Bars again. Why must every big race in the world insist on keeping pixie pets? And they wonder why we are so reclusive. Indeed, Karwyn would have never left the pixie city, had it not been for orders to move the stone to safer territory. The pixies were more wise to the stone than others, and knew better than to use it, even in such dire times.
Sir Jon was coming to his senses. "Where?" He looked to his body, "By the Gods! How can you do such as this?"
"With too much pixie dust," Karwyn replied; her store was half full, but she had better plans than escaping.
"Why? I am a Paladin of Sanado, among the finest. I can fight five men at a time."
"There were ten of them, my lord." The knight turned pixie was silenced. "My lord, I have entered you into my gamble. . ." she trailed off as her captor entered the tent.
"I said I would have you as a pet, little one. Now, I unexpectedly have your sister, as well. Perhaps I can have a whole village of you in time, considering the turmoil your people are in.
Karwyn's blood sang with rage, but she held her tongue. The knight picked up the pixie cage and walked from the tent. The two pixies were shocked by the sight outside. The camp was burning down and the scores of warriors fought each other and not the departing troupe in service to Zophina.
The knight got upon his horse and rode out of the tent city, Stone of Genia in one saddle pocket, and pixie cage behind him. Karwyn knelt next to her temporary sister, who muttered,
"How could he? How could my brother . . ." he trailed off.
"Worry not, good knight. We ride to Zophina herself, and I with half a bag of magic dust. When the time is right, she will face a great paladin and a Guardian of Celeste."
Jon looked at the pixie, "but she will have the stone!"
Karwyn smiled, "The very reason why I was captured to begin with was because I placed a trap upon the stone." She tossed a pinch of pink dust into the wind. "A trap which is now set."
This is wrong, Saraya thought, we sit upon the eve of battle and my father hosts a banquet. She knew that the festival would help people's spirits, as was intended. But it felt wrong that Sir Jon was preparing battle, while she was having her hair braided.
She placed her had over her belly. Thus far she was not showing, and only Jon and she knew the secret. Though, the princess had a good feeling her handmaiden Brande had guessed.
A light caught her eye. Tense from anxiety, the princess had to know what was happening. She got up to the protest of Brande and made to the window. Another plume of smoke rose into the air, this one much closer. The camp filled with Sanado's finest warriors was burning. The Dark Queen Zophina grew far bolder than any had thought.
Her mind quickly made up, Saraya turned and walked to her wardrobe and threw it open. She pulled down her leggings, tunic, and cloak. She equipped herself with dagger, sword, and bow. Brande knew better than to argue as Saraya turned to the door.
"I shall tell your father of your choice, my lady." She called.
"Do. But first, go to Ranger command and tell them." The princess said, not looking back, "Tell them to get every one of ours into the forest and in position to strike. We may not be able to stop Zophina alone, but we can slow down her march."
The ranger slipped into hidden passageways throughout the palace and made her way out of the castle and city. Once out, she broke into a jog and headed for the forest. There, she vanished into the shadows.
"Have you completed the potion, Dunaria?" Mikalon said, walking into the old hag's tent. The shaman held out a large flask of blue liquid.
"It shall do the trick well, chieftain. One drop in the blood and no enchantments can touch you." Mikalon had seen the horrors of Zophina first hand. The witch would not conquer his people so easily again.
"If I may my lord, even with this, we have not the arms to win this battle. Once the Queen realizes her magic works no more, she will simply unleash her army upon us."
"That is why we shall pretend it has worked, Dunaria." Mikalon turned, "Make sure you send a flask to the elves. I do not wish their forces join her army."
