Valda slumped against the river bank, sweat trickling off her brow. She'd tried to focus on damming the river and seeing how long she could hold back the water. It was a laborious task that took all her concentration and energy.

Spots danced in her eyes and she was breathing heavily, little white clouds appearing with every puff of her breath. Despite the wintry morning, she was toasty warm even after discarding her jacket.

A twig snapped from above her and she looked upwards expecting to see the helmet clad face of Boyd. He was later than she'd been expecting.

But no face appeared.

She grabbed her jacket and quickly shrugged it on, despite her damp skin. With nimble fingers, she scaled the river bank, thankful it hadn't rained during the night. Rain always turned the packed earth into a sea of mud, which made climbing impossible.

Popping her head up, she went to say hi to Boyd, but the words froze in her throat.

She stared down the blade pointed at her head to the two figures stood above her. Cloth covered both their faces, but whilst the one carried a sword, the other had an arrow already notched, pointing in her direction.

"Now don't do anything stupid." Came the gruff voice from the man holding the sword.

Valda barely had time to contemplate her plan before she threw herself into action.

Her hands let go of the bank and she skidded down, feeling the hard earth catch on her hands. A whistle rang passed her ear, and she realised with dread how close she'd come to having an arrow lodged in her cheek.

Her feet hit the dried river bed with a loud thud, jarring her knees and making her wince as she stumbled away.

"After her, you ninnyhammer!"

The sound of boots hitting the ground behind her had Valda looking over her shoulder, her eyes widening as she realised the archer had followed her. She looked around wildly for her other attacker, spotting the hulking figure running above her on the edges of the banking.

Whilst a part of her was concentrating on running for her life, another was wondering why the archer hadn't stayed on the bank. It would have been the better shot after all.

Shaking her head, she pushed the silly thought from her mind. Focus, Valda chided herself. Now was not the time to wonder at the intelligence of her pursuers.

The mud beside her exploded as an arrow embedded itself in the mud. Risking a look, she glanced back to see the archer pulling another arrow from his quiver.

Not giving him time, she held out her hand and pushed the water towards him, watching as the force knocked him back.

She didn't stop to see how long he remained down. Pushing her legs harder, she jumped over mud and rocks, still hearing the other man somewhere above her. She could no longer see him, but she could hear him swearing and spluttering as he tried to match her speed.

Her feet splashed in the river as the sides narrowed in on her, the earth now towering over her head. There wasn't much further she could go unless she wanted to walk through the fast current, and that would only slow her down.

She began frantically looking ahead, trying to see a place to climb, but there was none. She would lose precious time if she tried to scale the bank as she'd done before.

Splashing behind her made her falter, and she glanced back, fear skating through her. The archer was back, minus his bow, but just as determined to catch her. He'd lost the material covering his face during his little bath in the river, and Valda almost froze as she recognised his features.

She didn't know his name, but she'd seen him in the manor. A son of one of the lower Lords.

"Just give it up, girl!" He shouted, smiling with satisfaction as he realised what she had already known.

If she slowed to climb the bank, he could catch her and his friend would be waiting above to run her through with his sword.

Already she could feel her body weakening. She'd pushed herself hard in training and she hadn't had enough time to recover, but there was no choice. She would have to use her magic if she wanted to live.

Summoning the last of her strength, she moved the earth to create evenly placed stepping stones, rushing across them with more grace than she was expecting. Once she was on the top of the bank, she waved her hands, collapsing the banking on top of the archer.

Her moment of triumph at seeing him disappear under the mud was brief as a wave of nausea made her body sway. It took everything in her not to collapse to her knees but to keep going.

"What was that?"

"The General never said nothing about her having magic."

Valda's knees knocked together as realisation flooded her. The General was behind this. They were there to kill her on his orders.

The few seconds in which she realised all this had cost her valuable time, and she felt a heavyweight knock her to the ground.

She kicked out wildly, catching her attacker in the face with her foot. He grunted in pain as she scrambled to her feet, but he wasn't letting her get away so easily.

His hand shot out and closed around her ankle, dragging her back towards him.

Valda could feel the length of her sword trapped uselessly beneath her and terror squeezed around her heart, making it difficult for her to breathe. Her hands searched rapidly around her and she touched on a large rock.

Gripping it with all the strength her body possessed, she reared up and crashed it on top of the man's hands, making him let go immediately.

Not wasting a moment, she dashed to her feet, drawing her sword. Already knowing that any more magic would immediately knock her unconscious or worse.

The man rose to his feet, holding his damaged hand stiffly at his side, blood dripping from the nose she assumed she had broken.

"I was going to make this quick, but now I think I'll enjoy it a little." He took the material away from his face, using it to wipe at the blood pooling on his upper lip.

Valda had suspected he would be another face, she knew. And she wasn't disappointed.

Lord Tristian's son stood glaring at her, his sword ready to strike her down.

"Why are you doing this?" She pleaded, trying to give herself more time to recover.

The man laughed bitterly. "Do not play the fool with me, Lorcan scum. You may have fooled the Prince and Princess but your silver tongue will not work on me."

Valda had no idea what he was talking about, but she didn't get time to puzzle over his words as he surged towards her, his sword raised.

She raised her own sword, feeling the moment they met as it shook through her body with an almighty clang. Barely recovering from that first blow, she dragged her arm back, meeting his blow again.

His technique was as sloppy as hers, but what he lacked in training he made up for in pure brute strength and determination. But despite this, Valda held her own, meeting everyone of his strikes with her own.

It was enough to keep her alive, but for how long she wasn't sure. He continued to advance on her and she was barely clinging on, her movements growing slower the longer they battled.

Spitting and cursing behind the man had the adrenaline rushing through Valda. Just for that moment, the man lost his focus, looking back to see his partner staggering towards them covered in mud, and Valda used it to her advantage.

Angling her blade, she swiped at him, grazing across his sword arm, making him rear back in pain and drop his sword in the process.

"Run, Valda!"

A shiny black streak hurtled past Valda and knocked the man flat on his back. Pandath bite and scratched at his exposed skin, making the Lord's son cry out in pain.

A purple and red dragon dived from the sky, blowing small bursts of fire at the archer who stumbled back in fright.

"Come on, Valda." Pandath caught her sleeve between his teeth and began tugging her forward.

Valda gripped her sword and stumbled after him, her feet tripping over exposed roots, but she managed to keep her footing.

"What you waiting for? Shoot them!"

Valda watched in shock as an arrow thudded in the tree to her left. She had been sure the archer's bow would have broken, but as another zoomed past her head, she had to accept that she had not been lucky on that account.

An arrow flew past the red dragon, forcing it to bank swiftly straight into a low-hanging branch. Valda watched in horror as the little dragon started to fall. Putting on a spurt of speed, she didn't know she was capable of; she caught the dragon in her outstretched arms.

She tucked the little dragon into her jacket, hoping it was merely unconscious and there were no other injuries. For the moment there was no time for a thorough examination.

"Pommyt," Pandath cried out, his beady eyes locking on something behind Valda.

"Leave them Pandath. You need to go get help," Valda wheezed out.

Even on Pandath's dragon face, she could tell he wasn't happy with her suggestion, but as another arrow flew past them he flapped his wings heavily and shot into the sky. But not before dive bombing the archer and causing his bow to erupt into flames.

"Cursed creature," the man spluttered, dropping his ruined bow to the floor and sucking on his scorched fingers.

With both men distracted by the appearance of the dragons, Valda raced ahead, Pommyt cradled to her body.

With the bow destroyed and her lead, she could stumble towards the main gates.

"Valda? Valda!" Boyd and Naimh approached at speed, bringing their horses to a canter alongside her. "What the hell happened?" He looked over her haggard appearance, mud caked over her clothes and the odd bundle in her jacket.

"Two men. Attacked me. Back there," she panted out.

Boyd and Naimh exchanged a look before checking over their shoulders, catching sight of two distant figures on horseback.

Turning back to Valda, Naimh stopped her horse, stretching her hand out. "Come on, Valda. We need to get to Arlie."

Valda looked behind her, seeing the cloud of dust trailing behind her two pursers. The horses, which would have been useless in chasing her down on such rugged ground, ate up the distance between them now.

With Niamh's help, she climbed on the horse's back, struggling so as not to crush the delicate creature still lifeless in her arms. By the time she was seated, Valda could hear the sounds of the two men's horses galloping towards them.

Boyd and Niamh kicked their heels, spurring their horses into movement.

"If we can get inside the gates, the patrol should take care of the two behind us. New faces always draw suspicion," Niamh was sure, eyeing the gates in hope.

"It's no good. They're sons of two of the Lords. Their faces will be known."

Valda turned to look at Boyd in amazement, wondering how he could see at that distance, whilst Niamh cursed.

"Then we ride hard and tell Arlie. They will not be getting away with this." Niamh gritted her teeth, urging her horse faster.

The ride to the stronghold felt so long to Valda, and yet she knew it was just her mind playing tricks on her. They all slipped from the horses once they were inside, a crowd automatically gathering around them.

"What's going on here?" Arlie didn't need to push through the crowd, they simply parted to allow her through like some invisible bubble surrounded her.

"Two men attacked Valda," Niamh explained, withdrawing two lethal looking blades from across her back.

Arlie looked sharply at Boyd. "And where were you?"

Valda shook her head. "Arlie, it was my fault. Etna came back early to fetch Mauve. I didn't think this would happen."

Arlie's lips tightened, but she still turned back to Boyd who was quick to explain.

"I got delayed heading back."

"Lord Tristan told me some of the farmers had approached him about seeing odd lights to the east of the stronghold. He asked me to ride out and see. I met Boyd on the way and he accompanied me." Niamh's tone was clipped.

"And?" Arlie waited.

"We found no evidence of anyone being there."

Arlie nodded her head as if it was the answer she'd been expecting.

The crowd murmured and whispered as Valda's attackers passed through the gates. Their faces instantly recognisable despite one covered in mud and the other with a broken nose.

"Step away from that traitor!" Lord Tristan's son stepped forward, his arm now held to his chest, whilst his partner held his sword.

Arlie raised her eyebrows, but to the men's dismay no one moved towards Valda.

"Now, boys care to explain what's happened?"

They both frowned at the word 'boys' but didn't argue given Arlie's piercing stare.

"The girl is part of Lorcan's forces. She's trying to bring us down from the inside."

"She's bewitched the Prince and Princess with her dark magic, no doubt something that Lorcan himself has taught her." The other man added.

"Bring us down? That girl has done more good for us than all of you lot sat up there have ever done." A gruff old man hobbled forward, pointing a bony finger at the two men. A chorus of agreements followed.

"Where were you all when we were starving?"

"Living up in that castle we built for you whilst we wallow in filth."

Many voices rang out, adding their thoughts to the mix.

"What's happening here?"

The crowd parted as the General, Lord Glenton and Lord Tristan moved through the crowd. Carrick and Tevin raced behind them, immediately coming to stand by Valda, their swords already unsheathed.

The General took in the unhappy crowd, some still glaring angrily at the two men, with a frown on his face.

"We failed General. The girl got away from us and now she's bewitched the lot of them."

The General's mouth twitched in irritation before he crafted a pleasant smile. "Boys, boys. I don't have a clue what you're talking about."

The men looked on in confusion. "But you told us. She's Lorcan's spy and the only way to lift her spells was to kill her. You told us where she would be."

The General shook his head slowly, his forehead crunched in bewilderment. "I honestly have no idea what you mean. Lady Valda is an upstanding member of this stronghold."

The men looked at each other perplexed before understanding lightened their features. "She's cursed you too, General. We must stop her."

The man with the broken nose lifted his injured arm. Valda thought he'd been holding his arm because of the wound she'd inflicted, but she realised she'd been wrong. Instead, a small contraption was attached to his wrist, the likes of which she'd never seen.

Everything happened too quickly.

The man fired his stubby arrow but before it could reach its target Niamh jumped in front of Valda. There was a strangled cry and suddenly Niamh was falling.

Valda hurriedly caught her, lowering her to the ground, so she was cushioned in her lap. Blood stained the purple fabric around her waist and she shook like a leaf caught in the wind.

There was silence before the sky exploded with figures, growls like thunder echoed above them. Nandarin and his brethren swooped from the sky, scattering the Fae beneath. Three scaly bodies dropped, surrounding Valda.

"Pommyt? Where is my cub?"

From the way the people winced, Valda knew the dragon was speaking into all of their minds.

"She's here," she called out, unbuttoning her jacket.

The little dragon lifted its head slightly and purred, making the red dragon edge forward and lift her out of Valda's jacket. She cradled her young cub, pressing their noses together for comfort.

"Nobody hurts the girl," Nandarin growled out.

Arlie, who up to this point had been completely stunned by what happened, shook herself out of it. She bent to look at Niamh, watching as the colour slowly drained out of her face.

"Arlie, I'm sorry. My fault. Shouldn't have listened to Tristan. Shouldn't have taken Boyd..." Niamh's voice scratched, fading in and out.

Arlie placed her hand on top of Valda's trying to stem the flow of blood from Niamh's wound.

"Shush, don't speak." She smoothed the woman's hair from her face. "Valda, can you heal her?"

Valda tried to concentrate on Niamh, focusing on the wound and not the faces of people staring at her.

Her heart pounded, but she shook her head. "I can't hear the call. She doesn't believe anymore." Her worried eyes clashed with Arlie's.

Arlie lifted Niamh into her lap, cradling her head against her chest.

"Across the land and misty seas,

The wind carries; the Healers' call

Only Healers know what it means,

The hidden truth beneath its words."

She sniffled. "Sing with me Niamh, you always had the better voice. Sing with me and believe. Believe that you'll be okay, that there's more than this war to look forward to."

Niamh smiled weakly, hating to see the tears in her friend's eyes. She swallowed painfully and sang. Others in the crowd lent their voices to the Healers' Call spurred on by a feeling deep in their hearts.

"Across the land and misty seas,

The wind carries; the Healers' call

Only Healers know what it means,

The hidden truth beneath its words.

Let them reveal the last hope,

And lead us into the light.

Lend your voices, sing the call,

Awake the Healers and bring them home."

So many voices coming together brought tears to Valda's eyes, and she felt it. The power bubbled up inside her, responding to their call.

Light glowed around her, reflecting in Arlie's tear-filled eyes as the woman gazed at her in wonder. Gasps and cries rang out as Valda's light grew stronger.

She placed her hands on Niamh, feeling the power pour out of her and into Niamh's wound. There were no memories this time, just the simple feeling of warmth and peace.

The light gradually faded and Carrick bent to catch Valda before she collapsed.

"Arlie, what's going on?" Niamh's eyes blinked and she sat up, disorientated.

Arlie threw her hands around her friend. "You've been healed," she rejoiced.

Niamh just shook her head, dazed. "But how?"

All eyes turned to Valda.

"Because Princess Valda, heir to Lania's throne, is one of the great Healers of the past." Nandarin bowed, as did the rest of the dragons present.

One by one the surrounding people began doing the same, their expression a mixture of hope and awe as they looked at her.

"But-but you said she was one of Lorcan's spies." The archer gaped at her, looking between Valda and the General who was barely recovered from his own shock.

It had not been lost on Arlie that he had been one of the few not to bow.

"Boys, as I explained earlier, I don't-"

"You old snake." Lady Dylynn shunted forward, Mauve at her side, both glaring at the General. "I heard every word you told these boys. I'm only ashamed that I couldn't convince my foolish grandson not to take part in this ridiculous attempt."

"Lady Dylynn-" The General started, but again she interrupted.

"Don't. You power hungry worm. You knew she was Queen Orlaigh's daughter and that would have messed up with your plans with the young Prince, who you've been trying to win favour with for years," she sneered.

"I deny-" This time it was Arlie who stepped in.

"Boyd, Tad, Monroe, kindly escort the General and Lord Tristan to the rock face." The rock face was their makeshift holding pen for all those who disrupted the peace in the stronghold. "You two," she pointed to Valda's would-be assassins, "you are to come with me for questioning. Lady Dylynn, if you would be so kind to accompany us."

"Of course, and rightly so." Lady Dylynn nodded primly.

"Now let me make this perfectly clear. Valda is the true heir to Lania's throne. In time she will share her story with you but for now know this, should anything like this be attempted again, I will not be taking questions. I will be taking heads. Dismissed."

Many wanted to argue with Arlie, preferring to stay, but her steely gaze made them turn away. She was not to be tested.

"I think we need to get her inside." Carrick's worried voice rang out.

Everyone watched in fear as Valda slumped unconscious in his arms, her skin as cold as ice and her breathing laboured.

There was always a cost with magic, which she was only just beginning to realise.