The prince came running and approached the crest first, followed by Ignatius still carrying Idris in his arms. Morell and Robert pulled them up, laying Idris upon the flat tip of the mountain.

  “Now, Siouxsie!” Hoxley told her. “They’re on top of us! Do it now! Everyone, get down! Siouxsie raised her arms to the sky, magic electricity dancing at her fingertips pleading for a chance to do her bidding.

  …I am witchly wonder!

  “FURIOUS CUMULUS!”

  Upon hearing the magic words, every companion except for Hoxley covered their heads and crushed their eyes shut. All reason left the faun girl as something innate in her needed to see such a fascinating thing. The sweet girl from Spellvale perched atop the crest of Faustacon Mountain surrounded by storm clouds appeared as an icon representing all things mysterious and arcane in the world.

  What Hoxley beheld defied everything she knew of the devastating power that fell from the sky. The bolt itself fell not directly upon the elementals, but fell upon Siouxsie’s hands before redirecting itself to strike the six creatures simultaneously. Air practically leapt from the lungs of all those near it to accommodate the presence of the force falling upon them. So awesome was the blast, that for the split second that the sky divided and the heavens fell around them, even the very force of gravity holding them to the rock temporarily lost its mighty grip.

  The elementals had no chance to defend or protest. Appalling shots of lightning found them and struck with such appalling lethality that the only response was to come undone at seams. The magic holding them in icy shapes evaporated as their structures surrendered the burdensome confines of solid form. All six ruptured violently to spray chunks of ice and slush in all directions. What was present one second was no longer there the next. And then… a crushing hush fell over them all to leave nothing but the sound of blowing winds whipping the clothes of those who remained.

  Siouxsie clapped her hands twice to dispel the magic. Suddenly becoming wobbly at the knees, Robert caught her before she toppled and sat her down upon his crossed legs.

  “Well done, sister.” He said, pulling her hat away to kiss the side of her head. “I knew you could do it.”

  “Is it over?” asked Morell.

  “Auggghhhh!” Idris cried in pain. Everyone looked to the man still being held in Ignatius’ arms. More importantly, they looked to the amount of blood spreading from beneath him.

  “What’s happened?!” asked Hoxley.

  “An elemental struck him as we were fleeing.” said Ignatius.

  “How bad is the wound?” asked Prince Damron.

  “I don’t know.” Said the large witch. “Let me put him down and turn him over.” Ignatius pulled his arms from beneath the man to discover his hands and sleeves slathered with blood.

  “Oh dear.” Said Siouxsie. Ignatius began pulling Idris’ clothes aside to see where the blood was coming from. His fingers pried apart the shredded material that used to be Idris’ robes to discover mangled skin sliced all the way to the bone. His insides were pushing against tendons to muscle to be free of their confines. Fluids leached out of the failing organs. The ice fiend’s claws had done their job all too well. The companions looked to the witch and he somberly closed his eyes and shook his head.

  “I…I can’t feel below my arms.” Idris trembled, his lips losing their color.

  “Idris!” the prince said, scooting himself closer and taking the man’s hand with eyes pushing tears over the outside of his cheeks. “Ignatius, somebody, please! There must be something you can do for him!

  “It is all too much. The fiend has ripped him inside and out. There is nothing any of us can do.” Ignatius replied. “Even if we had the greatest healers in all of Spellvale, I doubt any of them could fix what has been broken.

  “My prince…” Idris said as he shuddered with shock. “Come closer, let me see you.”

  “I’m here, Idris.” He took the man’s large hand in both of his.

  “I can guide you…no further.” He choked, his hand lashing out to snatch onto Ignatius’ sleeve as agony gripped him tighter. “I… *cough* your uncle’s sorcerer has finished me.”

  “Idris you can’t die.” The boy cried. “I need you to help me save the kingdom.”

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  “I’m afraid nothing can be undone now. But there is hope.” His eyes went around the circle of faces gathered to hear him. “Follow these souls here. There is goodness in them…to help you along your path. Hold…hold true to do right by the people…” he choked a little more as his body failed him even more. “Hold true…and you will be a fine king one day, a day I will not be there for.” With those last words, the man convulsed and his eyes rolled back in his head. His gaze left the faces to wander somewhere overhead far away. Idris’ body lost all tension and the gurgle that slithered past his lips was the inevitable death rattle Hoxley knew would come.

  “Idris?” sobbed Prince Damron. “Idris! You can’t leave me! You have to stay! I order you to stay! Do you hear me? I am your king and i command you to stay! DON’T you dare abandon me!” Ignatius reached up and closed the man’s eyes and the boy threw himself upon the body.

  “Please don’t leave me! I don’t know how to rule! I don’t know anything! I need you to tell me what I have to do!” For the longest time the companions could do nothing but listen to the crying and sniveling of a boy with a broken heart. Hoxley lowered herself to place a comforting hand upon his shoulder.

  “I’m sorry for your loss, Prince Damron.” she said.

  “It’s all my fault.” he replied. “I took my eyes off the enemy. Its only because he took his eyes off of his to warn me that he was cut down.”

  “It’s not your fault.” said Ignatius. “None of this is. The only one responsible is the one who sent those magical monstrosities. Hold your head high. The man’s final words were praise for you. If you want to honor him, then you must become the person he believed you to be. He rests. But he will truly rest in peace when you’ve taken your throne back and punish the ones who’ve done this injustice to you.”

  “You’re right.” he said, wiping the snot from his nose with his sleeve before wiping his eyes. “There is much to do and it can’t be done while I’m crying on a mountain top. We have to leave, but I can’t leave him like this for the buzzards.”

  “We’ll bury him properly.” Offered Hoxley. “Come, Morell.” She said as she stood up. “I’ll need your mace.” Morell went to work at bashing the edge of the crest and produced enough broken stone for what they’d need. After that, those with Lythiuum items went to work in tearing up the ground for a suitable grave. For all the soil and stone they displaced, their weapons never lost their razor edges. When it was time, they all stacked stones on top of Idris’ body in a mound. More wind whipped and thrashed them as they stood in silent reverence. “Would anyone like to say any kind words for the departed?” she asked.

  “I could sing a song if you like, your highness.” Offered Siouxsie.

  “Please, not the pig song.” Grumbled Robert.

  “I would be honored if you would sing a song in his honor.” said Prince Damron. Siouxsie produced her lute and struck a few notes.

  “There once was a lightning witch long ago with great power.” She said. “Like honorable Idris here, she departed us and was never seen again. This is the song our ancestors wrote about her. Please join hands and bow your heads in remembrance of brave Idris.” The companions gathered close and took one another’s hands as Siouxsie began to sing:

  

  Song of the Lightning Witch

  There once was a girl who brought lightninggggg from the skyyyy

  She could destroy evil with a wink of the eyyeeee

  We don’t know where she went, don’t know how much gold she spent

  But she’s somewhere out thereeee behind the clouds.

  So, if you’ve ever seen stormy wisps and wondered

  If there’s a maiden of thunder. The rain she sends is always her hello.

  Lightning crash, windy thrash, the rain she sends is always her hello

  There once was a girl who brought lightninggggg from the skyyyy

  She had more power than you or I….

  She had great bolts of power galore, a flash of light and she was no more…

  She’s somewhere out thereeeee behind the clouds…

  So, if you’ve ever seen stormy wisps and thought and wondered

  If there’s a maiden of thunder, the rain she sends is always her hello.

  Lightning crash, windy thrash, the rain she sends is always her hello.

  Where she came from and where she went nobody knows…but the rain she sends is always her hello…

  Siouxsie played the last of the notes, holding a singular tone until it died and drifted away on the wind. The companions let go of one another and wrapped their arms around themselves to stave off the frigid air.