Chapter 59: To Save the Humans

Garnet POV

The humans' cries of pain made her itch to spring into action. The stench of blood and dark magic was almost more than she could stand.

"What would Dane and Lilia want us to do?" Garnet asked.

"And Ravyn and Jude as well," Jiro added, his eyes full of worry and compassion for the human soldiers and mages. "Throw in Daxius, just for good measure."

Duffy rubbed his chin. "I think I know, but I'm not royal, or in charge."

Bram's eyes softened, because he knew his father's character. "I'm afraid I know."

"I do know, and I am royal," Anneliese butted in.

Brown eyes gleaming, Patch nodded. "Those kings and queens, and Daxius, would want us to do something to stop this slaughter, no matter the cost."

Lindrat, Lady of the Skies, shot a jet of fire into the air in agreement while Cornelius whinnied his support.

"But what about the rescue?" Morgana questioned, and Bram agreed.

Patch narrowed his eyes, staring at the combat-filled landscape. "This bloodbath is going to spill over into that tower. Speaking as the intelligence chief, I say that Duffy, Bram, Morgana, Anneliese, and I should head for the tower and take advantage of the distraction Jiro and Garnet are going to create by jumping into the fray."

Jiro's mouth turned up in a small smile. "Who's the commander of this mission?"

"Garnet," Patch shot back. "I'm just making recommendations."

"And I agree," Morgana said in a spirited voice. "Anneliese and I can use our powers to cloak us all and get past the battle."

Jiro winked at Duffy. "Think you can scout a path to the tower?"

Duffy snorted. "Now, just what kind of question is that? Who's lower to the ground than even you wolves?"

"I was hoping you'd ride on my head," Patch commented.

Duffy's brows shot up. "Maybe if it gets too messy out there."

"Fair enough," Patch said.

Garnet smiled slightly despite the grim scene unfolding in front of them. "Then we have a plan. Let's do this!"

Jiro straightened up, aware of everyone's eyes on him. "Alright. Give Garnet and I five minutes to draw their attention, then go for the tower. And for Goddess' sake, don't stop until you get inside, whatever you do. Not even if you see us struggling. Promise us now."

"We promise," the five in the party all chorused.

Jiro clasped Bram's and Patch's hands. "Be safe. We'll meet you in the tower once we've straightened this out. Otherwise, we'll all meet where we first teleported in."

Patch winked. "Understood."

Anneliese hugged Jiro and Garnet. "You better come back alive."

Morgana kissed Garnet and Jiro gently. "Be safe," she said to her descendants.

"Just one thing," Anneliese said. "Take Lindrat and Cornelius with you. They're fierce."

In answer, Lindrat snorted smoke and Cornelius pawed the ground with his hoof.

Garnet smiled and whistled to Lindrat, who glided over to her as Garnet shifted into wolf form. Lindrat perched on her neck. Meanwhile, Jiro shifted, and Cornelius nuzzled him as if to say, "Let's go."

Garnet leapt on the nearest super-rogue and fought with him. It had been a while since she'd engaged in real combat, and her heart sped up. Her blood pumped, and she felt aware of everything, each bite and every scrape of claws across fur. Garnet killed the rogue, a Crimsontail she'd met once or twice.

No mercy. These rogues had endangered the packs and broken one of the shifters' most sacred laws, maybe the most important one: no harming humans and risking exposure.

Beside her, Jiro was fighting two of the rogues, drawing them away from their rescue team and one of the wounded soldiers. Her mate, sleek and graceful in battle, was a sight to behold as he brought down his two opponents. Cornelius did damage with his horn.

The fighting continued without letup. Evenhiders and Crimsontails alike fell before Jiro and Garnet, and their helpers.

But in the fog of battle, one of the humans hit Garnet with a sword. She howled in pain, turning and fleeing out of range of the blade. Her ears picked up the sound of boots as the soldier pursued her. She plowed into several rogues and engaged in a battle royale. It was safer than becoming a target for the soldiers, who couldn't tell friend from foe!

Minor pain flooded through the link. Jiro was taking punishment, but he seemed to escape any serious damage. "How many are left?" she asked through the mind-link.

"A little busy," came his gruff reply. "Hard to get an accurate count."

Just then, she felt Ravyn.

She wasn't sure how, but she felt Ravyn's energy, and Jude's. Dane's and Lilia's, too. It seemed very close. It energized her and gave her the strength to fight.

"When I'm done, there will be three fewer rogues for your tally," she told Jiro.

Through the link, his warmth flooded her. "Save some for me, my love."

And just as she crawled out from under the furry bodies of the traitors, an invisible force seized her, lifted her, and dragged her and Lindrat through the air!

She was too shocked to howl. Jiro's plaintive howl was full of shock as the levitation spell swept him up in its net and pulled him backward along with Cornelius.

As the battlefield spun dizzily, she saw Duffy reach the tower along with the others. Thank the Goddess! She only hoped it was the royal mages and not Melisande casting this spell.

* * * * *

Jiro POV

He thought he might get motion sickness from being towed so rapidly through the air, over the blood-spattered battlefield that looked like a gruesome painting.

This magic didn't feel the same as the dark magic they'd all smelled and sensed. Maybe the royal mages were showing their gratitude?

He didn't have much time and space to speculate, because he and Cornelius glided down to the ground with Garnet and Lindrat alongside them. His paws and belly touched the ground slick with blood, and for a few moments, he lay, catching his breath, staring at the polished steel and dark brown boots in front of him.

Garnet moaned softly. He grunted in sympathy.

Lance-Captain D'Azur was the voice of authority and not to be crossed as he spoke to Lieutenant Castro.

"The stories about magical wolves are just that. Stories. Tales to frighten children."

"Respectfully, sir, I'm telling you, those wolves are not normal wolves," the lieutenant argued. "May I also respectfully suggest we let one of our mages settle it?"

Mage Pascalline's hand stroked his fur. "He's hurt–" A shocked gasp. "His wound just healed before my eyes! This she-wolf took several hits in battle, yet not a scratch on her, while all the others are dead!"

Jiro could feel the power humming through Mage Pascalline. Although young, she appeared to be immensely gifted, which could spell trouble for them. No pun intended.

"What sorcery is this?" Lance-Captain D'Azur yelled.

"Do we reveal ourselves?" Jiro thought through the mind-link to Garnet.

She sounded calmer than he'd expected given the dire predicament, but that was his mate. "Anneliese thought the mage suspected something. She's sharp."

"And powerful."

Garnet's voice was confident. "Off the scale. If she isn't the king's lead mage, I'll be shocked."

"Then maybe she knows or suspects about shifters, just as all enchanters do?"

Garnet sounded thoughtful. "Possible, but her companions clearly don't. The lieutenant might believe in such 'children's tales.'"

"Well, we can't just sit here like beasts to be caged and worse. We're the Alpha and Luna of the Crimsontail Shadows, and we're going to act like it."

Garnet smiled. "Agreed. And whatever the consequences from the Shifter Federation, we'll face them together."

"And face our family."

"That, too. Although I doubt any of them would choose differently in our situation."

Jiro grunted, knowing she was right. "On three. One. Two. Three."

They shifted, transforming back to their human forms before the shocked human soldiers and the human mages.

Mage Pascalline stared at them, her eyes full of wonder and anxiety. Lance-Captain D'Azur hefted his lance in front of him, ready to protect his people. Jiro had to respect that. Lieutenant Cristo muttered a prayer and a low, "Please, don't eat us."

"I prefer noodles with beef sauce."

Of all the remarks he could make, that one had him wincing, but he felt Garnet's gentle love and amusement through the bond.

Lance-Captain D'Azur surged forward and pressed the point of his lance against Jiro's bare chest. Jiro could smell the dried beef the man had eaten recently, as well as the blood he'd shed. "You think you're funny, do you?"

"That was funny, sir," one of the other surviving soldiers said.

"No one asked your opinion, soldier," snapped the commander, his attention on Jiro. "So, you and your kind tried to attack us with dark magic!"

"Please, sir." Jiro summoned up all his calm. "We're not your enemy. We tried to help you. There's a greater threat than you know. You sensed it. That dark magic brought you here."

The captain's eyes narrowed. "Why should I believe you, when you lied about being a duke?"

Jiro held up his hands in surrender. "You're right. I'm not a duke. I'm a king, and this woman here is my queen."

Lance-Captain D'Azur pressed the point of his lance against Jiro's bare chest. The lance, Jiro was relieved to note, didn't appear to have silver in it. "Is that a fact?"

The contempt in his eyes might have made anyone else shrivel up, but Garnet's eyes flashed. "My mate speaks the truth. And we don't have time for this. Your kingdom, and the other kingdoms, are in grave danger coming from that tower!"

"And if you lead us into that tower, what then?" Lieutenant Cristo now looked doubtful.

Mage Pascalline stepped in-between them and pushed the lance aside. "Please. Listen to them. They came to our aid."

"You must believe us," Jiro said, kneeling and exposing his throat, naked and vulnerable. "Please. Perhaps if we speak to King Odo and Queen Giselberthe …"

And before he knew it, a blinding ray of light from the side hit all of them, including Lindrat and Cornelius. Jiro's vision grew fuzzy and he heard Garnet scream.

Then, everything went black.