The seven Azrael, Adam, and five of the best students in the academy dove deep into the forest. The trees above seemed to threaten them with their looming stature, their shadows twisting and dancing with every flutter of light that came from the sun now setting. Much daylight was caught by the thick canopy, letting very dim glow guide them in their path.
"So," Adam said, starting up again as they continued trudging up the twisting trail, "what does a dragon heart look like, exactly? Is it huge? Glowing? Maybe pulsating with raw power like in the legends?"
One of the girls, Lena, rolled her eyes. "You really think that a dragon heart is going to be some sort of thing out of a kids' story? It's just going to be a lump of flesh."
"Hey, let a guy dream," Adam replied with a grin. "This is the first real adventure I've been on. It's got to have some flair."
Azrael said nothing. His brow furrowed, his eyes scanning the darkening woods. He could not get that feeling off his shoulders that they were being watched. The forest was too quiet, no birds singing, no rustling of leaves-just the crunch of their footsteps. He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword.
"I don't like this silence," he muttered.
"Relax," said Kira, a tall, red-haired girl with sharp eyes. "You're always so tense. We've got magic, weapons, and numbers on our side. What could possibly go wrong?"
Adam chuckled nervously. "Yeah, famous last words."
The final rays of the sun fell, and so they set camp. A small fire crackled in the center of their clearing, its dancing flames overarching the faces before them. Azrael sat somewhat aside from the rest, carving strips from the flesh of some hunted beast. The scent of meat sizzled in the air.
Adam stretched out on the ground, hands behind his head. "Ah, this is the life. Good food, good company… and a dragon hunt. What more could a guy want?"
"Peace and quiet?" Azrael suggested dryly, skewering a piece of meat.
Kira laughed. "Come on, Azrael. Lighten up for once. We're all in this together."
He let out a deep sigh and shook his head. Just as he was going to answer, a loud crack echoed through the woods. His hand paused mid-air. Footsteps.
"Do you hear that?" he whispered.
Everyone stopped talking, turning their eyes toward the darkness beyond the circle of light from the fire.
Before Azrael could even move, it happened: A blur of motion burst from the shadows.
Figures in flowing white robes, larger than any human, with a breathtakingly beautiful, otherworldly grace, alighted upon them. Their eyes shone like embers in the dark and their movements quick, sure.
Azrael barely registered the attack before something connected with the side of his head. Pain exploded behind his eyes, and the world tilted as he collapsed into darkness.
It was a merciless attack. The girls sprang into action, their magic flaring to life. Lena called a torrent of fire, flames swirling toward the nearest figure.
But the fire died before it reached its target, breaking down into harmless embers that seemed smothered by some force.
Kira sent a blast of wind to knock the attackers back, but it didn't even ruffle their robes.
"What's going on?" she panted. "Our magic. it's not working!"
"Focus on physical combat!" Lena yelled, drawing twin daggers from her belt.
The sisters of the academy fought with all their might, using their finely honed martial skills.
Blades clashed, fists flew, and kicks landed with bone-crunching force. But the women in white moved with impossible speed, deflecting every strike with ease. Their strength was overwhelming.
Adam swung a heavy staff, aiming for one of their heads. The woman caught it mid-swing with one hand, her grip like iron. With a flick of her wrist, she sent him sprawling to the ground.
One by one, the defenders were overwhelmed. The attackers were too fast, too strong, and too untouchable.
Pain pulsed through Azrael's skull; he slowly came into consciousness. His vision blurred and then finally settled upon a grim scene.
His companions were bound and gagged with thick ropes that hummed with magical energy. The fire was doused, leaving only the pale light of the moon to filter through the trees into the clearing.
"Finally awake, are you?" a voice drawled. It was Adam, slumped beside him. "Welcome back to the land of the living."
Azrael groaned, levering himself up onto his elbows. "What… happened?"
"Don't even try magic," Adam said in a glum tone. "It doesn't work on them. Trust me."
Azrael's eyes narrowed. "Magic doesn't work?"
"None of it," Adam confirmed. "Nothing we tried had any effect."
Azrael fisted his hands. No magic… that explains a lot. His mind turned as an idea took shape. He regarded the women in white, standing silently as sentinels around the camp.
"Who are you?" he said. His voice came out level.
One of the women moved a pace closer. Her eyes glittered as starlight. "We are the Holy Ones," she said. "You have come upon our sacred forest without permission."
Azrael scowled. "We were on a mission of utmost gravity, at the behest of the Sisterhood Bene Gesserit. We did not deliberately trespass."
She did not stir. "Permission was not granted."
Azrael's jaw clenched. I knew it. That old hag had something up her sleeve. He took a slow breath in and then worked his lips up into a grin. "Al'right. I got a reasonable proposition for ya."
The woman raised an eyebrow. "A proposition?"
"Yes," he said smoothly. "You can take the six of them-do whatever you want with them-but let me go. I have a mission to complete."
A murmur rippled through the group of women. The leader's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Such selfishness and greed," she mused. "I like it. But what makes you think I will let you go?"
Azrael's smirk widened. "Because you don't want to die."
A tense silence hung over the clearing.
The woman regarded him for a long moment, then smiled. "You may go."
"Azrael!" Adam protested. "How could you do this? This isn't fair!"
"Shut it, you little rat," Azrael snapped, rising to his feet.