Then the scene disappeared behind a wall of rain and more wind. Rory lifted his hands, ready to do what he could against the weather --
"No," Zorian said and caught hold of him. "This can help us. All we have to do is follow the path. Move, people! Go while we have the weather. Have ye' never seen rain before? Go!"
Others were spreading the word and no one arguing.
"Down off this hill before the path turns into a waterfall," Junal ordered and hurried on past with just a pat on Andora's arm. "Get him down to the ships. We will need him there."
Rory didn't particularly like being referred to as if he were an unwieldy piece of luggage. On the other hand, General Junal had a point. Besides, Zorian and Andora gave him no choice. The two caught hold of him as if he had no legs of his own.
"Don't argue. Let's go," Zorian said. "Fighting behind us."
Rory had not even noticed until now, which showed how much he needed the help of the others. He didn't argue as they swept him down the path. Rory thought Andora must have been here before. She anticipated twists and even moved off the trail not far from where a new stream of water rushed over it. That narrowed by a slight ledge, and they could leap it with no trouble.
By then, they were down to the little village. Rory saw shadowy people moving at windows, and his hands wanted to twitch and be ready for magic. They never slowed, although both his companions were gasping by then.
"Let me walk!" Rory ordered.
"Not until the shore," Zorian replied, and Andora grunted in agreement. "Not far. Get away -- away from the fighting and be ready."
They wouldn't let him go, and Rory couldn't argue their reasoning, so he spent the next few minutes preparing a core of magic that could be used for trouble -- either there or on the way.
Rory thought they needed time to stop, rest, and think -- and the only way that would happen would be on one of those ships and away from everything else. Rory set his sights on that goal and let the others worry over the trouble they could handle without him. He was glad to see Prince Palkin with Jamison and his wife, though. He trusted Jamison and Keltrina to manage any trouble there.
They were to the docks with a flood of people behind them and the sound of battle not entirely hidden by the storm. That they were where the Atrians wanted them was not a pleasant thought, but he had to think the Atrians had not taken him into account.
It was time to do something helpful. When Rory pulled away from Zorian and Andora, they didn't argue this time.
If there were enemy ships out there, he knew they had to be behind the only island within sight -- even in this storm -- off the shore. Someone with power directed that storm toward the shore. Maybe more than one mage. He was going to have to surprise them.
And it wasn't going to be easy.
He hadn't considered that there might be ships under shields and much closer. His attempt to strip the magic from the nearest part of the storm and push it back on the enemy immediately showed the problem.
"Oh damn," Andora said as the first part of a ship showed itself. "Hell."
"They aren't flying the Atrian Flag," Zorian pointed out. "What the hell are they?"
Rory was about to complain about the two wasting time when he realized he could hear considerable shouting and movement behind him and on the ships.
There was more magic in the air, too. Rory had to focus on it since he could not tell where or how it might strike. The first attack was one he had somewhat anticipated. Lightning snaked across the sky, moving with a slowness that was not natural. He prepared as it forked into three lines, two heading for ships and the last coming after him.
Rory leapt forward, away from his two companions, and caught the bolt of power on a shield that barely held it back. The glare blinded him, and he could only feel the power lessen. When it dissipated, Rory was back down on his knees and blind to everything around him.
Someone grabbed him and dragged him toward the ships. Lights flashed before his eyes, and he thought they were under attack at first. Rory finally realized it was the return of his eyesight. His hearing came with it, which he had not consciously noted having a problem. All he'd heard was a roar, but now the sounds began to define themselves into various trouble spots.
Rory blinked and managed to see that Amanda was the one pulling him out of the way. He had not expected it to be her and looked around with worry until he found Zorian and Jamison closer to the ship than him.
Euriday and Sundry soldiers had surged onto the dock to meet the New Order's troops as they made prodigious leaps from their own ships. Magic helped them in what looked like flight -- but the power was badly used since their enemies had only to stand, draw weapons, and wait.
Andora handed him off to Zorian who threw Rory over his shoulder and rushed up to the deck. Rory wished they could have flown.
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