“Fidelity remind them what it is they fight for.” Finn commanded and as rehearsed the Aspect of Love flowed forward her gossamer dress swirling about her as she waved a hand over the High Lords. Determination flared in the eyes below as Fidelity’s power filled their hearts with love for Sanctuary itself. It was a tawdry bit of magic and Fidelity herself had objected to it at first, but Finn had insisted and he could tell by the reactions he was seeing his instincts had been correct.
There hadn’t been much warning about the pending attack, but it had been an opportunity that Finn couldn’t pass up. If he had simply warned the High Lords what was coming none of them would have shown their faces in the city today. So Finn had held his silence and gathered the few Aspects he had managed to bind to him through blood. The war needed to end. The world was growing too weak to survive from the endless fighting and this was the first step in bringing peace back to Sanctuary. With the Aspects involved in the fight even Rivasa would surely see the sense in a truce, or so he was hoping.
“Rose watch over them as they face their enemy and keep them strong.” Finn spoke the words loudly and it was nearly impossible to keep the amusement from his voice as recognition lit Jala’s face. He could sympathize with her completely. His own shock when he learned Rose was truly the Aspect of Healing had been so great he’d polished off half a bottle of Firewater before he had managed to being his negotiations with her.
Smiling widely Rose moved to his side and bowed her head to the familiar faces below her. “I will not let you fall.” She promised sweetly as her power crested to the surface for a breath and brushed softly over the crowd to remove any doubts they might have had regarding her.
“Lutheron ease their concerns so that they can face their enemy with clear minds.” Finn commanded and kept his face carefully neutral as he stared past the High Lords to where Lutheron had been watching the display with an angry glare. This was the only part of his plan that was a gamble. He had no ties over Lutheron and Finn had no idea how the man would react to his demand. If Lutheron refused the High Lords would remember it, but if he obeyed he was publically admitting that Finn had the power to command him. Their eyes locked and Finn could see the seething anger boiling in the Divine of Fear, but after what seemed like an eternity Lutheron bowed his head ever so slightly and waved a hand over the assembled High Lords.
Finn’s shoulders relaxed and he let out a silent sigh of relief as Exodus moved up beside him. Glancing down he smiled at her. “I wasn’t sure it would work.” He admitted softly.
“It worked spendidly, but you seem to have forgotten me in the theatrics.” Exodus replied and frowned at him.
“I haven’t forgotten you. Shade simply changed your role in things with his blatant stupdidity. So no loud proclamations for you my dear, I’m sorry for that, but this crowd can’t properly appreciate you anyway. So rather than waving your hands over a bunch of arrogant High Lords please do everything you can to ensure that idiot doesn’t end up in my domain.” He added dryly as he waved a hand toward the distant Spell Hawk.
Exodus looked up and nodded once. “He is about to engage them.” She observed softly. “So it’s too late to keep him out of the fight completely.” Nodding once more she stepped back and faded into the shadows of the palace. “I will do whatever it takes to ensure he does not die Finn. You have my word on that.”
“And you have my eternal gratitude for sparing me an eternity with Shade Morcaillo annoying me.” Finn replied as he shifted his attention back to the High Lords. And so it begins. He mused silently as he narrowed his eyes and watched as the first blow of the battle was struck by Shade. Shaking his head slowly he felt a smile form on his lips. “You have balls of solid stone Shade, I’ll give you that.” He whispered to the empty air around him and wondered if anyone below him would have had the courage to face two armies alone.
Chapter 22
Sanctuary
Metal screamed in protest as the Spell hawk that had broken rank to pursue him slammed into one of its sister ships in the process of turning about to fire on him. With a flick of his wrist Shade poured more magic into The Shade and sent her racing above the roar of flames that burst from the entangled ships. The flash of debris caught the edge of his vision and he reacted without thought even as he dodged under the sweeping strike of a dragon.
He could hear the steady fire of his ship’s guns but didn’t spare a moment of his attention to concern himself with Grim’s accuracy. It would be a fortunate coincidence if Grim managed to bring some of the enemy forces down with his shots, but it wasn’t required. All they had to do was distract the enemies and his chaotic flight through the middle of their ranks was succeeding splendidly at that.
Dark scaled forms rose below his ship and Shade reacted instantly bringing his ship hard to the right. His reaction speed was flawless when linked with his ship, but he doubted the Spell Hawk that had been heading toward him could say the same. If the other pilot didn’t manage to correct his course within the next breath he would be cuddled tightly with a rather unhappy dragon.
Shade’s gaze moved over the crowded stretch of sky and he calculated his flight with the precision of a dancer as he wove through their ranks darting from side to side like a hummingbird. He had no choice but to stay in the thick of them. If he broke away or rose too far above or below them he would be an open target for them to fire upon. They couldn’t use their ranged weapons against him as long as he was in their ranks without the risk of hitting one of their own.