EMRICK Scota, now smaller, flew ahead, relaying what she saw to Kerri, and in turn to the rest of us.  After a few minutes, she came back and perched on Kerri’s left shoulder.         “There’s a small clearing up ahead where we can make camp for the rest of the night.”  Kerri said. It was still dark when we got to the clearing.  So we set about setting camp.  Kerri sent Scota ahead to scout Alastair’s keep. We’d barely finished setting up camp when Scota came flying back.  Kerri gave a sharp whistle.  ‘Soldiers coming our way.’  She said to me through our bond. I whistled, and the men sto

ALASTAIR Having seen what this Kerrienne could do, I no longer wanted her dead.  I now wanted her power.  Draining normal humans for power was wearing a little thin.  It was taking more and more deaths to sustain my magic.  I thought Emrick was powerful but his power paled in comparison to hers.  I stayed in the shadow of the battle, every death bringing more life and power into my body.  As more bodies fell, my energy levels were at maximum so I stepped out from my hiding spot and walked onto the battlefield, unseen by the eyes of the men around me.  Only Emrick and Kerrienne could see through my disguise so I made sure to keep out of their line of sight as I silently approached Emrick from behind.  I was about to stab him when he suddenly turned and blocked my swing.&nb