It had waited as was the plan, hiding itself in the sunlight, it only became visible in the dappled shadows of the forest and even then only when the shadows touched it's form.<br/>When the attack began, it had kicked it's steed into action, the pack horse who had so readily had it's reigns dropped so that it could run free and had headed it into the woods behind where Sonja had hidden.<br/><br/>It could feel her power draining, using it's own powers it helped it along, so subtly that she could not have noticed in these circumstances, savouring the flavour of her power, relishing the fact that it would have more.<br/><br/>Eva's band had braced themselves for the charge, only three men, but on such huge beasts it was still an intimidating sight, but the clash never came.<br/>At the very last moment, the horses veered off and charges out of the woods and into the large meadows beyond.<br/>A sharp whistle, from the swordsman on the ground, called off the dogs.<br/>As he hit the ground, covering his head with his arms, the dogs, some still smoking and injured, from the fire bolt that had hit them, tore out and after the horsemen.<br/><br/>All this happened in moments and as the storm clouds gathered in the sky, Borghast himself, had charged past the tree she was in and past the creature he only felt was there, so that he could pull it up sharply and turn, standing in safety.<br/><br/>As Sonja's power drained from her and into the spell, 'it' raised it's shrouded arms, the darkening sky beginning to show an outline of the robed figure.<br/>Waiting until she could not pull back, it pulled all the strength of her magic back towards her, forcing her to take the brunt of her own power.<br/>It paused, seeming to enjoy the fact that it could manipulate so much energy, before letting it go.<br/>There was, for a split second a pause, almost as though the very earth had held it's breath, then like a tidal wave, the energy exploded outwords, sending a shock, so violent that shook the ground, trees collapsed, those still standing lost their leaves, plants and bushes uprooted.<br/>Even out of it's blast, the Prince faught hard to keep his mount from falling, shifting his balance to help it remain steady and in the fraction of a second that it took to complete, nothing and no-one remained standing in it's wake.....<br/>