gain.
Then Crispus released my arm and, with a yell, stood and attacked a Praetor who had come upon us, bringing them both down to the ground. It pulled me back into the field, and I leapt to my feet too. Praetors were swarming this field like ants across spilled honey. Crispus's guards helped, but not enough.
Valerius was slower to respond. He rolled beneath the vines, putting his hands over his head, no doubt hoping that would be enough to save him.
I shot magic toward the Praetor entangled with Crispus, and then yanked Crispus to his feet. "Protect your father," I told him. "I'll do what I can to stop this."
I started running, headed away from Crispus, away from the vines. If they needed a distraction, then I was happy to provide it.
I sent a ball of fire near the vines, similar to one I had seen Radulf create once. Enough moisture was already in the air that it required more magic to maintain the fire, but the smoke was all I cared about. I needed another shield, which would protect me as I ran through the fire toward where I'd left Callistus. The Praetors could not follow me then.
However, I underestimated how much weaker I had become, and my still-injured leg tripped on a simple stray vine. The area was already filling with smoke, choking me.
I got onto all fours and searched within myself for any remaining magic. If necessary, I would crawl until I found the bulla.
I found a bit of magic deep inside, enough for a minute or two of protection. If I hurried, it would get me past the fire.
Crispus was running up the hill now, directly behind his father. And not far from me, a Praetor had a bow aimed directly at them. Rather than create a shield, I used the last of my magic to hit the Praetor, but it was a moment too late.
With the punch of magic, his arrow released at a different angle than what had been intended and missed Crispus. But it did hit someone.
Valerius was shot.
I rushed back through the Praetors, slick with sweat and refusing to be taken again. I wanted to send magic at all of them, to cause the same hurt and pain that was now swelling in me. But for the moment, I couldn't feel even a whisper of magic from the Star.
By the time I reached the place where Valerius had rolled after he fell, Crispus was at my side.
"There's a unicorn," I said between breaths. "At the edge of your property, there's a unicorn. Bring him here ... his horn ... I can't heal this alone."
Crispus nodded and ran in the way I'd directed him.
Valerius clutched my hand. "I'm so sorry, Nic. For everything I've done to you. Everything that will still happen to you. I'm so sorry."
"I've got to pull this arrow out, sir," I told him. "It's going to hurt, but then I can heal you."
"No, don't ... Use what you have ... fight."
I shook my head and put my hands on the shaft of the arrow, but Valerius put his hands over mine and pulled them down.
"Crispus will ... help you," Valerius whispered. "Trust him. You ... must learn to trust."
"I've got to remove the arrow."
But Valerius shook his head. "Do not wake the Mistress. If they force you ... the Malice ... do not wake her."
Praetors were edging closer again. They were relentless, like vultures that wanted their prey.
"Where is the door?" I asked him. "Sir, where is the Malice hidden?"
Another arrow flew through the air, nearly above my head. I ducked as it hit the thigh of the Praetor who had gotten closest to me.
"I have enough arrows for all of you!" Aurelia yelled out. So she was still here, somewhere in the vineyard ahead of me. It must've taken her time to locate another bow. I was never sure how she seemed to find them everywhere when I had yet to find a single weapon simply lying around for the taking.
"I've got help now," I told Valerius. "I'll heal you while she ..." My voice trailed off. The senator's eyes were closed, and his head had gone limp.
I yanked out the arrow, then pressed my hands to his chest and emptied into it everything I had left. The Divine Star's cold burn was almost as intense as it had been when the Praetors pressed down on it, but this magic wasn't being taken from me. I was giving it to Valerius, all I could.
"Enough of this, Nic," Radulf whispered into my head. "You can't help him now."