Fallen One (Book three of Alfireán age)

-A Wild Ride-

Drakovian stood with his arms crossed, staring at a scrying. The crisp, clear image depicted the dam the dinosaur had constructed. It was an impressive feat of engineering, one he planned on destroying. Reaching out, Drake touched the lower left-hand corner and a simulation of that part of the dam being blown apart played across the image.

"Hmm, not quite right," Olivia said as the lake in the scrying ripped the barrier apart and rushed downstream. "An explosion there causes the whole thing to collapse too fast. With that much water pressure, we'd be more likely to run aground or get injured. I think this," she said tapping the scrying on a different area of the dam, "is still the best outcome."

"Agreed," Drake stated while he watched Olivia's simulation playout for the third time. She was right; that particular location would cause just the right amount of pressure to pull them downstream and propel them at a manageable speed.

"I don't know," Scarlet inserted, looking up from the scrying she'd been reading the whole time. "I'm all for fireworks and explosions, but that still looks pretty destructive. Are you sure we'll make it out in one piece?"

"Ya, I want to keep all my body parts," Pony added, wrapping her arms around herself. Then her face scrunched in concern. "And aren't we worried about anyone living downriver?" she continued, ever the bleeding heart.

"We'll be fine," the prince stated, touching the purple gem on his wrist and disconnecting it from Olivia's scrying. "And no one lives in this area. At worst, we'll destroy several hundred acres of forestry. On the bright side, we'll likely kill several thousand of Vackzilian's abominations."

"But-"

"No more buts," Drake said cutting the brown-haired maid off. "We have been down here long enough, and it's only a miracle that monstrosity has not recognized our presence. Alf, if you could open a hole right here," he continued, tapping his finger on the crystalline shield in the direction of the dam.

"This ought to be interesting," Alf answered as Olivia ceased following him, and he dropped to the floor.

"Ya, but what about the Memby?" Pony continued to prattle on while the hole opened up and mud started to seep in.

Drake rolled his eyes. "Giving a dangerous carnivore, that would eat us all in one bite if, given the chance, a pet name is anything but wise," he stated matter-of-factly and turned his attention to Olivia. "A tunnel eight inches in diameter should suffice."

"It's okay sweetie. I'm sure it's not the only one of its kind," Silver said, taking her youngest sister in her arms.

Olivia nodded, stepped forward, raised both of her hands, and a bright golden light flooded the sphere. Bathing everyone in a warm glow, a steady beam traveled from her fingers, through Alf's hole in the barrier, and out into the mud encasing their prison.

The scent of burning mud drifted inwards as the minutes ticked by, and their small capsule fell silent while the healer drilled a tunnel through the muck towards the dam.

"How are you holding up?" Drake asked, noticing a bead of sweat on Alf's brow.

"Not too bad," the young High Lord answered. "Opening a hole in a shield is mostly about brute force of will, and that's something I'm good at. How about you Livy?"

The light pouring forth from the healer's hands dimmed momentarily then brightened again. "Okay," she answered, taking a deep breath. "When Drake first mentioned it, I thought digging a pipeline from here to the dam might be kind of hard, but it's manageable. Especially since if I slowly increase the length of my beam, it takes a lot less energy. That, and I've come up with a few techniques to change how holy magic works which makes it easier to use."