That... was not the way Hadama had expected the story to turn, and he paused, momentarily frozen in surprise as the magic slipped his control and raced into the body of the queen, curse and blessings swirling and combining with... something else. Feathers grew and wings spread and the Dark Fairy might have stood by, watching it all unfold if his staff had not twisted within his grip with magic waiting to be unleashed.
And if he had not seen Maea step forward into danger.
Was he the villain, meant to strike the Knight down from behind while she was distracted by the Roc? Or did he have a different part to play, as his scholar-friend had suggested?
The choice was taken from him a moment later as shadows rose around the room, lifting away from the bodies of several sleeping courtiers, nobles, and servants and moving towards the Knight's unguarded back and the princess who stood there, frozen and trembling with the shock of it all.
"No."
One word, but Hadama did not like the way this story was going. Perhaps it could use a new ending. Perhaps it would simply have to deal with a new ending. Because he stepped forward and swung the staff as he would his trident, and lances of ice burst from its jeweled tip in an arc, forcing the shadow creatures to stumble back, hissing as he strode forward to plant himself a short distance behind Maea with the princess between them.
And if he had not seen Maea step forward into danger.
Was he the villain, meant to strike the Knight down from behind while she was distracted by the Roc? Or did he have a different part to play, as his scholar-friend had suggested?
The choice was taken from him a moment later as shadows rose around the room, lifting away from the bodies of several sleeping courtiers, nobles, and servants and moving towards the Knight's unguarded back and the princess who stood there, frozen and trembling with the shock of it all.
"No."
One word, but Hadama did not like the way this story was going. Perhaps it could use a new ending. Perhaps it would simply have to deal with a new ending. Because he stepped forward and swung the staff as he would his trident, and lances of ice burst from its jeweled tip in an arc, forcing the shadow creatures to stumble back, hissing as he strode forward to plant himself a short distance behind Maea with the princess between them.
