As the party of Adventurers rounded the mountain they came to a large flattened area.
The flag had ceased moving, as Dahlia had said on the way there, and fluttered in the middle of a muddy field. The party came to a halt. Ten robed mages stood around the edges of the field.
“Weapons,” Orbahn said.
“But we can’t fight the mages,” Alice said, remembering Eve’s instructions.
Orbahn tightened his shield to his arm. When he flexed his fingers, a blade sprang out of the end.
Felix drew his daggers and Dahlia her bow. Alice sighed and freed the club from its restraint on her back.
Once they were armed, the waiting mages raised their arms.
The ground trembled beneath their feet as fae language spoke directly to the earth. Language and earth fused together effortlessly unlike when Orbahn cast his spells. Mounds swelled from the earth and took the shape of clay humanoids.
Golems.
Fifty golems stood between them and the flag on the ground.
“There’s a lot, but they’re not alive,” Orbahn said to Alice. “Don’t hold back.”
Once it was clear they WEREN’T fighting the mages directly, Alice raised her club.
“I won’t!” She said.
“Then take point! Felix, support Alice! Dahlia, provide cover fire!”
““Sir!””
The golems charged forward as the party stepped foot onto the field. Alice and Felix ran in first. As they reached clashing distance, Alice planted her feet and swung her club like a baseball bat. It collided into the foremost golem, shattering it. Pieces of the golem shot across the field like bullets, and the two mages directly in the way of the flying debris threw themselves to the ground to avoid being hit.
“Sorry!” Alice shouted.
“Don’t apologize now,” Felix said, but he laughed anyway. He slid between the legs of a golem and touched it’s leg. The Golem dried out in an instant and crumbled under the impact of Orbahn’s shield.
Fae language grew clumsy little leaves as Orbahn pulled roots to the surface from beneath the field and hindered the movement of the golems. Alice swung again and knocked multiple golems into the air and across the field.
A heavy stone arm slammed into Alice’s back. Her chest lost its wind and burned as she fell to her knees. The Golem raised its stone arm again but Dahlia’s arrow shattered the joint of its arm. Alice swept her leg out and the golem tumbled to the ground.
More golems formed behind them as they made slow progress to the flag.
__________
Evalyn listened to the commentary of the fight through the enchanted shell earring in her ear.
She made notes as the mage observing described the skirmmich before him. The mark on her wrist carried a warmth as she felt Alice’s exertion. Beneath that warmth, she felt that Divine power, struggling to ignite.
Beside her Lineah also listened through an earring.
“Pressure them more,” Lineah said to the observer on the other end. "Target Liavera."
“Yes, Captain.”
_________
The golem onslaught remained endless. Regardless of how many they knocked down, the mages reformed them or summoned more.
The tide of the battle slowly turned against them.
“My quiver’s empty!” Dahlia called from across the field.
Unable to keep her distance any longer, Dahlia rushed onto the field. She ducked and weaved out of the golems’ attacks with ease until one of her arrows appeared in her sight.
She ran for it, but because her focus was on the golems, she didn’t sense the fireball that knocked her off her feet.
“Dee!”
Alice’s head whipped around at Felix’s cry.
One of the mages on the outskirts had changed to throwing fire. And another fireball sprang to life in his hands.
Dahlia laid on her side, stunned.
The mage aimed for Dahlia and turned the fireball loose.
Everything slowed in Alice’s vision as her legs moved on their own.
In her head she could see what would happen if she didn’t act, but she didn’t even have to think about it. Her friend was in danger. Her friend needed help.
She had to help her, because she cared for her.
I have to protect her!
Alice threw herself on top of Dahlia’s body as the fireball fell upon them.
_________
The mountain blocking the observing crowd’s view grew dark as a golden light erupted on the far side.
Evalyn felt immense power flash through her like a bolt of lightning. She stumbled as her own power practically shrieked in her mind. Lineah caught her arm before she could fall.
“Cover your face,” she whispered. “Your eyes are freaking out.”
“What happened?” she asked the observer. Waves crashed in her ears in response.
“W-well…”
______
Immense heat threatened to burn her alive, but the flames never reached Alice and Dahlia. As the giantess threw her body over her friend as a shield, an actual dome-like shield of golden light covered them.
When she opened her eyes, she saw that Dahlia stared up at her in surprise. Blood trickled down her face from a cut to her head, but otherwise Dahlia looked all right.
“You okay?” Alice asked anyway.
Dahlia nodded.
Golems and fire struck the other side of the barrier but couldn’t break through.
“Thanks!” Dahlia said and wrapped her arms around Alice’s neck. As they hugged the shield shimmered and grew a bit larger, and understanding clicked in Alice’s mind.
“Oh.”
She slipped her arms under Dahlia to support her, then stood up.
“Hang on,” she said. “Let’s get that flag.”
She couldn’t fight them off directly without a weapon, but Alice ran forward anyway. Her shield moved with them, forcing the golems out of the way. Dahlia gripped her neck tight, and pointed her in the direction of the flag.
As the mass of earth and fire fell away, the flag came into view. Alice picked up the pace, but just before the flag entered the barrier, a black robed blur crossed their path and snatched the flag.
Felix and Orbahn ran after the mage, but the figure jumped over the cliff’s edge and vanished. Around them, the golems crumbled back to earth and the remaining nine mages retreated.
Alice helped Dahlia to her feet. The shield vanished.
“The flag’s heading down really fast,” Dahlia said. “We’re closer to the flag at the summit at this point.”
Felix cursed. Orbahn patted his shoulder.
“Looks like you understand your Gift now,” he said to Alice.
“More or less,” Alice nodded. “At the very least I think I can defend us.”
“And you, Dee? You good?” He asked.
Dahlia wiped the blood on her face with her cloak and nodded.
“I just hit my head on a rock or something when I fell. I’m okay.”
“Then let’s hurry to the summit,” He replied. “We’ll catch up to the flag thief on the way back down.”