The Sphere Chronicles: A Holding Kate Series Book (12 page)

“Let’s have it then. What new moves have you learned this week?”

“I picked up a few from the royal guard at Watshfeau.” He adjusted to stand beside her. “This is called Praxis.” He slowly demonstrated the footwork, then added the arm motions.

“Good!” He turned to offer a smile of encouragement. Quick as a viper strike she shifted her feet, levered him over her shoulder, twisted, and flung him to the ground, testing the move he’d just taught her.

Staid gazed up at the warrior child from his deposit on the ground at her feet. Breath knocked out of him, his chest locked in a grunting exhale. In the few moments that it took for his lungs to unfreeze, he studied her fierce countenance, hovering over him. She’d tossed him, a man three times her weight, like a grain sack. Stars was incredible. She had a natural talent for all things combat-related. Perfect balance, impeccable hand-to-eye coordination, and wily intelligence; Stars exuded speed and strength, and nobility radiated from her core.

She smirked, arched a brow, and held out a hand. “Got that one down. What else can you teach me?”

Staid took her hand and yanked her down to the grass beside him. She tumbled into his arms, giggling. “Just lie here and watch the stars while I figure out how to breathe again,” he rasped, rubbing his chest with the arm that wasn’t tucked under Stars’s neck.

“Big baby.” She chuckled but snuggled into his side.

“Brat.” He snorted. Turning to watch her profile, Staid welled with affection for the vivacious princess.

They’d grown up together. He remembered when she was born, a squiggly little thing that brought joy and wails to the castle. Recalling her lusty cry as an infant, he knew even as a young boy, that she was born with power. The first time he held her, he made the solemn promise of a six-year-old boy to protect her always. His dad served as commander to the Cheleuthi bodyguard of Starlythe’s father, so Staid decided he would be bodyguard to the princess. He’d devoted himself to learning how best to protect his dearest friend.

She cocked her head to him. “What are you grinning about?”

“I was just remembering you as a baby.”

She wrinkled her nose and turned back to study the stars.

“You were this perfect little drippy, gooey wailer.” He knocked her chin with his thumb. “When you got older, you just wouldn’t be content to let me protect you. You insisted I teach you everything I knew about fighting.”

“Yeah. Well, I’m not the type to sit around in frilly dresses and let other people fight my battles.” Starlythe sat up and frowned in defiance.

Staid laughed. “Nope, not you.”

Starlythe pointed to the spears. “What did you learn with those? You brought them for a reason, right?”

He levered himself up. “Yeah, there is a new lunge that gives power to the throw. It’s perfect for someone with spindly arms like you.”

Starlythe stood and shoved her fists onto her hips, scowling. She studied her long, thin biceps, then glared at the well-formed rocks on him.

She sighed in resignation. “Okay, I’ll admit it. I’ve got a bit before I catch up with you. I need all the help I can get.”

Staid stood before her with the spears in his hands. “Stars, you really are amazing. Most kids would have denied they were weaker. You show great maturity recognizing where you need assistance.”

“Well, it’s certainly not a wise move to reject a new skill for the sake of pride.” She stiffened her spine and held out a hand for the spear. “Besides, you are my teacher and best friend. Why would I reject wise counsel from someone I trust so much?”

“You are going to make a great queen one day, you know that Stars?”

“And you are going to lead my warband into great victories, Stay.”

Staid’s smile faded slowly into a pensive expression. He pressed the spear into her small hand, noting the glimmer of starlight bathing her in a sapphire glow. The emerging man rekindled the pledge his six-year-old self had made to an infant. Meeting her noble gaze, his heart’s rhythm once again synchronized with hers. He would never leave the side of this warrior child who would one day be his queen.

“WHERE’S CANDOL?” STARLYTHE
crouched behind the stables with her dearest warrior companions, spiky blonde hair shooting in all directions. Her leather breastplate creaked as she adjusted the weapon strapped to her back. The starstone, dangling from the end of her spiraled torc, bounced against the hollow of her long neck.

“She’s coming. There was a scuffle in the first year’s barracks. She had to intervene.” Staid’s calm reply rumbled from his massive chest, spilling over her like a soothing balm.

“Starlythe, why the secrecy? You are the War Leader. Why are you skulking around the stables like a sea barbarian come to steal our women?” Drayse’s playful nature and boyish charm gave him leave to get away with saying anything.

“Drayse!” Krenne, the petite but fierce warrior, slapped his arm. “Show some respect! You can’t talk to our War Leader like that!” Krenne’s voice and expression dripped with sarcasm as her blue eyes twinkled with mischief in the moonlight.

“You are just jealous you didn’t think to say it first.” Drayse laughed and wrapped his arm around Krenne’s neck.

“Stop it,” she whined and elbowed his ribs.

“Settle!” Staid’s deep voice commanded. “Stars, what are we doing here?”

“We are going after the Dracosphynx. He has tormented our people far too long.”

The five companions stared at her in shock as Candol ran around the corner of the storehouse. “What’s up?”

“Shh!” Stealthlin grabbed her arm and pulled her to a crouching position with the rest of them. “Starlythe was just explaining to us how she lost her mind!”

Brashtor, quiet and reserved, shifted his position to allow Candol room. He stroked his jaw and focused on Starlythe.

“I am not crazy. I have a plan.” Starlythe cocked her brow, and the fierce light blazing in her eyes stimulated courage in her companions.

“What’s the plan?” Staid shifted until he was shoulder to shoulder with Starlythe, his posture affirming his support of her decision.

The evil dragon, Dracosphynx, bellowed in rage, rattling the teeth of the strike force. His red hide glistened, covered in shimmering iridescent scales to his chest. Toothy spikes lined his back and tail, and his muscles rippled in exertion. The seven young warriors surrounded the beast at the mouth of his lair in the Crags and brandished swords and spears and burning brands. The Dracosphynx’s black eyes reflected the light of their torches as he watched them dart around.

Stealthlin and Brashtor bellowed a battle cry and rushed him, drawing his attention. Krenne and Drayse used the distraction to light fire to his wings to prevent him from taking flight. His screech pierced the night as he slashed and thrashed around on the ground to extinguish the flames. The seven scattered to escape being trampled to death.

When he stilled, the warriors pressed the advantage, jabbing at his soft underbelly with their pikes. Staid rushed toward his throat with his sword lofted high. The Dracosphynx flung him aside with a back slash of talons. Staid’s massive frame hit the cliff and shattered the rock face. Debris rained down around him.

Starlythe ran to him as Brashtor and Candol engaged the attention of the Dracosphynx on the other side, waving torches.

“Are you harmed?” Her voice was frantic as she shifted rocks away from him.

“No, I am fine.” His eyes caught hers, and his expression softened. “Stars, I am not harmed.” He dropped his voice and touched her cheek.

“Then get up, you huge lump, and get back into the fight!” she snapped, yanking his arm as he scrambled to his feet. She clenched her jaw and shoved him ahead of her, pausing just a fraction of a moment to clamp down the shaking that had started when she saw him crumple against the wall.

“No time!” She scourged herself for the momentary weakness and snapped her attention to the battle.

Her best friends were holding their own, but she could tell they were getting tired. The Dracosphynx was too. His limbs moved sluggishly, and his tail had stopped thrashing about. Stealthlin and Brashtor launched Krenne into the air in a signature move that would position her on the back of the beast so she could drive her spear into his brain. He shifted at the last moment and swiped her out of the air. She hit the ground with a
thud
and did not move.

Candol and Staid rushed in to rescue her from being trampled under the enormous feet of the monster, while Drayse screamed and flung every spear, pike, and burning brand he could get his hands on into the face of the beast to distract him. He, too, suffered a massive blow as the Dracosphynx swatted him, and he toppled over the edge of a cliff.

Starlythe was done. This massacre was going to end now. “Staid, pull back! Get them out of here!”

The Dracosphynx paused to watch with twisted pleasure as Brashtor and Stealthlin dove over the edge of the cliff to rescue Drayse. Staid nodded, and he and Candol carried Krenne toward the path that led down to the horses.

The Dracosphynx inched his way toward the cliff where Brashtor and Stealthlin were attempting to reach Drayse who hung by his fingertips on a ledge.

“Oh. No. You. Don’t,” Starlythe whispered, using the distraction to her advantage. She ran up the tail of the Dracosphynx, planted her feet between his shoulder blades, and executed a spiraling maneuver that placed her on top of his head. She had drawn her sword mid-flip and slashed down toward the brain of the beast.

He swiveled. She lost her footing and the sword missed his brain, but lodged in the side of his head and ripped open a gash as her weight carried the blade down the length of his face.

She hit the ground hard but managed to keep her grip on her sword. The Dracosphynx screamed in agony and batted at the gushing wound. Starlythe stared up at him from the ground and took full advantage of his weakness. She sat up and drove her blade deep into the muscle of his left shoulder joint, severing tendons.

The arm hung listlessly at his side, and he stilled and quieted, and then slowly turned his seething eyes onto her. Quick as a flash, he pinned her to the ground with his rear-clawed foot and slowly drew a talon across her right shoulder, tearing her flesh with exacting precision. Starlythe bit down and squeezed air and spittle through her teeth, refusing to give him the pleasure of her cry. He paused, his razor-sharp talon at the base of her neck, and sensuously drew the aroma of her blood into his nostrils, savoring the scent of defeat.

“Now I will drink your blood, warrior brat. It will puddle at my feet just as your father’s before you.” His deep voice rumbled the ground beneath her.

He pressed his talon deeper and flicked his tongue around her neck to catch the spurts of blood.

“
Nooooo
!”

The Dracosphynx whipped his head around, searching for the sound of the voice, before he realized he had been doused with oil and lit on fire again. The flames engulfed what was left of his wings, and he roared and stumbled over the edge of the cliff in his frantic attempt to extinguish himself.

Staid rushed to Starlythe and lifted her into his arms. The faces of her brave companions closed in on her as her vision dimmed and faded to black.