Dorian Wraith's Arc

Chapter 25 of 27

Ambrose had one hand on the low door when the light hit him. A beam of rainbow color punched through the hall and struck the king square in the back. He grunted and pitched forward. His grip on Dorian's collar slipped. Dorian dropped to the floor and rolled onto his side. He turned his head toward the doorway. Evander stood there with the rainbow blade raised, his chest heaving. Behind him the yard was bright and empty. "Get away from him," Evander said. He walked in fast, blade low. "This ends now. Today. Here." Ambrose pushed off the wall and drew his own sword. It was plain steel, long and gray. Elara backed toward the high seat with the black knife pressed to her chest. Evander did not look at her. He swung the rainbow blade at the row of bare chested stone men along the wall. Colored light cut through the first statue at the waist. It fell into the second. The second fell into the third. Ambrose ducked under the falling stone and came up swinging. The two swords met and rang. Ambrose was heavier and drove Evander back three steps. Evander held. He turned the king's blade aside and cut across his father's shoulder plate. Sparks flew. Ambrose swung for the neck. Evander dropped low and the blade passed over his hair. He came up inside the king's guard and drove his shoulder into Ambrose's chest. The king staggered. Dorian tried to push himself up on his cut hand. His arm shook. He watched from the floor. Ambrose came again. He hammered down on Evander's guard once, twice, three times. Evander's arms shook under it. On the fourth strike Evander stepped aside instead of blocking. The king's sword hit stone. Evander brought the rainbow blade up under his father's arm and through the gap in the plate. Ambrose stopped. He looked down at the light coming out of his side. He tried to lift his sword. His fingers opened. The blade clanged on the floor. He went down on one knee and then onto his face. Elara made a small sound and ran through a side door. Evander did not chase her. He crossed the room and dropped to his knees beside Dorian. He put the blade down. "Show me your hand," he said. Dorian lifted it. The cut was thin and cold. Evander pressed his palm over it. "You're alright. You're alright." Dorian tried his fire again. A weak flame lit at his fingertip and died. Some of it was still gone. Most of it was still his. He closed his hand around Evander's. "He's dead," he said. Evander nodded once. "He's dead. Let's go find your mother."