neck. His own legs unsteady, Thad collapsed with Brianna’s head settling into his lap.
Frantically, Thad tried to pull in magical energy and force it to heal Brianna’s wound but it would not heed his call, all he received for his efforts was an increase in the pounding in his head. Tears streamed freely from Thad’s eyes as he looked into Brianna’s smiling face. She tried to speak but all that came out of her mouth was a stream of gurgles along with a large amount of blood.
“Don’t talk,” Thad said as he gently ran his thumb over her pale lips to wipe away the blood.
“Help her,” Thad pleaded to his staff.
There is nothing I can do. The wound is too deep and your stunt earlier has exhausted me as well.
Thad wanted to argue but he could feel the sadness emanating from the staff. It was as troubled about Brianna’s impending death as he was. Thad reached down and took Brianna’s hand in his own, running his thumb over the ring he had given her. “I love you,” they were the only words that came to mind, and he knew they were true. He had fought with that word for so long.
Another ballista bolt came in aimed straight for his chest. It moved incredibly fast but to Thad it was as if it moved in slow motion. He felt no need to try and block it or to reinforce his shield. When it struck, his armor’s enchantment kept the bolt from piercing his skin but Thad was still thrown back with great force.
Thad cared little that his body was wracked with pain, or that the taste of blood filled his mouth. All Thad cared about was that he didn’t let go of Brianna’s hand.
The water felt cold as it rushed over him, his weight quickly pulling him and Brianna down beneath the surface. Thad kicked his feet hard pulling himself out of the water’s cold deathly grip.
Bursting from the water’s embrace Thad grabbed onto a large piece of wood that had been blown off one of the ships. With what little remained of his strength Thad pulled Brianna onto the makeshift raft.
Thad looked up at the two sinking ships that now seemed worlds away. He briefly wondered how Crusher and the others were doing then he turned his attention back to Brianna. She looked so peaceful, as if she were sleeping. Thad brushed her wet hair out of her face. Her skin was cold to the touch. Thad lifted up Brianna’s hand and removed the ring he had given her, placing it on his own hand. He knew she was no longer among the living, and no amount of power would change that but still he couldn’t make himself let go of her icy hand.
The darkness once again teased at the edge of his vision but this time Thad didn’t fight against it. He was tired, so tired. His overuse of magic had left him weak and the blow from the ballista had left his chest hurting, making breathing a chore. Thad’s head bobbed a few times then he was engulfed by the darkness.
Thad never felt himself let go of Brianna’s hand, nor fall from the makeshift raft. He couldn’t feel the cold grip of the waters as they pulled him under.
CHAPTER V
When Thad opened his eyes he found himself in unfamiliar surroundings. Thad raised his right hand and inspected the ring that now adorned his finger. As he looked at the silver twisted vines he was filled with a great sadness as well a torrent of anger.
Thad had been mad before but this was the first time he felt such a burning within his chest. He could feel the heat rising to his face, and Thad caught himself clenching his fist so tight his nails dug into the palm of his hand. Thad tried to push down his anger but no matter how he tried a small portion of it stayed, burning like a fire in his chest.
Thad sat up on the large bed and surveyed his surroundings. The room reminded Thad of one of the palaces servant rooms. It was sparse but still had a feel of luxury about it.
“Finally awake young man?” A light musical voice said from Thad’s right.
Thad turned to face his visitor, and nearly jumped back in shock. Ever since he had
Frantically, Thad tried to pull in magical energy and force it to heal Brianna’s wound but it would not heed his call, all he received for his efforts was an increase in the pounding in his head. Tears streamed freely from Thad’s eyes as he looked into Brianna’s smiling face. She tried to speak but all that came out of her mouth was a stream of gurgles along with a large amount of blood.
“Don’t talk,” Thad said as he gently ran his thumb over her pale lips to wipe away the blood.
“Help her,” Thad pleaded to his staff.
There is nothing I can do. The wound is too deep and your stunt earlier has exhausted me as well.
Thad wanted to argue but he could feel the sadness emanating from the staff. It was as troubled about Brianna’s impending death as he was. Thad reached down and took Brianna’s hand in his own, running his thumb over the ring he had given her. “I love you,” they were the only words that came to mind, and he knew they were true. He had fought with that word for so long.
Another ballista bolt came in aimed straight for his chest. It moved incredibly fast but to Thad it was as if it moved in slow motion. He felt no need to try and block it or to reinforce his shield. When it struck, his armor’s enchantment kept the bolt from piercing his skin but Thad was still thrown back with great force.
Thad cared little that his body was wracked with pain, or that the taste of blood filled his mouth. All Thad cared about was that he didn’t let go of Brianna’s hand.
The water felt cold as it rushed over him, his weight quickly pulling him and Brianna down beneath the surface. Thad kicked his feet hard pulling himself out of the water’s cold deathly grip.
Bursting from the water’s embrace Thad grabbed onto a large piece of wood that had been blown off one of the ships. With what little remained of his strength Thad pulled Brianna onto the makeshift raft.
Thad looked up at the two sinking ships that now seemed worlds away. He briefly wondered how Crusher and the others were doing then he turned his attention back to Brianna. She looked so peaceful, as if she were sleeping. Thad brushed her wet hair out of her face. Her skin was cold to the touch. Thad lifted up Brianna’s hand and removed the ring he had given her, placing it on his own hand. He knew she was no longer among the living, and no amount of power would change that but still he couldn’t make himself let go of her icy hand.
The darkness once again teased at the edge of his vision but this time Thad didn’t fight against it. He was tired, so tired. His overuse of magic had left him weak and the blow from the ballista had left his chest hurting, making breathing a chore. Thad’s head bobbed a few times then he was engulfed by the darkness.
Thad never felt himself let go of Brianna’s hand, nor fall from the makeshift raft. He couldn’t feel the cold grip of the waters as they pulled him under.
CHAPTER V
When Thad opened his eyes he found himself in unfamiliar surroundings. Thad raised his right hand and inspected the ring that now adorned his finger. As he looked at the silver twisted vines he was filled with a great sadness as well a torrent of anger.
Thad had been mad before but this was the first time he felt such a burning within his chest. He could feel the heat rising to his face, and Thad caught himself clenching his fist so tight his nails dug into the palm of his hand. Thad tried to push down his anger but no matter how he tried a small portion of it stayed, burning like a fire in his chest.
Thad sat up on the large bed and surveyed his surroundings. The room reminded Thad of one of the palaces servant rooms. It was sparse but still had a feel of luxury about it.
“Finally awake young man?” A light musical voice said from Thad’s right.
Thad turned to face his visitor, and nearly jumped back in shock. Ever since he had
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