8

The deep voices of soldiers yelled to one another as they hurried towards Calliope. The rising moonlight flashed on their blades as they advanced. Calliope thrust her arms down; the earth trembled beneath her before exploding around her. The impact knocked the army off their feet and sent shattered remains of the earth flying through the air. Two hands grabbed her from behind in an attempt to restrain her. She sent a strong volt of energy through her body, shocking the pair of hands. They released their grip. She wasted no time as the soldiers fell around her. She ran through the city and towards the distant forest, but more soldiers blocked her path.

Calliope sent another wave forward, knocking the soldiers to the ground. She ran past them and let one last spell loose in her wake, destroying homes and shops and killing those in its way. She ran out of the city only to be followed by the thunder of hooves. She threw her arms down as she ran and the ground shot up towards the sky, blocking the soldiers and their horses from their pursuit.

She ran through the kingdom, escaping the army's chase, and towards the forest. She continued to run, long after she lost sight of the soldiers and didn't stop until she was deep within the forest. The army chased her towards the woods, losing her trail deep within the forest. They split up, searching their surroundings for any clue as to where the witch went, but she was nowhere to be found.

"Let's head back to Alryn," the captain ordered, giving up the hopeless chase. He waved a strong hand in the air, signaling his men to return to the capital. They pushed their horses through the trees, dodging branches and jumping over rotted logs, until they reached the forest's edge. They covered the open land on the outskirts of the kingdom quickly until they returned to the castle. King Sloan waited for them outside of his castle. The soldiers hung their heads in dismay as their captain explained that they lost her in the forest.

"What do you mean you lost her?" the king shouted at them. He clenched his fists furiously. The hairs in his mustache fluttered as he huffed in anger.

"She's too strong for us and too fast for the horses," the captain explained to his king. He sat tall on his horse, his expression stern.

"Scarletta cannot get her back. I want her found before she does more damage to the kingdom."

"Yes, sir," he said, ready to accept his mission.

"Go! Now!"

Soldiers mounted their horses in obedience and joined the rest of the search party. They galloped through the city's quiet streets and into the kingdom, towards the forest. The king turned to a young man standing at his side. His posture straightened as his king spoke to him.

"Warn the kingdom. Make sure everyone is aware that the witch is loose and very dangerous. Send more soldiers to guard the cities. I want men at each post and I want another group of soldiers to go out at daybreak to hunt her down. We'll take any and all volunteers. We will not rest until Scarletta and her witches are destroyed."

The man nodded and left the king standing alone. He stared over his crumbling city and into the distant forest before stepping away from his castle. He wandered the city and inspected the damages, reassuring his lost citizens that this war would end soon enough. When he returned to his castle, he found his queen overlooking the kingdom and joined her at her side.

"What will we do?" she asked quietly. She kept her trembling fingers interlaced with one another. She did not avert her gaze from the kingdom.

"We will end this war once and for all," King Sloan answered her softly. Melinda turned to her king, her expression stern, her eyes hurt and angry.

"How many more soldiers will you send to their deaths before you realize it's already lost?"

"Don't speak such words, Melinda. Have you no faith in my leadership?"

She averted her gaze for a brief moment. When her eyes met his once more, they softened. She kissed her husband's cheek. "Of course I do. But Scarletta's only getting stronger with each passing day. Perhaps we could ask for the aid of Asmar?"

"No, I will not involve Asmar. They have done enough for us. They have lost enough of their own citizens. Their king. And at what cost? We will finish Scarletta. We will not drag them into this again."

"They are our friends."

"They deserve peace and to be left to their own business."

Melinda felt helpless. She held her gaze on her husband for a moment. "Of course."

"It may be time for Lucas to join in this fight.

"I will not see my only son in this war. He is not ready."

"He is ready, Melinda. He's had training. He is a man, now. He needs to fight."

"He hasn't been trained for war. He doesn't know what to expect. I don't want him in a hopeless fight."

"You think we have no hope?"

Melinda grew quiet, her eyes wet. Her heart ached as her husband took her hand in his.

"There is always hope," he said to her quietly. "Don't lose faith in me."

Melinda shook her head. "I fear for our kingdom. I fear for our children. I fear for you. I don't want this kingdom to end up like Asmar. I don't want that responsibility to fall on Lucas or our girls."

King Sloan kissed his wife's forehead. "I will not let that happen." He smiled at her as if to reassure her. "I know this takes a toll on you. I will get us through this."

Melinda returned his smile as best as she could. It had been a long time at war with Scarletta. She tried not to lose hope, but a part of her was prepared for the coming end. She was ready to take her children with her and escape, at any cost.