by K. F. Breene
As they came around the bend, they found Xavier and the rest of them. Their eyes showed relief upon seeing Shanti. Xavier pointed back the way they’d come as more blasts sounded. “Big army, S’am. Compared to us, I mean. And a lot of Inkna.”
“Any chance of explosives, Maggie?” Cayan asked as they ran by.
“No, sir. I have nothing to make them with.”
“We need to prepare for them having them.” Shanti winced as she stepped on something sharp. The sandals Xandre provided would hinder her in battle. “I need to find some proper clothes, Cayan.”
“I’ll get some, S’am,” Ruisa called. “I know where there are some. I have a key.”
Another blast sounded behind them now, the castle still taking heavy fire.
“Are you crazy?” Rachie said from within the group of fighters. “You’ll get stone rained down on you.”
“It’s in the back half. I’ll be quick.” Ruisa ran without further argument, not waiting for approval.
“I see the Honor Guard has gone back to the way you do things,” Cayan said as he slowed, his eyes scanning. Shanti knew he was waiting for Ruisa to get back, rather than being careful as he progressed.
“He does not understand his Gift very well,” Burson said quietly, his brow furrowed in concentration. “Or else he has an ulterior motive.”
Like ripping off a bandage, their Gifts blossomed and spread, covering the area in a fog. The minds of the Inkna popped up, plentiful and suddenly confused. Many were nervous, too, probably sensing the battle to come.
The minds around her merged into one, centered around Cayan and her Gifts. Within the Joining, electricity sizzled. Power boiled, hot and wild.
“Strike them,” Cayan said, still slowed on the path. His muscles flexed, his desire to surge ahead showing in his demeanor.
Shanti rained down spires of power, striking hastily made shields, splintering them. The weaker minds cracked open, now vulnerable to attacks. Before they could erect another shield, the Shadow battered them, ripping into the Inkna minds and scrambling what they found. The Shumas lent Shanti more power, making her next strike more potent. It tore through soft brain matter. Inkna crumpled, their intellects dying like a snuffed candle.
“The stronger Inkna are forging a mental collective,” Sonson said, his sword in hand.
“Here, S’am.” Ruisa sprinted out of the castle with wild eyes, ducking as a cannonball hit the other side. “I had to go through the middle to get to the stairway. The whole sea side is a mess.”
Shanti stared at her clothes and her sword for a beat, surprised. “Where did you find these?”
“In your room. They were in One’s trunk last night. When I didn’t see them in there a moment ago, I checked your room really quickly. They were on your made bed. Someone had straightened up your room.”
“He wants you on equal footing,” Cayan said, staring at the way ahead. “I didn’t think the Graygual cherished a fair fight.”
“Or were that obsessive about a clean room,” Sanders muttered.
“He’s the first I’ve found.” Shanti shook her head. “But then, he’s the smartest I’ve found, too. Maybe he hasn’t completely succumbed to the brainwashing.”
“That won’t save him.” Cayan flexed from head to toe.
“He knows that. Let’s go.” Shanti pushed forward, immediately joined by everyone else. Cayan retook the lead, his worry for her ingrained and not easily quelled.
A surge of power washed over them, singeing their consciousness. Many staggered with the pain, but no one fell, not even the Honor Guard. Sanders dug into a pocket as he ran, and produced the root that would wipe out the effect of the Gift.
“Who wants it?” he asked.
All the non-Gifted reached for it immediately.
“Why does this taste like crap?” Xavier coughed.
“Actual crap, too.” Rachie retched.
“It got wet in the swamp. Let’s hope we don’t get sick.” Sanders’ face screwed up in disgust as he chewed.
“That would’ve been nice to know before I took it,” Ruisa muttered.
“Keep that handy in case Burson loses his grip,” Cayan said. A great wave of power burst out from him, rolling over the grounds and smashing into the Inkna. Shanti could feel them quail under the strength, backed by her and her Shumas. More minds blinked out as they succumbed.
A roar of male voices rose up, just around the bend.
“That’ll be their army.” Cayan didn’t slow. He ran around the corner and drew his sword.
The stone wall lay in bits in one section, crumbled from forced entry long ago. The ground leading up to that gap in the defense was bare, devoid of obstacle or army. Beyond, however, waiting on the far side of the gap, was a sea of Graygual, easily more than double Shanti’s small force. Perhaps triple. They waited in the trees, spanning down the hillside with their swords drawn.
Cayan slowed, looking down at the sea of faces. Another wave of power exploded out, ramming into the Inkna. Their counterattack railed into Shanti’s company, weak by comparison. Shanti hit back with a mental might that Xandre had not been able to duplicate. Not even close.
“Burson, I can’t feel the Graygual,” she said, searching. Waiting for Cayan to formulate a plan.
“They are protected. Their man is releasing his hold on the Inkna in order to better protect the Graygual. I can’t pry him free.”
“So he’s in the area.”
“Running, yes. Working down that hillside.”
“They are trying to funnel us down through that stone fence,” Cayan said, scanning the walls. “The Hunter would never have been so careless with his battle plans.”
“What does the Hunter have to do with anything?” Shanti asked, confused.
“He was better than this. Either there is a surprise to come, or they have squandered one of their battle geniuses.”
“They probably didn’t put much thought into this,” Burson said, wiping his palms on his pants. Sweat stood out on his forehead and his face showed nervousness. “We’ve taken the least likely paths today. Paths that should not have been possible. I’m sure he discounted them, not having worked with the Chosen before. You two were prophesied for a reason.”
“Pepper them with arrows as we run in,” Sonson said.
“Clear the way for me. I want Xandre.” Shanti’s grip tightened on her sword. Rohnan stepped up beside her, wanting his share. The other Shumas shifted, and the feeling of vengeance welled up.
“Honor Guard, take to the walls,” Cayan said brusquely. “You’ll be our cover. The rest of us take the Graygual, cutting a path through the center toward Xandre.”
The Honor Guard received bows if they didn’t already have them, and jogged toward the stairs at the far side of the space, except for Alexa. She gave Shanti a baleful look crusted with defiance. “They are not my people. You are my people. I wish to go with you.”
“I know this,” Shanti said, her heart going out to the girl. The need to get going pushed on her. “But you are most valuable where we might hear your Gift. That is your job among our people. So you will need to stay close to Marc in a place where you can be heard.”
“You will have the same amount of Honor,” Kallon said, resting his hand on Alexa’s shoulder. “We appreciate your sacrifice.”
“Let the beasts loose,” Cayan said. “What of the horses?”
“I know where they are!” Xavier called from the stairs.
“Get them. Hurry.”
“The Graygual weren’t the only ones ill prepared,” Sonson said, shifting from side to side.
“He is getting away,” Burson said, more agitated. “If we don’t hurry, we will all be lost.”
“Don’t need the extra pressure, old man.” Sanders stretched his neck. “But horses will tip the scales.”
An attack seared their brains, the Inkna continuing with their assault, but from farther away. It could only mean they were leaving with Xandre.
Urgenc
y boiled through Shanti. She bounced from foot to foot. A short time later, Xavier rode into the space. The Honor Guard horses came easily. Behind them, agitated and clearly unhappy, were some of the Graygual stock, finely bred animals with fierce eyes and stamping feet.
“There were only a few left. The Bastard helped.” Xavier looked back warily to where the Bastard stamped a foot. He bit at one of the Graygual horses, who neighed and trotted forward a few feet.
“These probably belonged to the dead,” Shanti said, running at her horse. “Thank you for being an insane bastard everyone is afraid of,” she said as she jumped on.
“Mount up. Let’s go!” Cayan jumped onto a saddleless horse.
“I hope I don’t fall off,” Shanti muttered as everyone else climbed on a horse. Many of the Shumas kept to their feet, since there weren’t enough horses and they were the worst riders.
“Honor Guard, are you ready?” Cayan called.
“We’re ready, sir. We’ve got you covered.” Xavier nocked an arrow, as did the others.
Snarling, the beasts were led forward, the hair on their bodies standing on end. Saliva dripped from their open mouths, exposing their large canines. The cats slunk toward the edges of the wall, always looking for cover.
“Go!” Cayan called.
Boas slapped the male beast on the butt. It snapped back at him, but a moment later, lurched forward. Its mate followed, her snarl rolling out in front of her. The cats ran through a gate a moment later, their graceful lope taking them quickly out of sight.
Shanti lifted her heels. Before she could tap them to the Bastard’s sides, he jolted forward, from standstill to sprint faster than Shanti could adjust. She clutched his mane with one hand and nearly dropped her sword from the other. They ran through the wall and down the hill, Cayan’s horse hard-pressed to catch them. In front of them spread a sea of black among the trees, covering the hillside. Shanti could feel the Inkna moving away in the distance as one. She had a long way to go to catch them.
20
The beasts barreled into the line of Graygual as Shanti slashed the minds of the Inkna. Two more dropped off, their focus splintered with their plight. Shadow tore into them next, with Cayan rolling his intense power down the entire hillside.
One of the beasts swiped its claws across a Graygual face before clamping its jaws around the throat of another. It shook its head, tearing the head off and letting it fall to the ground. Blood splattered as the other beast rose up on its hind legs and slashed through Graygual bodies.
“Helpful, those beasts,” Shanti said to herself through gritted teeth as the Bastard bore down on three Graygual running at her.
The Graygual cover of power wobbled for a moment, exposing the vulnerable minds around her. Shanti seized the opportunity and struck, sending a sharp point of power into their brains. The Shumas and Shadow did the same. Graygual dropped, loose-limbed. Their minds disappeared a moment later, covered again. Cayan’s power boomed out, too late.
Shanti struck downward, cutting into a shoulder. She swung to the other side, chopping a face. The Bastard rose up and kicked out, bashing faces and making Graygual flail back. He worked in farther, surrounded now as the cover wobbled again.
This time Cayan was ready. As the Shumas and Shadows rained down their Gifts, dropping Graygual like dolls, Cayan’s immense Gift BOOMED, slamming into the unprotected forces and driving them to their knees. When the cover wobbled back into place, it was too late.
“Hah!” Shanti said, digging her heels into the Bastard. He ran forward, trampling Graygual who hadn’t regained their footing. Then he hopped and bounced, stepping on heads and crushing them like melons. Brains splattered the muddy ground.
“Run, you bloody animal,” Shanti hollered. “Run!”
It wasn’t until Cayan’s horse streaked by, following orders, that the Bastard did as he was told. Shanti slashed and cut as she went, getting anyone who was standing up, but more concerned with making her way to Xandre. The Inkna still moved, slower now. Struggling. Another wave of attack came from the Shadow a moment before the cover on the Graygual wobbled again. Electricity sizzled with her power, piercing the Graygual minds. Cayan’s power thundered forward, flattening those in front of them.
Shanti saw him. On horseback.
Xandre.
His Inner Circle packed in tightly, including One. She could recognize his size and movements compared to the others. He was more confident. More graceful. More lethal.
As she watched, desperation taking over her at the distance between them, Xandre’s horse reared. He held on as the horses around him also stopped or reared too.
“What’s happening?” she heard Cayan ask.
Xandre’s horse faltered, like it was being attacked. It sank to its knees, dumping Xandre on the ground. A moment later, Shanti saw why. The cats had stayed to the edges of the battle and cut off the running horses, spooking them before finally attacking.
“I’ll never doubt you again, Cayan,” Shanti said in a wispy voice, her heart now in her throat, her whole being focused on the balding man struggling upward.
The mental cover juddered, but before Shanti could strike, the Graygual were back under protection. The horses, however, were not.
Shanti wrenched their minds, making them buck. Some stumbled. Graygual fell from saddles.
A glance behind saw many of the Shumas keeping pace. The Shadow and Westwood were further behind, taking out any Graygual that had made it through the last smashing of power. They were still unprotected—Tac was focusing solely on his small group.
Xandre took a moment to stare at a large cat with crimson-stained teeth snarling at him. One stepped in front of him immediately. The two other cats stood to either side, blocking any forward progress. All three of them slowly drifted forward.
“Hurry,” Shanti said to the Bastard, wanting the kill for herself. The horse cut through the distance quickly, a little ahead of Cayan. She pulled his mane to slow him enough to be able to jump off. Her legs hit the ground at a bad angle, and she rolled before hopping up.
Anticipation zinging through her blood, she straightened out and stared down the Inner Circle, now fanning out to face her. She walked forward slowly, taking their measure as the horses ran off wildly. Her gaze hit each face, as she waited to see if any of them would rush at her.
Until she hit a face she didn’t expect, but recognized.
“Tomous, no,” she said.
Standing behind them, next to Tac, with his arm in a cast, was a traitor she’d never expected.
“I am sorry, Chosen,” Tomous said, taking a step backward. He must’ve seen the white-hot flash of rage boil through her. “For Daniels. I liked him, but…” He glanced at Xandre. “I had no choice.”
Rage infused Cayan, hot and violent. He glanced at Tomous, death in his eyes. The look didn’t linger. It went back to One, who he had been studying. Sizing him up.
“You’re the one who has been telling Xandre our plans,” Shanti said, betrayal hot and raw. She’d trusted him. Comforted him. Rohnan had talked him through his guilt, clearing him of being a traitor, thinking Tomous had felt bad for not helping Daniels. Not protecting him.
Turned out, he was feeling guilty for holding the knife that killed him.
“His guilt had been so raw,” Rohnan said, as if reading her mind. “So consuming…”
“Say no more,” Burson commanded in a rough tone. He slid off his horse and limped into the area. Crimson sparkled on his side in the late afternoon sun. “Let that matter drop.”
“So you’re saying, don’t kill that sniveling little traitor right now?” Shanti asked, stepping forward and clenching the hilt of her sword. The Inner Circle braced themselves. One glanced between her and the cats. Pressure descended on the scene like a blanket.
“You never fail to surprise me,” Xandre said, turning to her with an incredulous expression. His voice was calm and confident despite the numbers against him. It made her nervous about whatever else he mig
ht have planned. So far, he’d evaded every threat to his life. “It is so exciting around you.”
“She surprises us all.” Burson took a few steps forward. He was in pain, she could tell. “Do you recognize the feel of my mind? Or can you not do that with only the Sight?”
Xandre’s brow furrowed. He stared at Burson mutely.
Burson smiled manically. He glanced at the sky. “Yes, you recognize me. I am the dead man you saw once. The dead man the Hunter captured. You knew I would get saved, didn’t you? I bet you did. But you didn’t care, because every path of mine ended in death.” Burson ticked the sky with his finger. “You are shortsighted. Your quest for power and control has blinded you to the continued pursuit of knowledge. You did not learn about the holes in the fabric that certain individuals can create. No matter how assured you are of one path, when the Chosen moves, the destination always warps. Always. Instead of being excited about experiencing it, you should’ve dreaded the coming of the Chosen. And now look. The least likely outcome is coming to pass. I couldn’t have planned it better. Which is why I didn’t plan at all.”
“Who are you?”
“Someone who witnessed the destruction of a way of life because of you. Someone who said no to your beguiling words early on. Someone who swore to see you dead.”
“I was assured I was the only one in this age with the Sight,” Xandre said. “I wonder why I wasn’t informed of you.”
“Because you killed the person that could’ve sussed me out. You developed your abilities before I did. But rest assured, there are others. Just as Shanti has learned of other powerful Gifts, and I have learned of other Masking Gifts, there are twos of every power level and type, a male and a female. At least, that’s what I’ve reasoned. Procreation, you see. Nature likes to further her creations.”
“Kill him,” Xandre said softly.
“Nope.” Sonson stepped toward Burson with his sword out.
“My death will not come from your hand.” Burson turned toward Cayan. “I told Tomous to kill Daniels. I convinced him to act as traitor. So many of your people died because of me. I refused to tell you why you should let me go in Belos, even though I could have, because I knew you’d then capture me. That you’d blame Shanti’s capture on yourself. That you would sacrifice yourself to get to her. I manipulated you from the beginning. If I’d been upfront the whole time, I’m sure I would’ve—”
