Heirs of Hyarch

Chapter 126: Matter of Footing

As much as she had complained about how overly warm Lasfont was, Edeline was grateful to feel that heat again. She stretched, taking it in and letting herself relax. Tired though she may be, it was satisfying to be standing here, victorious.

"Are you going to move and let me by?" Hamond asked.

"You could have stepped past me." Edeline stepped aside anyway, figuring he just wanted to enjoy the same sight she had. With the sun high in the sky, and the air mostly calm and clear, she couldn't blame Hamond in the slightest. It was that same sense of victory, satisfaction that the worst was behind them, that kept them on their feet.

It was hardly a surprise that Edeline just wanted to go eat a warm meal and then lay down. Even if this was not nearly as taxing as their battles in Kelshir, it still had not been easy or pleasant. Being tumbled around underwater, even if only briefly, had nearly made Edeline vomit afterwards. She had chosen not to mention that to Hamond.

Ugotlas and Taeseger also emerged, taking a moment to shake themselves off. Edeline winced at far too many drops of water splashed off onto her. "Did you have to do that?" she protested, wiping her face off with the back of her hand.

"I suppose we could have stepped further away first," Ugotlas admitted.

"Or perhaps she should have done so," Taeseger said.

So Taeseger could be just as insufferable as Ugotlas. It made Edeline wonder if she ought to privately apologize to Ayden for what they were going to have to tolerate. That was assuming he would even trust either of the two remaining sphinxes. It was a problem she likely would not be able to solve. Not in the short time they would remain in town.

"If only we could solve everything," Edeline murmured, "I could accept-"

"Well done," a dry voice rang out. That satisfaction was gone in an instant, replaced with cold dread as Edeline turned to see the Witch of Wrath step out into the middle of the street.

"Why are you here?" Taeseger growled.

"Well, it certainly isn't for you," the woman answered, still calm. "Though knowing your kind, you probably think it is. I see it written on your face, all those plans to get revenge. If you had any sense in your head, you'd throw them aside. Or throw your life away. Either works for me."

Edeline took a step forward. "So you know I am the daughter of Lord Hallowscroft now. I've already heard your little speech about how you feel about nobility, so we can go straight ahead to the part where we fight."

Not that she had any great hope of defeating the Witch of Wrath this time. She was tired, Hamond was tired, and it wasn't clear how much strength the sphinxes could bring to bear either. This had to be deliberate, waiting until they were weakened before revealing herself.

"Oh, I don't care about that." Floire grinned, a look that made Edeline's blood freeze. "As you said yourself, it has nothing to do with any title passed down by your father."

"You weren't there!" Edeline blurted out. Anyone attempting to sneak up upon them with magic would've been caught with their spells of sight.

"One problem with relying on a spell that detects when magic is used is that it's useless if no one uses magic. And I don't need magic to remain unnoticed. Had you lived longer, you might have picked up on such yourself...princess."

All because she felt it was necessary to tell Sedat just who she was. There was no one for Edeline to blame but herself for this. So the next question was: how did she get them out of it?

"Princess?" Taeseger echoed. Edeline did not even have to look to know the sphinx was staring directly at her.

"At this point, I'm a little surprised you didn't let her in on the secret as well." The Witch of Wrath remarked, pointing at Edeline with her one arm. "Not that it's much of one. Your healer friend already all but told me she knew, which means I will have to revise my opinion of her intelligence. She's still probably smarter than you though, with you just giving that information out to anyone who looks the least bit friendly. At least it makes my work easier."

"To kill people because of things they have no control over?" Edeline shot back, seething with anger. "A year ago, I myself did not know!"

"And what did you do with the knowledge? Because from where I look, you didn't bury it where none would dig for secret treasure. You spoke of it freely to those who would listen without any shame. That can only mean pride, and that pride will only lead you down one path."

"I don't want the crown." Edeline pushed back the whispers of doubt. Anthyla, Ugotlas, Sedat...they all needed to know what the risks were for standing alongside her. That was the simple truth of it.

"That makes you the third person I know of who once said that," the Witch of Wrath shook her head. "Both of the others laid a claim to the throne of Hyarch. And you think yourself any different?"

"Let the judgment of the eyes of the heaven determine the worth of her words." Ugotlas paced forward. "From all that I have witnessed, both in Kelshir and here, yours hold little."

"Your eyes of the heavens were quite happy to let the Spellking get as far as he did," the Witch of Wrath spat. "So you intend to allow her free to follow that example? Go on then. Keep giving me reasons to end this here and now."

That almost sounded like Floire did not want a fight. Then maybe, Edeline decided, they could avoid it. "Very well, fight us. Then go explain to the people of Lasfont why you killed the group who risked their lives to save them from the Sluice."

"There it is." The Witch of Wrath sounded almost...sad, somehow. "That same arrogant ambition, all while believing that your deeds and your birthright are separate. Did you take an assumed name? Did you go crawl into a forgotten corner of the world, content with isolation? No, you fools all just keep proclaiming yourself the glorious saviors, the mighty heroes! You can't even imagine yourself any other way! So you will keep seeking to claim everything, because you cannot live with nothing."

Little had changed since Kelshir, it would seem. It had been all too brief a hope, that maybe they could appeal in some way. The Witch of Wrath would continue to oppose the idea of a thaumaturge king or queen, even if it was an imaginary threat. Edeline herself would keep seeking to aid desperate people with her spells. Their clashes would continue until one was dead or had surrendered.

"Come then." Edeline said, readying her sword. "Let us settle this."

The Witch of Wrath did not move, simply standing there studying them. Edeline was perfectly willing to wait. Last time she had tried to strike first, with disastrous results. This time, knowing what to expect, Edeline would let the first move fall to the Witch of Wrath. After all, she had a spell to counter her tricks this time.

Hamond let out a long sigh. "I think I understand. Ventus decipit."

The wind begin to swirl, lifting dirt up around the Witch of Wrath. In reflex Edeline threw up a hand to shield her eyes as it strengthened quickly. The older woman took a single step before the spell picked her up too, setting her spinning afloat as if she were little more than a bit of fluff. Edeline was not about to let her guard down though. As they all know, even when trapped the Witch of Wrath was extremely dangerous.

"You don't like to start fights, do you?" Hamond said, "You'd rather wait for an excuse for the battle. To defend yourself, or to save someone else...whatever the reason, you need to have one. You were only the threat to us that we made you out to be."

"So...now what?" the woman grunted, voice muffled by Hamond's spell.

"I still don't want to kill someone who's helpless. That hasn't changed." Hamond turned away. "But I've learned I shouldn't ask others to hold to the same. Definitely not when they have their own reasons to pass judgment. Ugotlas...Taeseger...I leave her fate to you."

"Clever." The Witch of Wrath's voice rose as the two sphinxes started to pad over towards her. "But this...isn't over yet! Gaia phantasma orygma!"

That enchantment...it was the one that allowed the Witch of Wrath to merge into the ground. But it would do her little good while caught floating in Hamond's trap. Unless she...Edeline's eyes widened. as she realized what was about to happen.

"She's going-"

"Mega gaia maceria!" A huge chunk of the earth rose directly beneath Floire, engulfing her completely. The wind came to a nearly immediate halt, unable to do anything against the earthen barrier.

"-to escape!" Edeline finished, far too late.

"Teleios horama." Hamond's response was swift. His spell was not even needed though, as the Witch of Wrath simply stepped out of the stone a second later.

"I've been far too generous with you. Tetra xiphos.

" The Witch of Wrath raised her one arm as the magical swords formed in the air. "Farewell, princess.""Terra volt!" Having already gathered the energy for the spell, Edeline ripped away a large portion of the raised earth, then flung it right at the Witch of Wrath. The older woman tumbled backwards hastily, just managing to avoid getting crushed.

"Ventus fugit!" Hamond joined in, sending the Witch of Wrath sprawling before she could recover.

"Dijed inek heka seshep sheser sheser-" Taeseger started her own spell.

"Gaia maceria!" The Witch of Wrath just managed to get her spell out first, raising another barrier that absorbed the rays of light. The swords swung out from behind it, angling around to point towards Edeline.

"Dijed inek heka nebu ikem wenen!" Ugotlas's shining shield materialized just in time to block the blades.

"Terra volt!" Edeline ripped the earthen barrier away, exposing a rapidly backpedaling Witch of Wrath. All she had to do was slam it down, this time not missing, and this would all be over. Without being able to hide beneath the ground or behind her walls...was this all the fight the slayer of the Spellking could muster? Why had Hamond, no, any of them worried about Floire being a threat?

"Gaia maceria!" the Witch of Wrath repeated.

The earth under Edeline erupted, and the world spun around her as she tumbled sideways. Trying to get her feet under her, she landed awkwardly on one leg. It did not hold, and she hit the ground shoulder first, rolling over with a grunt.

"Edeline!" Hamond was by her side quickly, kneeling down.

"I'm...fine," Her leg didn't appreciate the fall, but otherwise Edeline was unhurt. More importantly...looking up, she saw the Witch of Wrath sprinting away.

"Do not pursue!" Ugotlas called out.

Taeseger, who had been set to bound after the fleeing thaumaturge, halted and turned. "Why allow her to escape us?"

"Because she would do far worse than escape if it was merely you," Ugotlas said, "Separating us only works to her advantage."

Curse it all. Edeline hated that letting her guard down, if only for a second, had cost them this chance. It would make their journey even more dangerous going forward, since the Witch of Wrath could strike again at any time. How she was going to explain this to Myronel, Edeline did not even know.

There was nothing else to do now but return. Grabbing at her sword, Edeline rose to her feet with Hamond's support. At least none of them had been seriously injured in that battle. An improvement over the last time, Edeline supposed. She would take that much as a victory, if a small one.