Chapter 521: Lunis Lives
…Earlier… Siege of Hollow Shade…
Valley warriors rushed the western gate. There were no city guards or soldiers left manning the gatehouse. Only a single old woman stood in the warriors’ way. The Tempest Archmage flew high above the gate, pillars of water swirling around her in the rain.
Valley archers drew their bows and mages conjured bolts of magic, and fired up at her. The pillars of water formed layers of shields blocking every attack. Electricity crackled over Ismene’s and she called down lightning onto her foes. Yet for every dozen she smote, twice as many rushed to the gate, hoping to bypass her power or strike her down in a moment of weakness.
By order of his queen, General Alwin Loch had brought his own personal squadron of battlemages to deal with the archmage, but he had found a prey far more worthy of his ire. His mages and their centaurs surrounded Una Noir.
She hadn’t expected to ever come across him again. He should have been burned to ash back in their assault on Undergrowth. Yet here he stood, leading the assault on Hollow Shade.
Worry for her daughter Unalla trickled into her mind, but Una ignored it and focused on the enemies at hand. She needed to deal with them before helping Ismene.
The Tempest Archmage was powerful, but she was alone. She couldn’t hold off the horde of enemies forever. Una needed to somehow reach her and get her to retreat before it was too late.
Lightning crackled across Loch’s blade, drawing her attention back. He glanced at his men. “Kill her.”
Without hesitation, Una reacted first. She channeled Orange and threw her hands out to her side. Azure fire burst from her palms and in jets of flames. The Undergrowth mages were ready. Red wards sprang to life in front of them and formed wide shields. The flames crashed into the wards with roaring force, but the shields held and dispersed the flames to their sides.