◇ Empire's Most Wanted ◇ Prologue Part 3

Instructions

tw for mentions of death, gvns, choking/suffocating, blood and sharp weapons I lose sight of the fight above us as Roygorn pushes me into a small cave. “Stay there” Roygorn says. “I’ll come and get you when it’s safe” “I can help fight” I whisper determinedly. Roygorn smiles at me gently “you haven’t even started school yet. I don’t want you getting hurt Lith.” I stare at him, eyes begging “promise you’ll come back?” “Only if you promise to stay hidden” I nod and reluctantly let go of his arm. Roygorn pats me on the head before stepping back and spreading his majestic wings. He bends his knees and launches into the air. Suddenly a hooked chain hurtles through the air and snares around his outstretched wing. I stifle a cry as he tumbles back to the ground, curling his wings around himself to protect himself before he hit the rocks. I step forward to go help him but a looming pale figure steps into my view. I jerk back and my heartbeat skyrockets, adrenaline shooting through my body. The Ionnsaigh warrior retracks the grappling hook just after Roygorn untangles himself. The pair stare darkly at each other as if mentally willing the other to die. I resist the urge to go help. Roygorn can take on anyone. The Ionnsaigh pulls out a grey gun and fires a blue bolt of electricity at him. Roygorn attempts to swat it away with a flick of his wrist, but has to resort to ducking out of the way. Electricity can't be manipulated by wind. However he could fling up some debris and medium sized rocks. But the Ionnsaigh doesn’t even try to dodge, instead letting it hit him in the chest. The rocks shatter on impact, barely causing a scratch against the plated armour. The Ionnsaigh smirks before whipping out a large, intricately carved gun. I gasp quietly in shock. I’ve seen older years train with less fatal versions of this weapon, but I have never seen someone threatened with a real one. The bullets are condensed luxomite, the heaviest metal on Aria and apparently Zephoria too. It is too small and dense for any wind or air barrier to stop. Roygorn throws himself to the side just in time to avoid the deadly bullet. It shoots right through the pale rock behind him leaving a small, clean hole in it all the way to the other side. Roygorn twists his hands violently and the invader stumbles back a step as if pushed by some unseen force, which technically he has been. This gives Roygorn time to jump back to his feet and thrust his right hand forward, fingers curling ever so slightly. I know what he’s doing before the victim even starts making choking sounds. Roygorn’s face becomes overcome with concentration as he forces the air around the Ionnsaighian’s head to be completely still, rendering breathing useless. I once asked him why it’s so hard to do. He said that it’s like trying to contain twenty angry birds in a one metre space with only two hands. Eye’s bulging and lips turning purple, the Ionnsaigh scrambles for any of the weapons on his belt. His fingers fumble with the instruments but only manages to drop them in the dirt. A sickening feeling drowns me as I watch them. Nobody deserves to die like that, even someone invading my home. I turn away and try to distract myself by tracing the rock crevasses with my eyes. Then I see it. Another Ionnsaigh creeping over the side of a boulder like a spider. 'Roy, behind you!' I scream in my mind. I glance back and forth between the stalker and my friend, whose face is now beading with sweat. The second Ionnsaigh reaches to his belt and pulls out a glowing blue dagger. 'Look behind you Roygorn, look behind you!' I start to panic. If I don’t do anything then he’ll die, but he told me to stay hidden. Holding my shaking hands in front of me, I try willing my powers to reveal themselves. If only I was one year older, then I would have started school and learned how to use my powers. My lips tremble as I whisper “Roy, behind you.” I know it’s too quiet for anyone to hear, but maybe the wind will carry my voice to him, allowing my faltering voice to be heard. The Ionnsaigh loads the springs in his legs, preparing to jump on top of the unsuspecting Sgail. I can’t hold it in anymore, “ROYGORN BEHIND YOU!!” I jump out of the cave and sprint as fast as my little legs will carry me. Roygorn breaks his concentration and spins around just as the second Ionnsaigh leaps from the rock above him. I scream as the knife slices across his left wing. Roygorn roars, elbowing the Ionnsaigh in the face with a backward thrust. The Ionnsaigh stumbles back into a rock, spitting blood from his mouth. “Lith, get back!” he shouts without turning around. I skid to a halt about a metre behind him. Realising the danger I have put myself in, I scramble back. Except that a pair of rugged grey trousers block the entrance. I look up and see a pale Ionnsaigh grinning down at me.