My 8 E-books written over the years by Alina Udrea - HTML preview

Chapter 7

- Bobby, look out! Mark warned him while he plunged his sword through a big fat troll, green blood oozing from the troll's deadly wound.- Thanks, I owe you one! But no sooner had Bobby said it when he saved Mark too, already paying his debt. Another troll tried to cut Mark's left arm off while he was with his back at it fighting off other trolls when Bobby saw it and with a high jump, cut off the troll's head just before it could cut Mark's arm.

- Uh, thanks! We make a good team! Wish Lizzy could see us fighting! Said Mark proud of the man he had become since he had first met Lizzy.- This is no place for women! Too much blood!

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- But you don't know how tough she is! Mark went on, trying to make a point. She could be of help. She is a powerful sorceress.- Yeah, but don't forget that she is also King Harold's daughter. So things have changed. The King doesn't want his daughter in the middle of the fight, not as long as there are brave men available to fight!- Yeah, I guess you are right, Mark agreed with Bobby this time. Just that I miss her so much and she is probably worried sick about me.- Less talk and more fight, focus on your enemies, Mark! Said Bobby in an attempt to take his mind away from what was bothering him. Let's show Kain and his army what we are made of!- Uh, flesh and blood? Asked Mark giggling.- No, man…. I meant to show them that we are brave and strong and willing to sacrifice our lives for the welfare of the kingdom…said Bobby wondering if Mark had made a joke earlier.- Ha, gotcha! I know what you mean, I was just teasing you!

Then both friends went on sharing sword blows left and right,

cutting trolls in their way. All was pretty smooth as the trolls were strong, but they lacked agility, stamina and speed. But then they saw the other enemies they had to confront, namely water and fire elementals, magical beings made of water and fire. The water elementals could freeze things and throw icicles and were immune to water spells while the fire elementals could throw fire arrows and were immune to fire spells.

And Kain had summoned lots of them in what he knew pretty

well was his final attempt to conquer Karaland. If he wouldn’t succeed this time either, with his mighty army of trolls and elementals, then he was prepared to die on the battlefield. So he was determined to do his best to win this war once and for all. Mark had a big lump in his throat at seeing the magical army approaching. He examined Bobby's face and he could see the concern in his eyes.

- What do you think now, Bobby? Do we stand a chance? We've lost many soldiers already while fighting against the trolls and now these…beings… I mean look at battlefield. God, he exclaimed, some of

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our soldiers are fleeing towards the woods!- It looks pretty bad, Bobby uttered, but if we make it out of this alive, I promise you I will personally hunt down the deserters and have them executed for treason! This is unforgivable! To desert like that, when things got bad and when every soldier is needed badly! I will…

- Oh, shut up! Never mind the deserters, now I am telling you to focus! How do we kill these creatures? Asked Mark although he doubted Bobby had any clue.

- With my help, of course! Said a soldier from behind them. Then the soldier took off his helmet to reveal his face to the astonishment of both Mark and Bobby!

- Lizzy? Is this you!? But how….. Was all Mark could say before she kissed him and then answered him.

- What did you think? That I would let you have all the fun?- Oh, Lizzy, I'm so glad you are here! And not a moment too soon! We could really use a sorceress to fight this wizard! But who is this? Mark asked pointing towards Dorian as he already knew Manda.- He is an assassin. Sent by my beloved step sister to kill me. Stop! Lizzy had to yell as Mark already had his blade against Dorian's neck.- What? Didn’t you just say he is sent to kill you!!??- Yeah, but could you let me finish before you do something stupid? Said Lizzy kissing Mark again to calm him down.- Oh, so there is more to it? What did he do?- No, silly! I saved his life and now he thinks he owes me his life. So not only he won't be trying to kill me anymore, but he will do his best to protect me and least but most important thing, we need him alive as he will testify against Milly when all this is over! Father will have to do something about her this time, or I will!

- Oh, why didn’t you say so? Mark said lowering his blade.- Because you didn’t give me the chance…

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- Uh, Bobby finally said, you guys know that water and fire elementals are coming our way, right? Just making sure, not rushing you or anything.

- Leave them to me, you just take care of the trolls! And saying that, Lizzy took off her heavy armor and let her long sorceress dress be seen from underneath the armor. She needed to be able to use her hands for the spells and the armor was thwarting her.

An epic battle ensued. While the men were slicing the trolls, Lizzy

was destroying the elementals one by one and Manda, well, I would like to say something nice but she was just hiding behind Lizzy, trembling with fear. As Kain himself and his elementals were approaching, fire balls and ice shards started flying everywhere. Sometimes his elementals would even hurt or kill, by mistake, no doubt about that, the trolls, which were on their side. But Kain hadn't given his elementals the brains to care and shoot their magic more carefully as not to bring down their own army. Anyway, the trolls were diminishing in numbers slowly but effectively so now Kain was only counting on his magical beings for victory.

The trolls had managed to bring down lots of good Karaland

soldiers, either by killing them or by maiming them so bad that they were dying somewhere on the battlefield, but weren't fighting anymore, anyway. So the trolls had done their part helping Kain's odds to win the war. Now only few of King Harold's army remained to face Kain and his elementals. Scarrino and his soldiers had also joined the fight as they had killed the trolls on their designated part of the battlefield and now they came to Bobby and Mark's help. And of course were pleasantly surprised to see they had help from Lizzy. Everybody agreed that she was really needed on the battlefield if they wanted to stand a fighting chance against Kain and his elementals from hell.

It was a magic battle. Lizzy was throwing ice spells at the fire

elementals to neutralize them and fire spells at the water elementals. But they kept coming. Kain was pushing the battle to the limits. His temples were sweating and throbbing with concentration but he wasn't

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ready to give up just yet. He couldn’t accept defeat from a young sorceress. Because if it hadn't been for her, the outcome of the battle would surely have been different. But as it was, with such a great sorceress fighting him, he wasn't so sure about victory. She was killing all his elementals and she didn't seem tired at all. Whereas him, well he was probably too old for this. But if he started it, he had to finish it. Victorious or not, he would end this today. So by the end of the day, he would either be victorious or dead. There was no other way.

Lizzy, on the other hand, was just getting warm. She loved the

thrill of the fight and the fact that she was next to Mark again. She would keep him safe. And Mark had really become good with his sword, just as he had dreamed of. But he couldn’t fight Kain's magic army with his sword. He needed her. King Harold needed her for this battle although he hadn't asked her to join his armies in order to protect her. But she was here now and helping the armies towards victory. She looked majestic in her long blue dress, an apparition in comparison with the rest of the army which was clad in heavy armor and had weapons. But unlike the rest of the army, which in spite of having weapons and armor, was useless against Kain's magic army, she with her bare hands was casting spell after spell after spell putting the elementals down in a killing spree. Blood was everywhere. Even the last of the trolls had been killed. And large part of King Harold’s army was also dead on the ground. But the battle was not over. Kain himself was now face to face with our heroes. He just couldn’t accept defeat. Defeated by a mere wench.

He stopped his mighty horse in front of her and spoke from

behind his protective magic shield that was enveloping him while the last of his elementals was being turned to ashes.- Who are you, girl?

- I am Lizzy, King Harold’s daughter and protector of these lands which you have come to conquer. Surrender now and your life will be spared, but you will spend the rest of it in the cold dungeons. Enough have died already, it is time for you to pay!

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- Ha, do you think I’ve come before you to surrender? Kain said while examining her face. But her face didn’t betray any emotion of any kind. She seemed as cold as a rock.

- Give up old man, demanded Mark. My sword may have been useless against your creatures but if Lizzy lowers your shield, I bet you bleed just like everyone else.

- Be on your guard, Mark! Lizzy said not knowing what to expect of it, but ready for just about anything from a conniving wizard like Kain.- You may have won, girl, but how I die is entirely my choice! I wanted to see you up close, the one who has defeated my army. This was my last try. I am too old for this… I see determination on your face. You were brave. As for this young man, I can see a great future for him, Kain said while looking at Mark. Then he took a small bottle from one of his pockets and drank its contents in a swift move. The next minute he was lying dead on the ground.

- What happened? Asked Bobby and Scarrino, both wondering what had just happened.

- He poisoned himself, Lizzy answered simply. He chose death rather than imprisonment. As simple as that. Victory is ours! Karaland is safe once more!!

- Let's go back home…. Said Mark obviously tired from all the fighting and everybody agreed.