Inheritance

Part 2. Chapter 60: Untamed

Kori looked around; most of the elf-humans and Maribel soldiers had died. There were eight soldiers and seven elf-humans left.

She kicked her dangling legs and clawed at Hew's wrist with her free arm.

He didn't budge an inch.

Hew's mouth was moving, but she couldn't hear what he was saying through the ringing in her ears. She flexed her fingers—green magic began pooling in her hand—but Hew stomped it out by grabbing it with his other hand.

Terrance, who saw her struggling, left the soldier who he was fighting side-by-side with and came to her aid.

The soldier he left was immediately killed.

Terrance tackled the elf-human. Hew dropped the waif—she fell to the dirt.

She crawled a few paces away and then scrambled to her feet while Hew and Terrance grappled with each other.

She hovered over the two while they rolled around in the dirt, punching and choking each other. She couldn't launch a fireball; it was just as likely to hit Terrance as it was Hew. Her eyes scanned the battlefield.

She saw a blade lying next to its dead owner.

She scurried over to it--keeping her head low so as not to draw attention from the other elf-humans. It was a human-sized sword--nearly as tall as she was. Using all her strength, she managed to lift the blade and hurried to Terrance's aid.

Terrance's back was facing her and shielding Hew's body.

"Terrance, move!" Kori commanded.

Terrance rolled off Hew—Kori clumsily swung the blade at the elf-human.

Abruptly, the earth rumbled, surprising all of them.

Kori lost her grip, the blade flew from her grasp. The earth shook so violently that she lost her footing and tumbled to the floor.

A monstrous roar reverberated throughout the land and drowned out all other noise.

Kori looked up.

A dragon was plummeting toward them.

Hew and Terrance darted away from the dragon's shadow as did all the other elf-humans and Maribel soldiers.

Francis' body lay where the dragon was about to land.

Kori leapt to her feet and dashed toward him.

"Redeemer!" Terrance called.

Kori ignored him.

She grabbed Francis' wrist and pulled him with all her might. She managed to drag him a few inches but lost her grip due to the sweat and grime coating her hands.

Turbulent air shook the trees violently; she knew the dragon was getting closer.

She looked up; she had only seconds to get herself and Francis out of the way before they would both be crushed by the emerald beast.

She launched a green fireball at the ground—blowing both her and Francis a yard away from where the dragon would land.

The dragon shrieked again.

Kori's body was smoldering; she didn't even have enough energy to growl in pain. She lifted herself onto her palms, but her arms shook violently and slid out from under her. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head; she collapsed into the dirt.

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She opened her eyes to a heavenly picture; King Laurence—before he was king--under a golden sunset, humming a happy song.