Simeon's powerful legs drove him onward, faster than he should have been able to run. The limbs and branches of the forest bent from his movement, snapping and scratching as he ran. He felt Chendrelle extend herself to him again, but the request was severed before he could decline, her echoes becoming laden with pain. He could feel it inside of him as well. His chest echoed the same discomfort that she felt, a sensation of being suffocated. It grew so strong that he had to stop running for a moment or collapse breathless. He labored to breathe as he sat staring back in the direction of Ignall's Grounding.

Simeon hung his head, spitting curses at his cowardice. After all Chendrelle had sacrificed for him, this was how he chose to return her favor? Voraphet had spoken the truth; the words of men were hollow and self-serving. Simeon had witnessed it many times.

As he stood considering his fate, Chendrelle"s curdling scream extended to his mind, begging for acceptance. When he reluctantly gave it, Chendrelle"s desperation flooded his mind.

He could see that some sort of constrictor Dark-Fey had wrapped itself around her, slowly crushing the life from her. The fight was not going well for the winged-Fey, as they darted to the trees periodically, giving the Dark-Fey time to gather together in concentrated groups. Tahletha stood among a seething mass of Dark-Fey, trying desperately to make her way toward Chendrelle. Dark tendrils were lashed about her arms, preventing her from taking flight, but the silver spear she held kept the mass at bay.

Nettamion and a handful of other sisters fared no better, being slowly pushed back toward Ignall in the center of the clearing. The fight would not last much longer.

Simeon extended himself to Chendrelle, his Qelltalis sending out a wave of power to her. He paused and watched as it reached her, causing a pulse of blinding light to erupt from her. The Dark-Fey that were close to her squealed in pain, but the constrictor that held her quickly closed its lidded eyes, unaffected by the golden light.

"I am coming," he said, folding the distance as he ran to her.

Chendrelle"s presence in his mind grew weaker and weaker as he ran. The Dark-Fey had coiled itself around her face, preventing her from singing a protective spell/song. The serpent"s powerful muscles drew tighter and tighter, squeezing the last of Chendrelle"s breath from her tiny chest.

Simeon pushed himself to his limit, as the forest around him became a blur of shadows. The effort of maintaining his concentration on so many things left him unsure and awkward, but his will never wavered. When he came upon the clearing, he was tripped to a skidding halt by a fallen tree that lay hidden in the heavy brush. He pushed himself to his feet and frantically searched the grove for Chendrelle"s location.

The grove was a seething sea of Dark-Fey, their winged sisters having taken refuge in the sky above with the exception of Tahletha and two sisters that fought beside her.

"Chendrelle!" Simeon shouted into the fray as her awareness to him was severed.

Tahletha caught his eye as he scanned the battlefield, and pointed her spear toward the southern end of the grove, but he still could not see Chendrelle.

Simeon brought his Qelltalis to flame inside him, its power flooding his mind and body with strength. He extended his awareness outward in a forceful wave of power. When it washed over Chendrelle across the clearing, her failing flesh pulsed with golden light.

The Dark-Fey were too thick in number for Simeon to close the distance with any speed. Tahletha was fighting her way to her as swiftly as she could, but was quickly becoming overwhelmed by her vile sisters.

Simeon turned to the fallen tree behind him. It was as big around as his chest, much heavier than a man could lift alone. The Winged-Fey might be able to assist him with some enchantment if there were time, but Chendrelle"s fading light warned that only seconds remained to act.

Simeon jumped to the other side of the tree and broke the ground beneath with his hands, digging small burrows under the fallen giant. Its rough bark was a welcome sensation. He peered over the tree to the Fey beyond, pinpointing Chendrelle"s location in his mind. The light he had extended to her was hidden now, swallowed by the surging forms of the Dark-Fey around her. He could still feel her, faintly.

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