“Very well!” Hoxley said, stomping the end of her spear once more. We’ll hold them off as long as we can. They can’t overrun us as long as we hold this position. Anyone who tries to climb up gets the blade or fire.” Everyone nodded they understood. “Siouxsie?” she asked. “Start casting now and target as many of them as you can. We need to stop or scare off as many as we can before they’re on top of us. Perhaps if we can separate them from their bravery, they’ll do the right thing and run away.”

  “Alright!” the witch smiled wide as she popped her knuckles. “One big batch of bolts it is!”

  “Robert? We’ll need as much fire as you can conjure.”

  “Finally.” said the witch, with grim satisfaction.

  “Ignatius? You know fire magic?”

  “And wind.” He smiled. “Perhaps I can create a barrier strong enough to keep them from advancing.”

  “That would be amazing.” She said before looking back to the others. “You have your orders, we fight to the last!”

  “To the last!” everyone cheered. The companions spread out, dropping any extra gear encumbering them. Saddlebags, packs, Ignatius dropped his cloak. Siouxsie turned to face the slope facing west and held her arms to the air in a “V”.

  Hoxley felt a chill as the clouds above began to gather above them. Ignatius stepped past the others to face the way they’d come up the mountain and took the same stance. The air around them became as calm as an undisturbed pond, but the atmosphere around the crest of the mountain began to fume. Ferocious gusts concentrated to spin like a whirlwind around them. The winds stirred the snow and ice like a tempest. Lastly, Robert held his hands out in front of him with the palms facing one another. The magic within responded by sparking a flame between his fingers. A roiling ball of angry unnatural white fire twisted and coiled upon itself fighting to be free. As the soldiers spotted them, they drew their arms began a charge at the companions.

  “Here they come.” Said Morell.

  “Now is not the time for fear.” Hoxley whispered to him with a hand on his shoulder. “Now is the time to fight. Do not hesitate. These men mean to capture the prince. I do not think they will be as lenient to you and I. Bohga gave you that mace to defend those in a time of need and now is that time. Do it for the prince, do it for yourself.”

  “For Siouxsie?” Morell asked.

  “For Siouxsie.” She said A terrible war cry split the mountain air. As the men appeared over the nearest rise, Siouxsie held her right hand out, her fingers making the sign of the pitchfork. The metal in their swords, shields and armor made them appear as clearly in her sight.

  There you are. She thought to herself before the words leapt from her tongue.

  “Furious cumulus!” she shouted. Clouds overhead divided, spewing a bolt of wild energy, moving faster than the blink of an eye. The flash that came was almost enough to blind anyone who witnessed it, temporarily turning night into day. After that, the sound that followed battered eardrums. But all of this was nothing compared to the lethal results of the bolt finding its target. The unfortunate soul leading the charge became the recipient of the lightning itself, the blast of energy so violent that it not only killed the target instantly but left a concussive wave hideous enough to knock anyone within ten feet of the dead man from their feet. They kicked and wailed, clamping their hands against the sides of their heads.

  “Cluster of bluster!” Ignatius called out. Whipping winds grew faster and faster until forces like that of a tornado created a barrier around their position. Soldiers caught in the crosswind fell to the ground and clawed at the rock to keep from being thrown from the mountain. Most were able to hang on, others were not so lucky. At the same time, Siouxsie unleashed a second bolt, scattering the lines even more. Those blown off the ground by the explosion were swept away and set hurling off the edge of the cliffs to their doom. So wicked was the power being unleased that the prince and Idris exchanged expressions of slack jawed awe. All of this was devastating enough before Robert stepped forward and rolled up his sleeves to cast.

  “Tinder and cinder!” He shouted. White hot balls of magic fire launched from his hands in quick succession. Projectiles split the night like racing miniature lanterns, emitting luminescence of their own as they whizzed across the mountaintops to find their targets. Visibility was low, but not enough that the witch couldn’t spot silhouettes and faces staring back from the grey. Time and again his shots found their marks causing the soldiers to cry out. The winds from his brother’s spell made things worse, spreading the fires even faster. Men sprawled and squealed in the snow to extinguish themselves.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The barrage continued; Siouxsie unleashed another whipcrack of light from the clouds to blast snow and men into the air. At the same time, her twin launched scorching volley at any who dared to peek out from behind the rocks they’d taken cover behind. Hoxley and the other non-magic users were in high spirits in watching their enemies scatter until the inevitable happened; the witches got tired. For as fantastical as their abilities were, they were finite in power; especially so for younger users with less constitution.

  “That’s it!” Siouxsie shouted before clapping her hands to dispel the magic. She huffed and panted, having to lean over and grab her knees to keep from collapsing.

  “I have to rest!” Robert said, throwing his last fireball before mirroring her stance. “I just…need…a moment to catch my breath.” Even strong Ignatius dispelled his magic to catch a break. His chest heaved from the strain of holding a storm on a short leash.

  “I need a moment as well.” He widened his stance to keep from tipping over before pulling his sword from its sheath. “This steel will not tire so quickly.” His siblings took their cue to pull the bristles of their brooms free revealing the glimmering lythiuum spear tips beneath. Each of the companions moved into a space in the formation facing two sides. Hoxley held the eastern side with Morell, the prince, and Siouxsie while Ignatius stood proudly next to Robert and Idris. The mountain was quiet for a moment as each side gauged their enemy. While the momentum of the soldiers may have been broken, their resolve was far from the same.

  “I still count at least thirty on my side.” Said Hoxley.

  “Almost as many over here.” Said Idris. “What is our plan?”

  “Our luck will only hold if they don’t have archers Otherwise, they can pick us off before we can fight back. If we’re that fortunate, there’s still six of them for each one of us.”

  “If we’re captured, they will torture us.” Ignatius told the group. “Especially the magic users. They will inflict so much pain that we will beg for death. Twosome, stay behind me. If they break our lines, you are to mount your brooms, head home and tell the others what has happened here.”

  “That’s horse shit.” said Robert. “I’m not leaving.”

  “Double horse shit.” spit Siouxsie as she huffed. “You don’t abandon family or friends. I’ve still got one…one more bolt in me.”

  “Then save it for the end, little sister.”

  “Look.” Said the prince. “They’re coming.” The soldiers on the east side walked forward as a group until they were twenty paces away. Those on the west side did the same.

  “That’s far enough!” Shouted Hoxley, stomping her spear upon the rock. “Don’t come any closer!”

  “I have a message for the prince!” Yelled a burly man with a beard. “Prince Damron! I bring a message from your father!”

  “My father?” the prince said, looking to his man. “But I thought you said…”

  “Your father and mother are dead, my king.” Idris whispered to him. “I saw their bodies with my own eyes. The man is attempting to separate you from us.”

  “Your father the king bids me to tell you that your uncle’s insurrection has been quelled!” The man continued. “You are to return home with the crown! He was angry at first but he is generous! Your companions will be forgiven for their trespasses of kidnapping you and a great feast will be prepared in your honor after you are pardoned! Come!” he said with his hand out “Let us travel back! If your friends choose not to come, that’s fine! They can stay behind if they wish!” My mission is to bring you home safe and sound! You’ll be safe in our protection.”

  “They must think we’re stupid.” Said Hoxley as she looked to the prince. “The very moment they can pull you away, their bows and crossbows will make pincushions of us.” Hearing this, Prince Damron stepped forward.