(5)

The next morning, Princess Gabriella and I awoke to find Davidio with red paint smeared about his body.

She was not impressed and gave us both a lecture about the colors. By this time, she had worn Kyok’s shell necklace around her tanned neck. We were literally on the borderline, one foot in sand, the other in snow. Clint edged the line, a suicide mission in his mind. We began to collect our things, when then just then Davidio perked up.

“Shh!” We both turned around to follow his direction when there, just up the top of the hill sat a line of ten or so WHITE RIDERS! (I CAPS that shit because they were massive & mighty warriors, hand-selected by the Queen herself, and designed for one mission: Bring Death). Clint went berserk and stamped over to Gabriella, who wasted no time in mounting him. Davidio’s arrow was already drawn, and I, well, I pulled out the baby dagger. She looked at us both, and after a quick nod, she charged. The WHITE RIDERS all descended the snowy hill in a totally straight line. We screamed as we neared the swifty silent snow riders.

Just before clashing forces, Princess Gabriella conjured some spell and whipped her hands to the ground. A mighty wall of fire shot up and fenced the ice-warriors! She snapped her hand at Davidio, whose arrowhead ignited in a pure blue flame, and then to me she quickly sprinkled something on my dagger, which elongated it to a heavy sword, which then too was overtaken by an incredible blue flame! Next, she closed her eyes and her tongue slithered out something quite rapidly and just then this massive staff (a vibrant color of red) appeared in her hands. The tip was engulfed in the very same blue fire. She finished, took a deep breath, and looked back to both of us. “Now,” she whispered, and the fencing flames evaporated. The WHITE RIDERS charged forward, their icicle spears pointed right for us! Clint charged the Queen forward, and she swiped her staff with a savaged stroke, shattering the middle three men of ice. Davidio’s quick release of the flame arrows pierced right through a WHITE RIDER’S core and the flame internally devastated and exploded its crystal bodies! My newfound sword did its damage, too. I mainly aimed for the legs of the ice-horses, which catapulted the warriors to the snowground. Our Queen had not been trained in the battle dance, but she demolished all in her path. And it really was a graceful attack on her end, one stroke there, another, down-down-down those riders fell. One Rider, dismounted, and stormed for Davidio! The Rider dodged the constant arrows, and grabbed him by the throat! I watched, but just as I ran to aid, one stopped before me and punched me in the nose! I flew many feet and landed in the snow! He approached as I gripped my now crooked, bleeding face. Just as he neared, I reached for my firesword and threw it like a spear. The blade darted straight through him, and just as he looked down at the wound, he exploded in a great many pieces of ice. As I stood, I could see Davidio being thrown about like a rag doll! The Queen had her hands full, battling four or five just by herself! I rushed over to help, my red dripping onto the snow. I looked over and witnessed Clint hooving an enemy horse! He shattered the ice-beast with one swift headbutt!

Davidio was lying there, gripping his arm for some damage had already been done. The Ice stomped over, pulled up his blade over his head, and stood over the weakened Native. Just then! I couldn’t believe it. A tiny firefly, glowing a bright red (even in broad daylight!) landed right on the shoulder of the Rider! He hesitated his attack, and stared at the odd bug. Then! Another joined, just as bright! I sank to the snow, only watching. Then Another! Suddenly, a swarm of red fireflies, literally tiny balls of fire, came from all directions and landed on the Rider! He swatted at them, wildly, yet they soon overtook him. He staggered back and then, just as the Queen sliced her last opponent, he combusted in a mighty burst! The cloud of fireflies expanded and shot off! We rushed to over to Davidio, who had been injured truly. He didn’t say much, just winced in silence! I glanced around and there! At the top of the hill, was a lone rider, cloaked in all black. I alerted Gabriella, who snapped back to him. She approached with her staff in hand.

“Approach if you dare you sonofabtich!” The outburst made me snicker, yet it had no effect on the man atop the hill.

Gabriella stepped forward.

“Tell my sister there is a new Queen! The Queen of Red!” she shouted. The Rider suddenly took off, and it wasn’t until later that I realized it was McCullalt: the swiftest of the riders during that age.

We returned back to Davidio who was now joined by his little fireflies. I collected his scattered arrows as Gabriella kneeled beside him. She was weakened from her power use, and so no healing could be done. Suddenly, the fireflies swarmed Davidio, and even managed to grasp his arms, and therefore lift him up!

My intimidating fireblade was returned to its actual appearance: dull and enfant-size. Queen Gabriella kept her staff with her, which looked very cool against the bright white snow. Quietly, she mounted Clint. The fireflies carried Davidio beside us as we marched for the sand, and for the refuge of Tetop. It wouldn’t be long before another attack would occur.