The hair on Bron’s head lifted. Rhunal conjured her magic barrier around them both, blocking another lightning strike. The pair were wreathed in electricity. Before a second could come and shatter her barrier, she dispelled the barrier as Bron raised his sword high again. Carinus was now standing at the top of a tall tree, with an excellent vantage point.

“Another near thing.” Bron exhaled a nervous puff of air. “Follow me!”

They pushed forward using a combination Rhun’s magic barrier and Bron’s anti-magic sword. The wizard was finally close enough to become a target of a fireball. Before the first fireball even landed, Carinus leapt from one tree to the next. It impressed her how he slowed his falling speed with wind magic. He touched down at the top of the next tree as easily as if he was taking the next step of a staircase.

But she persisted, torching the tree he was standing on. And the next. As long as he was forced to keep moving, it was difficult for him to have time to cast lightning at them. He would be even more accurate this close. But Carinus was not just reacting to their attacks. He was circling around them. The wizard surprised the pair by launching lightning mid-fall. The bolt struck Bron in the hip, sending him careening to the ground. Rhunal’s shield was struck by the followup attempt to keep Bron down for good. The barrier faltered after one hit at close range. 

With no defense, Rhun lashed out with a bolt of lightning of her own. She missed the falling wizard; the bolt redirected to the nearest object, the treetop he was trying to land on. The top third of the tree snapped off. Carinus flailed for something to slow his fall. He caught hold of a branch, swinging clumsily into the tree. Rhun launched a fireball into that same tree.

The wizard lunged clear of the flames. His robes were singed, but he was unharmed. Bron and Rhun had been given enough of a breather to get closer.

They dashed forward, Bron took the lead, blocking Carinus’ lightning. His sword absorbed even the gusts of wind, influenced by magic as they were.

Winded, Carinus couldn’t quickly leap into the closest tree. Rhunal already torched his next platform even as he landed in it. Another was close, and she primed to ignite that one as well. But instead, a cyclone engulfed the blazing tree he was standing in. Carinus sprang forward, launching above the pair. Bron raised his sword to intercept, but Carinus waited. A lightning bolt struck Bron square in the back. He was down, but breathing. Rhun dragged him behind a larger tree before scrambling up into the branches. Carinus touched down in front of them both. The battle had turned against them. 

He raised both hands. “What now, student?” 

“You’ll see, archmage.” Rhun channeled her own cyclone, engulfing the entire tree. 

Carinus shook his head. “Coming right at me? I suppose it is like you.” His hands filled with electricity, a cloud formed above him, electricity pulsed down into his hands. He held the spell steady as Rhunal’s tree rocked from her storm winds. The tree rotated faster and faster. Despite maintaining the powerful lightning orb in front of him, Carinus did not seem weary. 

The winds flicked the top of the tree forward, and Rhun was accelerated forward. Despite her speed, she didn’t believe the wizard would miss. She let the momentum of the tree do its work and channeled a different spell instead of wind magic.

Rhun felt the hair on her head stand up. Moments before his lightning could strike, her barrier was up. The lightning bolt and the expanding barrier met. Even her freshly raised barrier barely survived the impact. But she’d aimed her launch well, directly towards him.

Carinus was standing defenseless before her. She hurtled towards him as a shimmering cyan-blue projectile, wreathed in lightning. Moments before impact, his desperately raised magic barrier met her own. The clashing barriers exploded into light, hurling them both to the ground. Both wizard and orc witch locked eyes on each other. They were mere feet apart. Sweat was pouring down her brow and her muscles shook with fatigue. Rhun gathered herself on hands and knees and lunged forward. 

Carinus raised a palm wreathed in electricity, intercepting her fist, and static jolted through every nerve in her body. She collapsed beside him, unable to move a single limb.

The wizard stood up, a torrent of sweat running down his face. “I’m disappointed. You’re an archmage. Why jump at me with mere fists? You could have got a spell off faster.”

“I spent it all. Between the barrier and the last wind cyclone, I held nothing back.” Rhun’s voice cracked. “Don’t hurt Bron.”

“You’re the one the warlock wanted. I have no interest in your friend. Tough bastard. Two bolts of lightning to bring him down.” He placed a hand on top of her head, a kind gesture in better circumstances. “Sleep.” The word was a command, and part of a spell.

At Carinus’ promise, goaded by his magic, Rhun let go of her desperate hold on consciousness.