Her blood coagulated when she saw Aloysius atop his horse, sitting tall as he watched his new army march forward. Freya took two steps back as she was faced by the assailant that had her unconscious for weeks.
And not just one, an army of them.
Aloysius had already won.
"Freya!"
He was going to murder Zavian and have his head up a stake while he sang songs of victory.
"Freya!"
He was going to kill every last one of them on the battlefield.
A rough hand pulled her arm, and Azriel held up a sword just as a wounded Darstun soldier slammed his down on him. He had been so close to her that Freya didn't notice, and it took one strike of Azriel's sword, and the man was dead.
"Aloysius has more," Azriel said. Freya noticed the blood dripping down his face. His blood, the enemy's blood, it didn't matter. They were all going to die.
"He brought hundreds of them," Freya said, and next to her, Azriel swore some colourful expletives. The creatures atop the peek of the hill made guttural noises, their long arms dragging claws behind them, their large canines glinting like tigers.
"Was that…," Azriel asked but didn't finish. Freya understood and nodded.
"I couldn't even take out one," Freya said. "He is going to kill us."
"Freya, listen to me…"
"You don't understand…"
Azriel's hand grabbed her arm, and he dragged her to him, thoroughly displeased.
"I need you to focus," Azriel said. "The fire in the bellies of the horses has been exhausted, and you have fought this thing before," he shook her vigorously to snap her out of her panic. "I need you to finish it this time."
"It? Have you seen their numbers, Azriel?" Freya backed away. "No, they are going to kill us all."
Azriel held her with one hand and drew out the spear from the sides of one of the dead soldiers. He handed her the heavy weapon.
"We fight till the end, Freya," Azriel said. It was all that was needed to set her back to the war. She shuddered in an inhale, and she watched as the new set of creatures perched at the peek of the slope, and Zavian's soldiers that waited steadily behind her.
Her eyes met Zavian's from across the field. He knew what they were, and she could see the nod he sent her was a pillar of strength she needed to recline against.
If she died, if they all died, they did it fighting.
Aloysius raised a hand, the creatures snarled hungrily but didn't move. His gaze pierced directly at Freya, and he smiled in a secret knowing way before he waved down his hand.
The creatures snapped and raced down toward them.
….
Neera heard a clanging echo from below the stairs, and the drudge of heavy footsteps coming up.
She wasn't alone anymore.
Friend or foe? She didn't know, and as she stayed atop the stairs, peering down over the banister, she didn't see anyone. Better safe than sorry, she told herself as she hid her small frame behind the large vase in the alcove.
The footsteps resumed, this time closer, and she squeezed herself tight, more grateful than ever that she was small om stature. She could make out the voices coming from below, low but indicating there was more than one of them in the castle.
She saw some boots come into view and didn't know who they belonged to, but she was sure it wasn't from Zavian's army.
The enemy had found a way into the castle.
"The battle would soon be over, my Lord," another pair of boots came into her view, footsteps so quiet she didn't hear them. "Do you want us to fish out the civilians and demons kept in the protection chambers?"
The demon tapped his boot in thought. "Not yet. I only want to tour for now. Have you killed all the guards in front of the castle?"
Uriel. Neera recognized the voice right away.
"Every last one of them, my Lord." The other demon answered.
"Let's leave the protection chambers for now and come back when it is over, then perhaps this place will excite me more," Uriel said. "My brother has indeed done a good job in maintaining the place, but it would need a few changes."
Oh no, Neera stilled her heart from beating out of control. If they were inside the castle and talking about it freely, it meant…
No, Neera willed herself, No, Zavian cannot be dead.
"I just wanted to see this place for myself," Uriel continued. Neera heard the weighty pause and the boots coming in her direction. Her eyes snapped to the stairs, if she ran, she could make it out if there was no one in the way to stop her.
But as she prepared herself to bolt if the demons catch her, just then, Uriel stopped and said, "These flowers would have to go. They are everywhere. It's disgusting."
"Should we head back to the war, my Lord? I think our soldiers would have finished all of them off by now." The other demon suggested.
"Yes," there was a small pause. "I hear something. It feels like it's coming from…"
Neera's heart set off running, and when the boots shifted in her direction, she closed her eyes, waiting to be hauled out and dealt with.
"It feels like the plants are breathing down on me since I stepped foot here," the demon's voice held disgust. "Let's go. I would bring mother here when we are completely done."
And so, the footsteps made their way down the stairs, and Neera crawled out of her hiding spot. She couldn't stand back and do nothing now, especially after hearing the way they had been so sure of their victory and so comfortable prowling the property.
Zavian could still be alive, and she needed to do something.
Run away, Anna's voice floated to her, and she stood, and ran down the stairs.
Running straight for the battlefield.
….