Power of The Blessed

“Ms. Brynja I’ve sent word to Astrid!”

Sigrun and Eiric arrive at the top of the Sanctuary gate. Vilgur stands next to Brynja after leaving Eydis in the care of a villager, his blessing could be a boon and he has been itching to help after his training.

“Good. Sorry about this everyone, I never expected them to divert any resources for us. But they’ve underestimated our capabilities, such low numbers will never get past our defenses. Or so I’d like to say.”

Brynja continues to tap her fingers on the ledge of the wall. Solgrad wouldn’t attack without a plan for victory. Still, their numbers aren’t enough to take Sanctuary and its people. Destroying the village would be the best they could do, but it would never be enough to defeat the revolutionaries.

“So why are you really here.”

“Captain Brynja! We’ve confirmed that the only captain here is Runa.” A revolutionary soldier said.

“Runa. The fourth captain, how annoying, she is a mysterious one. Ketil, take these three and gather a small group to flank them. We’ll create chaos to buy time as we regroup and plan.”

“Yes mam! You there, come with me now!”

“I’ll have to apologize for the delayed welcoming. Since you’ve been kind enough to show yourself, I’ll be the one to give the welcome. Yrsa, Arvid.”

“Yes mam! Tveir boulder!”

The two soldiers at Brynja’s side are her personal assistants. Each a capable magic user, they’re known to use long range spells to back Brynja. But, on many occasions, they also create an artillery of ammo for Brynja to use.

Two boulders the size of houses are created at Brynja’s side. Within a second, her body enlarges and dwarfs the boulders, the soldiers of the kingdom in awe of the sun blocking sight standing atop the gates.

A moment later, two boulders are launched at the soldiers of the kingdom. Each travels with a resounding boom behind them, the impact an explosion that could destroy small villages with a single hit.

The battle begins.

Eiric, Sigrun, and Vilgur follow a group of 10 soldiers as they flank the Solgrad army. Attacks from Brynja continue to rain down, the wounded soldiers calling it a hellish rain on Ymirra as they have little to counter such explosive power.

For now, the Solgrad army bunkers down and waits for Brynja’s onslaught to finish before considering their counterattack.

“We’ll split into groups of three.” Ketil stops as another explosion is set off followed by the anguished cries of the Solgrad soldiers, “You three, continue north, we need you to check what their supplies are like. Do not engage Runa, understood?”

“Yes sir!”

The three follow orders, sneaking behind enemy lines to gather more information. The deafening explosions created by Brynja keep their footsteps hidden, the only focus of the Solgrad army on surviving until they can retaliate.

The three arrive at the end of the Solgrad temporary base. There are only five carts of supplies, enough to last two weeks at best but not under such attacks should Brynja continue to rain fire.

“But we won’t need much of it anyway. The battle will be over long before then.”

A woman wearing a blue and white robe over her strap dress sits atop one of the carriages. Her jet black hair is cut short, and she wears glasses that focus on Eiric as the three prepare for the possible battle against the strange woman.

“You, the human, you must be Eiric. Your parents have caused quite the mess. I’m here to take in prisoners after the attack on the capital, I’m sure you three would suffice. Brynja is causing a terrifying scene right now, but even she must rest. I warn you now, the attack on your village will be far worse than you can imagine. But I give you the opportunity to stop it.”

“We won’t go with you. We’ll take you all down here.” Vilgur said.

“Unfortunately, you don’t stand a chance.” The woman pulls a strange weapon from under her robe.

Two blades chained together with orbs near their hilts that pulsate as if they had a heartbeat. Their silver and blue, the magic from them similar to that the younglings felt coming from the battle between Torsten and the captains of Solgrad.

“That’s a blessed weapon.” Eiric said.

“Correct.”

“But how, you’re a blessed?”

“No, far from it. I pulled these two from the cold hands of a blessed.”

“But I thought only blessed could use those weapons.”

“Oh darling, every rule can be broken. Of course it isn’t easy. I detest using these weapons, I can see why the blessed turn. They mess with the mind, they tear at it and grow stronger as one loses sanity and health. But that is a small price to pay to protect those I care for. Now, lie on your stomachs and surrender.”

“She must be Runa.” Sigrun said, “We should run.”

“I won’t let you.”

Runa tosses the right blade at Eiric but it is blocked by a shield made by Vilgur. Sigrun counters, sending six large shards of ice at Runa that are stopped in midair by Runa’s left blade.

Keeping her momentum, Runa spins the blades around using the chain. They destroy everything within reach, the younglings dodging or using Vilgur’s shield to block an incoming attack.

Vilgur and Sigrun are kicked away by Runa on her next attack, her focus only on Eiric as she holds her right blade to his head.

“You can end this right now boy.”

“I can’t trust you.”

“So be it, I’ll force you to make the right decision.”

Runa slashes at Eiric’s legs but hits a small wall of ice, allowing him the time to cast his next spell.

“Prir lance.” Eiric has avoided using his blessing over the years. Although he believes using it puts him at risk, the powerful affinity is difficult to ignore.

A lance of light strikes Runa’s left blade, stopping just before reaching the blade.

“Light magic, not bad at all. But you are no match for blessed weapons.” Runa stabs Eiric’s shoulder.

“Eiric!”

Vilgur and Sigurn return, attacking Runa together but unable to gain an advantage against the powerful captain of Solgrad. All of their attacks stop just before reaching Runa, her change between long distance and close quarter combat making it impossible for them to adapt in time.

Sigrun and Vilgur gather next to Eiric, their defeat inevitable as their bodies exhaust.

“Leave the human. I cannot guarantee the safety of demons in Solgrad.”

“We won’t leave him.” Sigrun said.

“Then I will make it quick, I’m sorry.” Runa raises her blade.

Facing imminent death, the younglings freeze. Eiric’s mind racing as Runa approaches them.

There is no shortage of life threatening danger in his memories. In many he fights but is alone. Some survive as others go black, but what Eiric needs is to protect Sigrun and Vilgur.

Just one, please.

Eiric pulls Sigrun and Vilgur close. There is no mistake about it, strange images within his mind showing him different possibilities, new spells he has never heard or seen.

“No!”

“Light step, Uruz.” Two runes appear in front of Eiric, then, the bodies of three younglings disappear into a beam of light.

“Darn it!” Runa kneels, her head screeching as she tosses the twins blades aside. “Aghhh!” Even a short battle using a blessed weapon is enough to leave in her great pain, though much of her yell is from frustration.

After recovering, Runa returns to the Solgrad camp. The attacks from Brynja have stopped as the sun set.

“Captain Runa, we should attack as they believe we will stop to rest!”

“No. I believe we have a chance to end this without more bloodshed, there are innocent people there.”

“Innocent? Any who side with blessed are worse than demons!”

“I don’t care for your ignorant beliefs! I need to time to rest anyway, there will be no attack tonight. Understood?”

“Fine.”

Runa leaves for her personal tent, frustration building as she will have to step forward the following morning.