This is the penultimate chapter; I'll be posting the last fairly soon (provided I don't forget). Any and all comments appreciated! 
Quick recap: Lynn, Amber, and Peter have left the Velken Mountain with the Gem of Power; they're returning to the city of Sothil and see that the evil Queen Saron's army has started its attack upon the town.
*Rated 12 for some mild violence
Icefire, part ten
Amber frowned as they viewed the city. There seemed to be a skirmish upon the walls, and she could make out a large black mass in front of the gates.
“Come on!” she called, urging Flame into a madcap gallop. They neared the troops, and Amber saw the familiar heraldry of flaming golden arrows upon the red surcoats.
“Stick with me!” she called to Lynn and Peter. As they surged through the army, men turned to fight the newcomers, but Amber kept them at bay, shouting, “They are my prisoners!”
“No prisoners! We’re supposed to kill them all!” a man shouted.
“Don’t tell me what to do, captain!” Amber snapped back, recognizing the distinguishing feather in his helmet. She pulled out a metal pin in the shape of a flame and said, “I’m a member of F.I.R.E., let me through to the city!”
The man quickly released Lynn’s foot, which he had originally grabbed, and said resentfully, “Yes, ma’am.”
Amber kicked Flame forward, and they made their way through the city gates into the inner circle of walls, where the Fiamalans had arrived and were fighting with the Sothilian soldiers.
A shower of icespears and firebolts riddled both sides, and everywhere men on both sides were crumpling to the ground, screaming in pain as they were either burned or frozen. Blood slicked the streets and made it hard going for the three teenagers.
They continued through to the next gate, where the keep was, and Amber caught sight of Queen Saron, ordering the others forward, cutting a large swath amongst the men with her golden sword.
Swinging off her horse, Amber grabbed Lynn and Peter and pulled them along after her, towards the keep door. The queen was facing three Sothilian foot soldiers, and didn’t see the others until they had passed her.
“What?” she roared, and Amber shoved the two forward, saying “Take it to Jade, freeze the core!”
Peter dashed into the keep door, but Lynn stayed behind. “I’m not leaving you,” he said firmly.
“Traitor!” Saron fairly screamed at Amber, her face red with fury and her eyes blazing unnaturally. “You warned them about us!” She threw a knife at Amber and Lynn, who ducked. Saron slashed the throat of the last Sothilian soldier and advanced towards the two, her sword dripping with blood. “I should have killed you when I had the chance!” She lunged forward and swung her sword down, but Lynn was ready and blocked it with his icesickle.
“And you consort with Tjaeleans!” Saron screeched at Amber, who had drawn her own blade. “You are nothing but a disgrace!” She deftly swung her sword around and cut Lynn’s arm. He had ducked, but not quickly enough, and he yelled in pain at the heat of the blade, crumpling to the ground.
Amber leapt forward. “Don’t you dare touch him!” she yelled.
Saron didn’t reply; instead she rushed forward and began a series of rapid, furious strokes that Amber barely managed to block. She felt her arms weakening and give way, and then to her horror she lost her grip on her sword and it skittered away across the courtyard.
“Now say goodbye,” Saron said with a devilish smile upon her face, and she raised her blade to drive it home. But suddenly, she stopped. Amber shivered as the air temperature seemed to plummet.
“No!” Saron shrieked, turning to the keep. Queen Jade was standing there, the Gem in her hands, and Peter by her side. Saron whirled and stabbed her blade down, but there was nothing there. Amber had scrambled away as soon as the queen’s attention was diverted, and she was making her way over to the others.
“No!” Saron screamed again, feeling the coldness creep into her skin.
“Amber!” Lynn called, standing up and trotting over to the stumbling girl. He grabbed her and pulled her inside the keep. She was fading quickly, as all the others were doing, and he hurried to bring her to the Great Hall where a fireplace was. Amber shuddered, feeling coldness engulf her, and she fell to the ground.
~~~~~
Queen Saron shrieked again; the bailey was filled with the cold, she could feel it surrounding her. She made her way over to Queen Jade, clutching wildly in front of her. Jade backed away, but didn’t lower her arm at all, and the Gem shone in the sun, casting light around the bailey.
Saron grabbed her throat; the cold was creeping into her body and her joints were freezing up. She fell to the ground, writhing and convulsing. The minutes slowly ticked by, although to the queen it felt like hours. Tendrils of ice were forming in her blood stream and creeping up to her heart, which was throbbing more and more slowly with every beat.
“No!” Saron yelled again—only it came out as a rasp and a gurgle as blood gushed out of her mouth. The ice touched and ensnared her heart, it gave one last beat, and then it froze. Queen Saron’s head fell to the ground, her eyes open and staring with a hateful, terrifying expression upon it.
Peter stared in fright at the dead queen and shivered.
Queen Jade slowly lowered the Gem. “Well done, Peter,” she said. “Come, let us see how the others fare.”
“Are the other Fiamalans dead?” he asked.
Jade was quiet, slowly striding towards the gate. Peter followed her until she stopped at the entrance to the outer rings. She was quiet, then at last replied, “I don’t know. I think the ones who are more evil are dying sooner. Their hearts are more fiery and thus more susceptible to freezing, whereas the ones whose hearts are not quite so ablaze may be able to stand the cold better and survive.”
“Amber should be fine then,” Peter said hopefully, glancing back at the keep. He was partly tempted to go in, but also leery of what he would find. Besides, Lynn was there, with Amber. Peter grinned to himself at that thought. Yes, Lynn would be able to take care of her just fine.
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