FOREVER KNIGHTS: #13 Salvaging Souls
That Which is Most Precious

Everything slowed for Elsabet as she watched in horror.

Two Sarabi lurched from the trees on opposite sides of her daughter.

She tugged at the line holding her frantically. Managing to snap her brown wings free from their restraints she flew up and down. Thunking to the drawbridge.

“Elsabet…” She heard a faint whisper in her mind.

“Now! Let it go!” She shrieked. Turning her head up to the skies to cry.

LandingTown, Igonox

Sebastian boarded the FireStar.

His crew was loading goods for the journey while he barked orders. Boots clicking across the deck.

He lifted a crate of potatoes to take below. But heard a shriek that shook him to his core. A deep penetrating wail emerging from within his mind. An echo of one far away.

Elsabet. His head whipped in the direction of WaterRose and the crate fell from his hands to shatter on the deck.

Without a word to anyone he cut across the meadow. Looking for the first cover of trees to shed his clothes and emerge as the huge gold dragon.

I need to travel faster. Wings slowly waving as he climbed into the air. Attempting to speed his flight, every flap took him higher.

It’s taking too long.

I need to get there.

Now! Let it go! He heard her shrieking the command. Terrified.

The line holding Elsabet snapped free and she was projected into the air. She flapped her wings and turned in a dive as the creatures descended on the tiny girl who froze staring at them in horror.

“Run, My Baby, Run!” Elsabet cried desperately.

But her daughter was locked where she stood. Paralyzed in terror.

The Sarabi tore through the little girl. One snapping teeth through her shoulder and wrenching upward. Tossing splinters of collarbone, flesh and blood in a shower over the tall grass. The other shredded both the little girl’s legs. She collapsed shrieking in pain and twisted toward her mouthers shouting voice.

“Mommy!” She reached out for help. But before Elsabet was even half across the meadow. The other Sarabi chomped on her raised hand and used it to jerk her off her feet. Turning a circle and brutally shaking her. The other one bit down again on what remained of her legs. Prepared to pull her apart. She was already limp.

Elsabet turned razored talons in the directions of the one gripping her arm. And severed the creatures head so it hung limply by only strands. Collapsing sideways. The other one she slammed talons as long as daggers into its underbelly. As it reared up to rake her with dangling arms, she jerked her talons upward. Eviscerating the animal in a pile of intestines.

Shrieking hysterically, Elsabet turned back to her daughter. Trying to lift torn pieces of flesh and put them back together. Frantically reaching over the girl from head to toe with trembling hands. Now absent talons.

The sun darkened above her, as the gold dragon came into view overhead. Glimpsing the splash of blood covering a huge bunch of the grass below he dropped into the meadow. Nearly deafened by the shrill screams of the tormented Valkyrie.

Sarabi charged from three different directions.

Sebastian shuffled to turn his back to them. Splaying his wings to cover his mate and daughter in a dark room.

The Sarabi bit into his back making him roar in pain. One after another. One reared and raked its knife-like claws down his shoulder. But he refused to budge. Still hearing the Valkyrie wailing from inside the strange shelter.

But WaterRose had come to life. An explosion of color. As dragon’s launched from the rivers covering the bailey. Veering to spread out in a long row of greens, reds, oranges and blues. They came down like thunder. Shaking the mountain as they landed. Biting into Sarabi and tearing trees apart as they bit into the animals. Shaking them viciously.

Bast felt his body changing. He was weak from the wounds covering his body. And he slumped onto Elsabet’s back. To weak to climb off her, he was grateful when he saw familiar brown breeches step into his peripheral.

“What do you need from us, Brother?”

Elsabet seemed oblivious to the heavy man weighing on her back as she hysterically wept. Her hands fluttering over frayed clothing and torn flaps of skin in shock.

“Take her inside. Get her food and drink.”

“She’ll have none of it.” Rhyers appeared next to them.

“Force her.” Bast said dispassionately. “Careful,” Bast gave him a quick look as he reached for her. “she doesn’t kill you.”

Rhyers whistled for others. Enough men gathered that they could get ahold of her arms.

“Come on, Sweetheart.” Rhyers said tenderly. “Let us tend you.”

“My baby!” She howled mournfully. As they began dragging her away as she stared at the body of her dead daughter.

Alazar was studying him carefully. “I can see your wounded Brother. Are you fully aware you’re tearing your mate from the body of her dead daughter?”

“Yes.” Bast breathed. “Her soul’s still in there.”

Alazar’s brow lowered. “You want to bind her in?”

“Yes.”

“You’re not strong enough.”

“I know.” Bast lifted his hanging head to give Alazareth a pleading look.

“Surround us.” Alazareth barked at the remaining knights, who obeyed. Standing guard over them as Alazar dropped to the ground on the other side of the little girl.

“I’m here.” Alazar said as he sat. Tipping his head, he began pouring energy into his twin. Feeding Bast’s power. Sebastian absorbed it. Waving his hands over the broken body of his dead daughter. Sealing her precious soul inside.

“What if it suffers in there?” Alazar said. Nodding to the torn corpse.

“It’s too innocent to suffer.” Bast murmured.

“What’s your intention for this?”

“The Fallen.”

“You think she can bring her back?” Alazar’s voice cracked in disbelief.

“Yes.” Bast nodded. “I have to.”

“But you do not intend to tell her mother?”

“I can’t give her false hope until then.”

“What if you’re giving yourself false hope?” Alazar asked gently.

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