War of the Wisps

It was all Anna could do to keep up with Andrew as he pressed forward into the night. The moon, more than half full, gave plenty of light to see by, but the dwarf was almost certain her companion would trip as he followed Charles into the high grass of the valley. It rose past his knees. Some of the longer strands were up to Anna’s shoulders. She made sure to stay in the hunter’s wake.

“How can you tell where he’s going?” Anna asked.

“He’s going in a straight line,” Andrew replied. “Directly to Belmont.”

“But…. How can you tell?” Anna repeated. Andrew didn’t answer. At least, not right away. She was considering asking the question again, when he finally spoke.

“I’m guessing.”

“Guessing?”

“This is the direction Maggie pointed in,” Andrew said. “If we go straight, we’ll run right up against Belmont Castle.”

“But why go back to the castle?” Anna asked. “That’s like turning himself in, isn’t it?”

“His uncle is there,” Andrew said. “And who knows what he’ll do to Maddie when he sees him.”

Anna considered that. The Knight wasn’t taken by the Wisps in any way she’d heard about before. He seemed to have them as much as they had him. Most Wisp taken were mindless, babbling about things that no one could understand. The Wisps had amplified Charles’ own rage and fear and frustration. Amplified it all to the point of insanity. What would he do with the little girl? Anything seemed on the table. Anna pressed harder through the tall grass.

Wind in the Iron valley was almost never very strong. Before it could pick up strength coming down from the peaks, it had hit more mountains and was forced up again. But a breeze blew through the grass, creating a murmur. The wind that created the breeze howled deep in the sky overhead as it passed over the valley.

“So what is it you do with the Wisps?” Andrew asked. His voice seemed to snap into the silence, and even knowing it wasn’t directed at her, the anger in it stung.

“It’s a little… difficult to explain,” Anna said. “But… did you listen to my story about the cave in.”

“Yes.”

“Well, that blue wisp… The calming one…”

“It followed you, didn’t it?”

“That obvious?” Anna asked.

“Not till you mentioned the story,” Andrew said. “So, is it in your head like the others are in Ironhill’s?”

“I don’t think so,” Anna said. “He’s not always influencing me. Only when I ask him to, or if I get really worried by something.”

“He?”

“It feel’s like a he,” Anna said. “And he needs help. I’m not sure with what. That’s why I started the journey in the first place.”

Andrew nodded. “And I’m guessing its influence balances out the other wisps, since it’s a calm wisp.”

Anna nodded before realizing that Andrew, facing ahead, couldn’t see the gesture. “Something like that. Like he forms a shield around me.”

“And you’re sure it’s safe?”

“Not really. I’m sure he doesn’t mean harm, though.”

Andrew stopped. He glanced back at Anna. She could see the gleam of moonlight reflected off his eyes, but there was too much shadow for her to make out his expression. Then he nodded. “Alright.” He turned back around and kept moving. “So long as Peter doesn’t do anything crazy.”

Anna blinked at Andrew’s back. It took her a second to start following him again. It took another for her to pick up on his last words. “Peter…” she muttered. “Why’d he run away like that?” she asked.

“He’s getting help,” Andrew said. “He may get to Ironhill before us. I wish he would have taken a moment to think first, though.”

Anna almost pointed out that Andrew hadn’t waited to think any more than Peter had before deciding this wasn’t the time to point that out. Instead, she thought about the first part of Andrew’s statement. “Just what sort of help is he—” all thoughts of the boy were driven from her mind at the flashes of red and yellow light rising over the bluff in the grassy plain ahead of them. “There!” she said trying, and failing, to whisper.

Andrew nodded, dropping to a crouch. The lights disappeared almost as soon as she’d seen them, but Anna was sure she’d seen a darker figure moving in the midst of the lights. The moment they were out of sight, Andrew took off running through the grass. Anna went after him, though she was only half as fast. The hunter dropped into the grass as he reached the top of the hill.

When she made it, Anna could no longer see Andrew. Ahead of her, though, Charles Ironwood stumbled along through the grass. The wisps seemed to burst out of his armor sporadically, lighting up his surroundings, now red, now yellow, now orange, like a flickering candle. By the lights, she could make out the white dress of the girl he carried slung over his shoulder. He staggard in a zig zagging pattern, but all the while he made progress south, following the same straight line they’d been on.

Panic at the thought of the confrontation welled up inside her. And she knew it was her own panic. She was too far to feel the influence of the wisps. She clamped her hand down on the opal in her bracelet, and her blue wisp began pouring out his support. Of course, it also came with his ever present need for help.

“Let me think,” she begged him. “I’m trying to help.” The wisp grew steadier, focusing on keeping her calm. She finally noticed Andrew creeping through the grass, bent low so only his head was over the stalks. Anna smiled. Maybe she could keep up if he was going to crouch down to her level like that.

She moved as fast as she could, catching up with Andrew. He heard her coming, gestured for her to stop, putting a hand to his mouth for silence. She slowed a little, but still closed the gap between them. “If he’s still muttering, he won’t hear us walking normally,” Anna said. She held out her hand. “Touch my bracelet.”

Andrew scowled. He opened his mouth to reply, but Anna didn’t let him. She grabbed his hand and pressed it to her wrist. She saw the influence fall over him. A brief, involuntary relaxation of every muscle in his face. Then they tightened again as his own will reasserted itself. He didn’t take his hand away. “I don’t like this,” he said.

“Which is how you know it won’t possess you,” Anna said.

“I guess.” Andrew turned to look at the knight, stumbling away. “So, do you have a plan?”

“Help you keep your head so you can think of something?” Anna suggested. “I’ve never done anything like this before, you know.”

“Right…” Andrew muttered. “Well, how does your wisp thing work. It’s in your bracelet?”

“The opal in my bracelet, yes,” Anna replied. “His influence is stronger when he leaves it, but you can still feel it when you touch it, or if you’re really close.”

“So Charles would have something similar,” Andrew said. He rose a little and began moving again, holding Anna’s hand to keep his own in contact with her bracelet.

“Probably. Wisps are made of magic, so they can go inside gemstones, the same way mages use gems for spells.” Anna paused. “I think anyway. It’s all sort of theoretical.”

“Well, looks like we’ve got two practical examples,” Andrew said. “I bet he has a pendant or something under his armor. Or five. How many wisps can fit in one gemstone?”

“No idea,” Anna said.

“Great. Guess getting the wisps away from him is out.”

“Do you think you could do that anyway?” Anna asked.

“Probably not. Are the wisps what’s actually making him stronger?”

“Maybe,” Anna said. “When normal people are taken by wisps, people describe all sorts of odd things. Weird noises, storms. Supernatural strength wouldn’t be surprising.” She paused, forcing Andrew to stop. “Are you thinking of fighting him?” Anna asked.

“I might have to,” Andrew said. “I don’t know how else I can get my sister away from him.” Anna heard him suck in a breath. “I can’t shoot at him because I might hit Maddie. Maybe I could tackle him, but he may fall on her. If he see’s us coming… I just can’t think of anything.”

“Maybe we could try a hostage exchange,” Anna said.

“What do you mean?” Andrew asked.

“You call out to him, and offer me in place of your sister,” Anna said.

Andrew blinked at her. “You would… how would that even…”

“You could tell him that Richard is more interested in me than some village girl. That might get his attention. I’ll stay conscious under the wisps’ influence at least, and I might be able to get away and hide in the grasses while you get your sister out of here.”

“What if he tries doing something to you or Maddie during the exchange?” Andrew asked.

“I can deal with that,” Anna said. “And I’m not sure we have any other way to get your sister out of that maniac’s hands. Andrew was silent for several moments. The two of them stood, waiting, watching the mad knight stumble farther away through the grass.

Andrew shook his head. “It’s our best bet, isn’t it,” he said, rising to his feet.

“Okay,” Anna said. “It might be best if you alert him by name. Even with the wisps, he’s more likely to hear you out that way.”

“Alright. You ready?”

“I’m ready,” Anna said.

Andrew took a breath in to shout. Then a dragon’s roar echoed from the mountains behind them. Andrew’s and Anna turned to look in that direction, though it was too far away and much too dark to see the great creature rising into the sky this late at night. When they turned back though, they saw that Charles had looked around to see it as well.

And now the knight was looking straight at them.

“YOU!” he bellowed. “Here to spy on me for Richard? I won’t tolerate this!” The knight let Maddie fall off his shoulders, then drew his sword.

“Get Maddie and run!” Andrew told Anna. “Don’t stop till you get back to the village, no matter what happens!” he dropped Anna’s hand, then sprinted off to the right. Charles Ironhill charged after him.

“Andrew!” Anna called, taking a few steps after him. He was already too far for her to think about catching up. Of course, she’d called attention to herself as well. The Knight paused, turning to see her.

“Another spy?” He asked. “How many of you are there!” Ironhill’s voice rose until it was a scream. All five wisps were spiraling around his head now, like an infernal halo, and he started running toward Anna.

“No!” Andrew yelled. “Come at me!”

The Knight ignored him.

Anna dove into the grass, hoping to disappear. Moments later, she felt the sword pass by overhead, and the blades of grass fall across her back. “Where’d you go!” came Ironhill’s voice. Anna glanced over her shoulder to see him swinging wildly in the spot she’d been standing. He was still close, pacing and swinging in wild arcs. He’d barely missed her on one of those, and she dared not move again, in case she gave herself away.

Andrew ran headlong at the Ironhill, ramming his shoulder into the Knights back. The larger man stumbled. Andrew fell back. She saw his face contorting as the wisps’ began pressing into his mind.

“Spies, spies, spies!” Charles yelled. “My uncle has no heir! This land should be mine by right! Why does my uncle hate me so much? Why do all of you? TELL ME!”

The knight’s bellow echoed across the field. Then, as if in answer, a dragon’s roar split the night air. Anna felt her bones rattle in the noise, suddenly aware of the shadow falling on them from above. She looked up and saw the beast descending. But it held back, till it landed. The ground quaked as the iron scaled wyvern touched down, wind whirling around the creature as it bent it’s head toward them.

It hissed at Ironhill, lips curled back to reveal fangs, and throat glowing with the threat of fire. Then Anna heard a familiar voice call out from the dragon, even through the ringing in her ears.

“You will not touch them! Leave my family, and my friends, ALONE!”

The dragon made a coughing noise, as if to punctuate the command.

Only then did Anna see the head of spikey black hair on the dragon’s back. “Peter?” she mouthed.

“Andrew!” Anna called, taking a few steps after him. He was already too far for her to think about catching up. Of course, she’d called attention to herself as well. The Knight paused, turning to see her.

“Another spy?” He asked. “How many of you are there!” Ironhill’s voice rose until it was a scream. All five wisps were spiraling around his head now, like an infernal halo, and he started running toward Anna.

“No!” Andrew yelled. “Come at me!”

The Knight ignored him.

Anna dove into the grass, hoping to disappear. Moments later, she felt the sword pass by overhead, and the blades of grass fall across her back. “Where’d you go!” came Ironhill’s voice. Anna glanced over her shoulder to see him swinging wildly in the spot she’d been standing. He was still close, pacing and swinging in wild arcs. He’d barely missed her on one of those, and she dared not move again, in case she gave herself away.

Andrew ran headlong at the Ironhill, ramming his shoulder into the Knights back. The larger man stumbled. Andrew fell back. She saw his face contorting as the wisps’ began pressing into his mind.

“Spies, spies, spies!” Charles yelled. “My uncle has no heir! This land should be mine by right! Why does my uncle hate me so much? Why do all of you? TELL ME!”

The knight’s bellow echoed across the field. Then, as if in answer, a dragon’s roar split the night air. Anna felt her bones rattle in the noise, suddenly aware of the shadow falling on them from above. She looked up and saw the beast descending. But it held back, till it landed. The ground quaked as the iron scaled wyvern touched down, wind whirling around the creature as it bent it’s head toward them.

It hissed at Ironhill, lips curled back to reveal fangs, and throat glowing with the threat of fire. Then Anna heard a familiar voice call out from the dragon, even through the ringing in her ears.

“You will not touch them! Leave my family, and my friends, ALONE!”

The dragon made a coughing noise, as if to punctuate the command.

Only then did Anna see the head of spikey black hair on the dragon’s back. “Peter?” she mouthed.