Quick shout-out to PeterBanning, who became my 350th voter, and Lion_Lamb_13, who became my 95th fan (though it now says 94 because I lost one xP). They got to choose from a list of prizes, and you can too if you become my 400th voter or my 100th fan. Now, happy reading - and sorry for the cliffhanger! :3

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“Well, we sure as Hades have something to say about it,” rang Niaomi’s voice from above, and the angle tilted upwards to show the five phloÿnar rapidly descending. A streak of fire dove in between them, screeching as the phoenix extended her talons to claw at Liress’s hair. The mage yelled, waving her arms to remove Flair as the pegasi landed, and Nicholas dismounted Malt and ran towards his fiancée.

He placed his hands along the barrier, the focus ring glowing as he closed eyes in concentration and began muttering a counterspell. Liress finally managed to dislodge the fire-bird, violently casting her aside onto the ground. Niaomi and Nat had already dismounted, and the girl now ran to her fallen bondmate. Eyes glittering, the Black Hand pointed in Niaomi’s direction, but before she could concoct a spell, a brightsteel throwing star managed to slice her arm.

Ren fell into Nick’s arms as she was freed from the barrier, and Rose ran to join the others as Liress healed her arm. The mage smiled at the children, who were all standing in a battle stance. Nathan and Niaomi, after letting Flair fly out of her arms, had also removed their weapons, the boot dirks and stiletto blades respectively. Nicholas was rubbing his ring, standing nearer to the back of the group as Liress walked forwards.

“Well, it seems I’ve underestimated your training,” she said, her voice sounding regretful. “And your weapons. They’re able to break through a warding with a few well placed blows? Fascinating craftsmanship - and definitely beyond your abilities.”

Niaomi’s grip on her hairsticks tightened in response to the casual insult. “And how would you know what we’re capable of?”

Liress paused, now only a few feet away. “Oh, you misunderstood. While I may not have a full knowledge of what you can do, I assure you that I have a good grasp of what two bastards and three abominations cannot do.”

“You say that we are the abominations?” Nat said with an incredulous snort. “Aren’t you the darkest pot calling the kettles black.”

“And you think you and your fellow freaks are so spotless?” Laughing softly, she flipped back her hair, the golden mane reaching down to her buttocks in a lush wave. Even with her dark, ugly personality, the sheer beauty of Liress could not be marred. Her full, sultry red lips pursed together, and the boy stiffened as she purred, “I belong only to one species, sweetheart, and that’s human. What about you? Half-human, half-elf, but nothing whole.”

“I believe that the politically correct term would be a helmingr, actually,” Niaomi spit out, her violet eyes burning in fury.

Chuckling once more, the Black Hand said in a mocking tone, “Don’t you know the ancient language? Helmingr is just another word for hálfr - just another word for ‘half’, and that’s all you will ever amount to. That is, unless you come with me.”

“I beg your pardon?” asked Renata, the disbelief clear in her voice.

“Come with me,” Liress suggested, her smile sweet. “You all don’t belong on this island, disconnected from the world. You’re Riders now - you have a duty. To protect Alagaësia and its people from harm.” Turning to Nathan, her voice grew ever more suggestive. “And you, sweetheart, you can be something. No longer do you have to stand in your sister’s shadow. No longer do you have to feel inadequate or worthless or forgotten. Just come with me.”

“I - I - ” Nat stuttered, his eyes going glassy.

“Come with me. Come with me. Come.”

Face slack, he dropped his dirks and began walking forwards slowly, a dazed smile on his face. Rosaminda reached out and grabbed his vest, pulling him backwards and demanding, “What’re you doing, Nat?”

“Come to me, Nat,” Liress continued to coo, stretching out her left hand to crook her fingers. Her eyes were brighter, glowing with some inner power. The hazelnut depths were hypnotic, swirling pools of golden brown eyes that called out like her voice did. “Come to me. Come to me. Come.”

Nathan jerked forwards, making Rose stumble as she refused to let go. “What’s wrong with you, Nathan?! Don’t listen to her!” Struggling to hold him back, she turned to the girls and begged, “Help me stop him!”

Ren immediately sprang into action, taking hold of his other arm as both twins pulled to keep him from moving forward. Their god-sister held back, staring hard at Liress, whose eyes were fixated on Nat. The boy was still mindlessly trying to walk forward, unaware of the two blondes straining to hold him back. Niaomi looked back and forth between the beckoning mage and her brother, then glanced at Nick, who had both eyes closed and his face turned to the sky. Turning back to face Liress, her face hardened as she made a decision.

Running towards the Black Hand, Niaomi raised her golden blade to slice across the mage’s face. Liress stepped backwards, her right arm swinging up to catch the girl in the gut. Sagging from the punch, Niaomi was tossed onto the ground. She quickly recovered, knifing her right leg out to bring the mage down with her. However, Liress expected her move, and without taking her eyes off of Nathan, she jumped and avoided the kick.

Springing to her feet, Niaomi attacked again, careful not to throw her whole weight into the lunge. When Liress dodged and tried another counter strike, the girl was prepared and bent backwards to avoid the blow before delivering a butterfly kick towards the mage’s head. Her first foot connected, sending Liress reeling to one side. Somehow, the Black Hand had still managed to keep eye contact with Nat, and now she commanded, “Protect me, Nathan!”

With a roar, he flung off the twins as if they were gnats, and then picked up his dirks before charging his sister. Eyes wide at the sudden attack, Niaomi barely had time to raise her blades in defense as the dirks came down hard against her. Buckling under his strength, she rolled to the right, and Nathan’s dirks struck the ground instead of the girl. Liress was wiping the corner of her mouth free of blood, and turned her attention to her nieces, both of whom had risen.

“Defend me,” Nicholas murmured, eyes still shut. The twins looked at each other and nodded once before leaping into action. Rose threw a star, but Liress merely raised her left hand and sent it flying back. Knowing it would hit Nick if she moved out of the way, she let loose a second star. They clanged together and fell to the ground while her sister moved forwards, aiming her push dirks at the mage. Liress dodged with ease, her movement serpentine as she wove in and out of Renata’s swings.

Unable to get a clear shot, Rosaminda looked towards the other set of combatants. Niaomi was on defense, parrying and dodging Nat’s attacks. If she tried to fight back, she risked injuring her brother. Rose saw this dilemma and suddenly had an idea. “Hey, Nat! Liress is being attacked - defend her!”

Nathan stopped in midswing, looking to where the Black Hand and Ren battled only a yard away. Before he could jump in, Niaomi’s right foot came down onto his hands in a crescent kick, knocking the dirks out of his grip before the other foot swept his legs out from underneath him. As soon as he hit the ground, his sister extended her left hand and said, “Deloi.”

Vines erupted from the ground on either side of the boy, wrapping around his body to bind him to the earth. Nat snarled, throwing his head from side to side as he struggled to get free. Rose rushed to him, falling to her knees above his head and grabbing it in between both palms. Before Nathan could escape her grasp, she bent forwards, her hair falling like a yellow curtain to shield them from view. When his feet stopped thrashing around, Niaomi turned away to help Renata, and the vines unraveled before slipping back into the earth.

Liress managed to grab Ren’s wrist, and she twisted her so that the girl was flipped onto the ground. She viciously stomped, but her niece managed to roll aside before her head could be crushed underneath the sharp boot heel. Scowling, the mage looked towards Nat, who was slowly rising to his feet with Rosaminda’s help. “So you managed to break my enchantment? Must be some strong love.”

“It is,” Rose replied, meeting her aunt’s gaze with eyes just as icy. “Stronger than your magic, which is only fueled by hatred and lies.”

Vinny came forward from where the pegasi had been hanging back near Nicholas, nudging his bonded partner with a worried whinny. Nathan raised one hand to stroke his mane, and the pegasus kneeled, an obvious gesture for the boy to mount. His face registering his confusion, he did so, Rosaminda following suit as Vissa came to collect her. Liress stared hard at the two, who rode their pegasi towards Nick as Niaomi and Renata stood guard. “Planning on going somewhere?”

“Yes, actually, we are,” Nicholas spoke up. “Nia, Ren, come along now.” The two began backing away slowly as the Black Hand laughed shrilly.

“You think you can just fly away and leave?” Liress started to raise her arm, but stopped when a brightsteel star landed between her feet in warning. Grinding her teeth, she took a threatening step forward and warned, “You can’t escape my barrier. The only place you’re leaving to is Urû'baen.”

“On the contrary, we can,” Nick began explaining as the two girls mounted their pegasi. “See, while you’ve been fighting and enchanting people, I’ve been working out an interesting counterspell to your barrier. Oh, it was hard and required help, I will admit. But the fact is, Liress, that you made one very crucial mistake.”

“And what would that be?” the mage asked, a smug smile on her face. It was obvious she had no doubt they were securely contained.

“You underestimated us,” he answered as he climbed onto Malt’s back. “And you thought we were alone.” Liress’s face barely had time to register surprise as Nicholas’s shouted, “Now!”