wide grin. “But my alpha will need hers. I’ll go with you to fetch them.”
I hadn’t thought of bringing my bow or other blades. I only had time to bring the alpha’s dagger with me.
“Good, hurry along then,” Idris said.
He nodded to his mother and then led Shaw down the hall.
A female member of Idris’s household cautiously strode over to her bedside, and Idris handed Ember to her.
“You know the passageway out of the city, correct?”
“Yes, Lady Idris.”
“And you know what you must do if the city is breached. Where you must go to stay safe?”
“Yes,” the maiden answered again.
“Good.” Idris leaned forward and kissed the dark curls of her sleeping infant. “I love you, my Ember. Never forget to burn as bright as the sun.”
And with that, the maiden tucked the baby to her chest and disappeared into a hidden corridor off to the side of the washroom.
“Idris—”
“Skylar.” Idris pushed herself into an upright position, staring me down with fire blazing in her eyes.
“What do you plan on—”
“Do you really think I’m just going to sit here while my realm is attacked and swallowed by the wilt? That I’m not going to take up arms and fight to protect my people and my family?”
I curled my lips, fighting the knowing smile from spreading. “Even though you just—”
“You can heal me,” Idris cut in. “Right?”
I blinked as I approached her bedside. “I mean, in theory.”
“Well, let us put that theory to the test,” Idris said as she raised her gown to reveal her midsection. “And be quick about it.”
I allowed my magic to flow into Idris once more, and in the next minute, she was on her feet and dressing for battle.
“Do you need anything else?” Idris asked me as she fastened her tan and crimson armor into place. Her riding leathers were layered beneath her chest plate and gold armbands. Dark red fabric draped across her legs, paired with black boots that reached her knees.
“Shaw will bring my armor, and then I’ll be ready to go,” I answered.
Idris nodded, securing her chest plate before Astro and Shaw reentered the room. I eagerly accepted my bow and armor from Shaw as Astro greeted his mother, giving her a long spear with a sharp point resembling a blade.
Wisely, her son stepped back as Idris effortlessly spun the weapon in her hand and around her back before forcefully slamming the dull end into the ground. Idris made the movement appear effortless, as if she were born with the spear in her hands, as if it were an extension of her own being.
“Your magic seems to have healed her well enough,”Shaw said.
“Appears so—”
“I didn’t know you could do that.”
“Me neither, but I’m glad I did. We’re not entering an easy fight here, Shaw.”
“I’m aware.Astro filled me in while we were gathering the weapons.Decapitate the dark-cloaked monsters called the fallen, don’t let the hounds bite, and watch out for winged creatures from the sky. Did I hit all the high points?”
