Thronegarden by Andrew Dickerson (top rated books of all time .txt) 📕

worthy opponent,” the Captain of the Guard praised as he raised his sword for one final strike.

“Kimson!”

A voice broke through the duel causing Tyten to pause. Delridden remembered the sound of his true love’s voice and, seizing upon his assailant’s hesitation, rolled out of harm’s way and retrieved his own blade.

“Uriel,” Delridden cried out, still unable to see her amongst the darkness.

“I am sorry she will have to witness this,” Tyten stated.

Delridden, coursing with adrenaline from hearing Uriel’s voice again, fought with a fresh vengeance, delivering a barrage of thrusts and parries so Tyten was forced to go on the defensive. Several times Delridden’s blade struck the bronze armour, only to find the blow deflected and the metal barely dented.

Tyten was pushed backwards, though none of Delridden’s blows got through. With blood seeping down his adversary’s arms and chest, it was just a case of weathering this final storm. Delridden refused to surrender to his fatigue, although the sword in his hand felt heavier with each stroke. His knee was on fire and his grip was affected by the blood flowing freely from his multiple wounds. After a flurry, which would have defeated any other opponent, Delridden finally stopped to rest, his chest heaving, and his sword rested on the floor like a crutch.

“It is over,” Tyten declared.

“Kimson!”

As Tyten thrust forward with his sword, Delridden left himself open until the last moment when he twisted his body, too late; the captain’s blade entered his flesh, just above the right hip, and went straight through.

Now, though, Tyten’s weapon was stuck, and Delridden was still holding his own blade. A flash of doubt crossed the captain’s eyes as his challenger reared back and struck powerfully with his own blade straight at Tyten’s heart. Fortunately for the soldier, his armour absorbed the lethal impact, stopping the blade inches from Tyten’s heart. Delridden, drawing on his last reserves of strength, charged forward with his sword still pressed to Tyten’s chest. When they collided with the bars of Uriel’s cell, the blade finally punched through the breastplate of Tyten’s armour and impaled the soldier’s heart. So the prophecy was fulfilled and despite the absence of it in his own life, Tyten was killed by love.

Without leadership, the castle guards had retreated as far as they could without breaking. The liberators, fueled by determination, had fought bravely though many were exhausted or injured. The Matriarch and Bakka were both attempting one last treaty while both sides took a breath. With the guards holding the higher ground just outside the royal apartments, it would take one giant effort from the invaders to break through. While the Peritwinkle growled intimidatingly, Bakka tried to reason with the remaining defenders. Before peace could be negotiated, Luyna emerged at the top of the staircase, behind her twin daughters, Celeste and Coral, who were followed by a shame-faced Rat. Lastly came Blakast who held Damselfly hostage so the rebels could see. Buttons, unwilling to risk anything happening to his friend, trailed behind obediently.

“End this foolishness now,” Luyna threatened.

“We have come too far,” the Matriarch warned.

“You would risk harm coming to your precious princess?” Luyna questioned, her yellow eyes bright with malice.

“No harm will come to her while I breathe,” the Matriarch vowed.

“Then perhaps we should find out who is the strongest sorceress,” Luyna challenged.

Damselfly wanted to scream a warning. She had witnessed Luyna’s terrifying rage at losing her brother and knew that the Matriarch could not win. Yet Blakast held her tightly so she could not speak or move, and painfully she watched as her friend stepped forward.

“If it means no one else gets hurt I gladly accept,” the Matriarch responded.

“You always believed yourself to be the authority on everything,” Luyna recalled. “Teacher or mentor, you always positioned yourself above others like you were special.”

“I never thought my magical abilities were superior to anyone. I only hoped to guide and advise those with powers on how to use them for good.”

“Then you failed.”

Luyna unleashed a blast of energy that staggered the Matriarch. Damselfly screamed, although no one could hear it because Blakast’s hand was covering her mouth. Within moments it was over. The Matriarch was on her knees with greater streaks of silver in her hair and her robes tattered.

“You are holding back, why?” Luyna asked.

“Magic is running out. Soon there will be nothing left for any of us,” the Matriarch answered.

“You lie,” Luyna accused, although there was doubt in her lupine eyes.

“Without time, magic will disappear from Fable along with everything else,” the Matriarch prophesied.

“What will we do without magic?” Celeste questioned.

“Do not fall for her lies,” Luyna snapped at her daughter.

“It is the truth and you know it,” the Matriarch posed.

“I preserved existence by stopping time,” Luyna orated.

While the sorceress was distracted, Damselfly desperately sought to gain the Matriarch’s attention. Making eye contact, the princess looked at Luyna before making an O with her fingers. It took a few moments for the Matriarch to comprehend the message.

“If you preserved everything, why is your brother not with you?” the Matriarch inquired.

Luyna, still raw with grief, retaliated, animating an infestation of creeping vines to tie up the Peritwinkle. Moving confidently down the stairs, the sorceress sneered at the Matriarch before releasing all her power at the stricken figure. Damselfly once again screamed. This time she slipped from Blakast’s grip, and her voice echoed around the stone walls. When the light faded Damselfly could see, to her relief, that the Matriarch remained untouched on the stairs.

“Impossible,” Luyna queried.

“I heard there was a contest to see who was the greatest magician in the land, and I cannot believe you forgot to invite me.”

From behind the rebels came the Fairy King, wearing his dark green robes, and behind him a rabble of Sprites followed including their leader, Jinx, who