Inheritance

Part 2. Chapter 60: Untamed

The elf-humans encircled Kori, pointing their weapons at her.

Green fire enveloped Hew—he dropped to the ground and rolled, trying to put it out. Through his screams of pain, he managed to tell the other elf-humans, "Don't hurt the waif! Kill the elf!"

One elf-human left the circle to assist Hew, another approached Francis, twirling his blade eagerly.

Kori attempted to launch another fire ball, but one of the elf-humans tackled her to the ground; the fire ball fizzled out.

Tears gathered at the corner of Kori's eyes as she watched an elf-human with a spear approach Francis.

"No..." She murmured.

With Francis' death, she was sure Maribel was doomed. But it wasn't just that; she liked Francis. He didn't deserve to die.

She looked away.

A distinctive sound cut through the air and momentarily drowned out Hew's screams.

Kori opened her eyes to see an arrow thudding into the chest of Francis' assailant.

Kori looked to her right. The Maribel soldiers emerged from the mist on foot.

Kori's eyes lit up with relief.

One of the elf-humans fired their crossbow—an arrow lodged itself into a knight's chest.

Kori turned away just in time to avoid seeing the blood spurting from the wound. Abhorring chaos like she did, she found herself clapping her hands to her ears and focusing her attention on Francis so she wouldn't have to look at the men fighting and screaming all around her.

Kori made her way to the elf's side and pressed her fingers to the elf's neck, checking for a pulse.

Her heart thudded out of her chest in anticipation.

When she felt an even pulse, she was so relieved that her eyes turned glassy.

The sound of an arrow disrupted her relief.

She pasted herself to Francis' chest—the arrow flew past where her head had been. The pounding of her heart returned with even greater intensity.

She was frightened. I may die here.

Kori realized that she should have been fighting with her troops, but she found herself paralyzed by two things: Her unwillingness to kill and memories from the night at the ball.

Kori blinked. All she could see were arrows raining down from the balcony and thudding into Pollyanna's already mangled body over and over again.

She could have sworn she heard the howling of that monstrous dog Eory had created swallowing the sound of steel-on-steel.

And, sitting in his throne, she could have sworn she could see Laurence complacently watching the situation without compassion.

Her whole body was trembling, but she wanted to be brave. She wanted to help her troops.

Kori pushed herself to fight with the Maribel soldiers.

She launched fireball after fireball at the elf-humans.

Her magic was draining quickly.

The sound of endless fighting and yelling made her ears ring.

One of her soldiers was stabbed through the chest with a lance; an elf-human shrieked in pain as green fire swallowed him whole.

The chaos made her feel ill. Everyone was dying so quickly.

From behind her, a strong hand grabbed her wrist and lifted her into the air; she locked eyes with Hew, who was covered in the blood of his opponents. He gazed at her with his usual, impassive face.