by K. F. Breene
“Sanders, back down,” Cayan said in a tone that had everyone’s backs snapping straight. One’s gaze shifted from Shanti to Cayan, his eyes slightly widening, as though seeing Cayan for the first time. “None of this is news. Listening to him has always been a risk.”
“And there, you see?” Burson smiled at Xandre. “You saw yourself that that should’ve worked, did you not? That Sanders, overcome with rage, would snap my neck? It is only intriguing until it is intensely frustrating, I can tell you.”
“Why Daniels, though?” Sanders asked. “Why the traitor?”
“Sometimes we revel in the upper hand so much, in the power of it, that we feel immortal.” Burson hunched, his arm covering his side. “It makes us singularly focused, which makes us weak. Xandre has been fixated on Shanti, and thus has been blinded to much else. He damaged her early life, and through Tomous, has been watching her rebuild in fascination, letting his own existence flounder. It is a very interesting saga that I would’ve loved to record.”
“Enough talking,” Cayan said suddenly. “This ends now.”
Two Inner Circle members launched toward him, their swords drawn. One came at Shanti, his eyes excited but wary, his stance and movements graceful despite his wound.
“Take over for Cayan,” Shanti directed, advancing on One. “Above all, don’t let Xandre get away!”
One’s sword slashed toward her, a move repeated from the last time she’d faced him. Unlike their previous encounter, though, she had her own sword and clothes. She had proper boots. She blocked his thrust and counterattacked. He moved away. She kicked out, catching him in the thigh. He took it and struck. His blade hit off hers.
One of the cats screamed, its version of a battle cry. A beast ran into the area, charging an Inner Circle fighter.
“You have unique soldiers,” One said as he circled. Out of the corner of her eye, Shanti saw Xandre bolt.
“No!” She attacked One, but for every strike he was right there, blocking and ready with a counter. She slashed down at him, then kicked, then slashed again, fast and brutal. He moved around her, defending. Not letting her too close. Trying to let her tire herself out.
“That won’t work,” she said, watching as Kallon worked with the female beast to take out the Inner Circle fighter. Several Graygual from the charge pushed in on them, somehow having survived the attack and once again protected by Tac, who was jogging off toward Xandre with Tomous chasing. The Inkna lay in heaps, dead or dying.
He was getting away!
“Cayan, hurry,” she said.
“I can’t get away just yet,” he said through gritted teeth.
“I am figuring out what will work. And, I admit, enjoying myself immensely.” One crashed down his blade hard, making her put more strength into blocking. She altered her style, moving faster and letting the blows fall away so as to use less effort. “Interesting. And effective.”
“I don’t need commentary.” Shanti lunged, backed up quickly to block a counterattack, moved in again, and then kicked. She caught his knee. He staggered but regrouped before she could send in a kill strike. “Cayan!”
“Sanders, take him.” Cayan darted away from the remaining Inner Circle member. Sanders filled his place immediately, blood sprayed across his uniform.
“Go, love,” Cayan said, moving in beside her. He eyed his new enemy.
One hesitated, backing up a step and glancing around him. The Graygual were still pressing, but the Shumas, Shadow, and beasts were handling them. The better fighters, like Kallon, Rohnan, and Sanders, were taking down the Inner Circle one by one.
One’s eyes hit Shanti again. “If our lives had been different, I would’ve strived to make you happy. You are an incredible woman.”
“I have a mate already. And if you think I’m good, get ready for more power.” Without another word, she took off running like death was chasing her. Rohnan was behind her a moment later.
Her feet squelched and water splashed as the lands turned wetter. Up ahead, running within the increasingly sparse trees, were Xandre and his two minions. She put on a desperate burst of speed. She didn’t care if this ended in death for her; she would kill that tyrant.
Her foot hit a hole and jolted her body. She staggered and fell to her knees. Something prickled her and heat seared her leg. That was probably bad.
“We almost have him, Chosen,” Rohnan said, helping her up.
They pushed on, faster than the others despite Shanti’s leg starting to go numb.
Up ahead, Xandre faltered and then fell. He turned, quick as a snake, and jabbed behind him, hitting Tomous. Tomous staggered and fell to one knee, dropping his head and lowering his sword, thwarted by Xandre’s sight. Tac slowed, his bow lowered for the time being.
A moment later Shanti was there, closing in, Rohnan at her side.
Tac rushed to step in front of Xandre, lifting his nocked bow, sighting on her middle.
“You won’t get through both of us,” Shanti said with her sword put away and her knife in hand. “You’re not fast enough.”
“I’m not supposed to get through both of you. Just you.” Tac blew out a breath. “I never wanted to be in this position.”
“Do it,” Xandre urged. “Do it. I gave you your vengeance. Do this.”
Tomous struggled up, his side wet with blood from a puncture in his ribs. He lifted his sword to slash at Xandre, but before his hand could fall, Xandre was at him. With viciousness Shanti didn’t expect, he stuck Tomous in the side of the neck and ripped the knife across. Blood gushed out and down his skin.
Xandre shoved the man away and turned his rage-filled eyes on Shanti. “You will go down with me!” He laughed, a cackle that rose the hairs on her body. The numbness crept up, now at her hips and working down her other leg. Poison. Had to be.
“Kill her, brother!”
Tac turned his arrow point to Rohnan, who advanced, staff whirling. Tac let go of the string as Shanti stumbled around him, half dragging her leg behind. She batted Xandre’s thrust away, still slow despite his viciousness. Another knife came out of nowhere and raced toward her chest.
“Nice move. Did One teach you that?” She grabbed his wrist with one hand and slammed her other forearm into his. His arm bone snapped, a sickly sound.
He screamed. His other knife came up for her. She caught it, ripped it from his grip, and stabbed him in the eye, her heart pounding. He spasmed. His body tensed as he died.
She ripped the knife out and stabbed his other eye, just to be sure. Nice and deep. Then slit his throat, just in case. Then, as his dead weight pulled her to the ground, she stuck the blade in his heart, just in case the strange tales of undead were true. She couldn’t be too careful where Xandre was concerned.
Tears dripping down her face for fulfilling her duty, barely able to breathe, whether from the deed or the poison, she slumped onto him, still pressing the knife down into his chest.
“What is wrong with you?” Tac said into her ear. She felt his hand on her shoulder, but couldn’t feel much of anything else. Air rattled out of her lungs.
“Rohnan?” she asked desperately, trying to look around through her blackening vision.
“Only a flesh wound. I knocked him out, though. I had to. Oh no. You’re hurt. I need to get you help.” Tac lifted her up into his arms. She couldn’t even lift the knife to struggle.
She was jostled, as though he was running. “I am sorry,” he said into her ear. Over and over. “I am sorry for my part. But it was my destiny. I am part of the prophecy. Burson placed me. Told me how to act when close to Xandre so his power didn’t oust me. Relayed how I should enlist Tomous. Burson said only those scarred the deepest could help you in the final act. Tomous was trying to help. All he did—he was trying to help. He wanted to kill Xandre as much as I did. Please. Oh God, what is wrong with you? What’s happening? We have to keep you alive!”
“Why didn’t you just let me kill him the other night?” Shanti asked, slurring badly. Numbness had consum
ed her. Cold crept through her chest.
She didn’t care. Right then, she did not care. She’d fulfilled her destiny. Somehow she had made it to the end of her path and claimed vengeance for her people. The intense weight had lifted from her shoulders. She was free.
“Because the Inkna would’ve killed you immediately afterward. I knew you had help. I felt those other minds in your room and around the castle. I kept them hidden from the Inkna. But your living is the only way the land will heal. That’s what the prophecies say. You need to stay—”
Blackness consumed her.
21
“What happened?” Marc asked, jumping off his horse, panting with fatigue. The rest of the Honor Guard dismounted too, drawing their swords.
They hadn’t planned to venture into the fighting, but a half-heard prophecy by Alexa had them all run into the melee, capturing riderless horses, and trying to make it through the battle to get to S’am’s side.
The man called Tac stopped with S’am in his arms. His face was ashen. “Help! There’s something wrong with her.” He held her out toward Marc.
It was Xavier who quickly stepped up and took her. “What’s the matter with her?”
“I don’t know. She limped and was slurring…” Tac shook his head.
“Set her down,” Marc instructed, rolling up his sleeves. “Hurry! And watch that guy. Up until a moment ago he was the enemy. You should never trust a turncoat.”
Xavier and the others did as instructed. Without hesitation, Marc looked in her eyes, observed the dilation of her pupils, and continued over her exposed skin. Not seeing anything, he kept on, not blushing when he had to partially expose her body—he’d come a long way since he’d first seen her. On her leg, just above her boot, the skin had turned a worrying deep red. Veins leading away from the puncture were darker than normal.
“Poison.” Marc looked up for Ruisa. “You need to help her. You’re better at this than me.”
She bent to S’am quickly, looking at the wound. The sound of footfalls made Marc glance up, his hand going to his knife. Dread pierced him as he recognized one of the Inner Circle coming their way.
“Quick!” He surged to his feet, knife forgotten, and now fumbling for his sword. “Help!”
The Honor Guard made a circle around S’am. The Inner Circle member, who was already limping, stumbled and fell to his knees. He glanced up with bleary eyes, looking directly at Alexa. A knife came out of nowhere, and before any of them knew it, she was sinking to the ground, her hands clutched around a blade in her stomach.
“No!” Xavier ran forward as the Inner Circle fighter was getting to his feet. Another knife appeared in his hand like magic. It was in Xavier’s leg a moment later.
“Holy shit,” Rachie said, bracing. Marc knew exactly what he was thinking—while, as a group, the Honor Guard might’ve taken some of the Inner Circle, this one was beyond them.
The man took two limping steps, winced, and then threw himself onto the back of one of the horses. He looked back where the captain ran toward them, limping as well.
“Stop with the mental power, little girl, or I will kill you this time,” he said in S’am’s language. The man glanced down at S’am, and sadness crossed his face. He turned the horse like it was an extension of himself and said over his shoulder, “That poison is Teanna root. Hopefully you know someone who can create an antidote.”
He spurred the horse and rode as the captain neared. The captain hefted a knife, sighted, and threw, all in one smooth motion. The knife fell short as the horse weaved through some unseen obstacle course.
“Did he say Teanna root?” Ruisa asked, looking up.
Marc ripped off a sleeve and pressed it around Alexa’s knife wound. “Yes. Do you know it?”
“She hasn’t much time. It acts quickly. Get a fire going and boil some water. I’ll go look for the antidote.”
“Where are you going to look?” Marc asked as Xavier took hold of the knife handle sticking out of his leg and yanked. Pain overtook his features, but he only grunted.
“I’ll head back toward the castle, where there are hopefully less traps. It’s a plant. Pretty common in the wetlands. They probably used Teanna root in case one of their own got hit and needed to counteract it quickly.”
The captain bent and picked S’am up. He strode quickly to the nearest horse. “Ruisa, go. Quickly. Rachie and Gracas, get Alexa and Xavier back to the castle.”
“Yes, sir,” everyone chorused.
“Is Xandre dead?” The captain handed S’am off to Rachie so he could get on the horse, then put out his hands to receive her.
“She killed him,” Tac said solemnly. “I had to give Rohnan a flesh wound and then knock him out. Burson’s orders. He’s back over there.” Tac pointed. “But she was… Well, she needs to live. Burson was very clear that she needed to live in order for the land to heal.”
“What about me, sir?” Marc asked, still applying pressure to Alexa’s wound.
“First, check to make sure Xandre is really dead. Check on Rohnan. Then you’ll need to make haste back to the castle. There’ll be a lot of doctoring to do. You’ll be needed.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You’re in charge of him, as well.” Cayan motioned at Tac. “Making sure he gets back to the castle. If he tries to run, kill him.” The captain spurred on the horse as Rachie and Gracas helped the wounded.
Marc looked at Tac, his face and arms scarred and his demeanor rough. How Marc would keep him in line, or kill him, was beyond him. Bluffing came to mind.
“All right. Fine. You, with me.” Marc scowled and motioned Tac on.
“Pick up your sword, idiot,” Rachie said as Alexa was handed up to him.
Good idea. Marc snatched his sword off the ground and repeated the command, this time by gesturing with his sword. “Hurry up. I have to clean up your mess.”
“I was told—” Tac began.
“Spare me or I’ll stick you with the pointy end.” Marc waved his sword again. He didn’t miss Gracas rolling his eyes.
22
Cayan sat in a chair beside Shanti’s cot, his elbows perched on his knees, head in his palms. It was midnight, or thereabouts. Ruisa had found her plant quickly and seen to Shanti. She reckoned Shanti would come out of it, that she would live. The hardest part was waiting.
She had that right.
He listened to the still of the night outside of his tent for a moment, thinking over the aftermath of the battle. Marc had worked miracles, as he often did, reviving Rohnan, then working his way around to everyone else. From their small group, there were wounded, but only two other fatalities, both Shadow.
Sanders had made the trip back across the swamp to the other faction of people, leading those who were able. Thankfully, he’d remembered the way, and everyone made it across safely. He’d arrived too late to help, however. The Shadow Lord had everything under control with Lucius carrying out her orders. Where the Graygual and Inkna were trying to trap the collected armies against the swamp, they turned out to be the ones who were trapped as another horde of city folk turned up. They’d had pitchforks, rusty swords, and one woman brought her cast iron pan, all trying to do their part to help the Wanderer. They swept through the Graygual and Inkna alike.
Cayan looked at Shanti again—her pale face was deathly. He sighed and put his head back into his hands.
“Captain?” someone called softly from outside the tent.
Cayan stood and cultivated a confident expression before he stuck his head out of the flap. Lucius waited for him, his face drawn. Beyond him, making a circle around the tent, were the Shumas and many of the Shadow, waiting. Hoping.
“Yes?” Cayan asked.
“There is not a trace of the Inner Circle member that got away.”
Cayan figured as much. That man had been more than exceptional. Better than anyone, besides Shanti, that Cayan had fought. That man wouldn’t be found if he didn’t want to be, Cayan had no doubt. “The others?”
/> “An Inner Circle member was captured alive, but he swallowed his own tongue.” Lucius shook his head. “I had no idea that was actually possible, but he managed.”
“The Graygual army?”
“We’ve captured a few of those, too. So far they are still alive, though Tac managed to kill a couple when we weren’t looking.”
“What is the story with him?”
Lucius looked at the tent. “He asks about Shanti constantly. Burson, who keeps muttering that he should be dead by now, verified that he enlisted Tac’s help. Also Tomous.” Lucius braced his hands on his hips and looked away. “Tac said that Tomous was broken up about Daniels. He tried to explain to Daniels what was happening, and why, but Daniels insisted you be spoken to first. Tac and Tomous were specifically told, by Burson, that if that happened, the plan wouldn’t work.”
“So instead of tying him up, or knocking him out, they killed him?” The words tasted foul in Cayan’s mouth.
“They couldn’t have him telling you, I guess.” Lucius shook his head again, then spat. “It is a wonder Burson is still alive, I’ll admit. He was the puppet master in all of this. A lot of people died.”
Cayan rubbed his face, suddenly bone-weary. “I mourn every loss, but it isn’t lost on me that a lot more would’ve died if we hadn’t received his help along the way. Xandre would’ve gotten away, for one. It was the Wanderer network that sent the seafarer to our aid. He said that before he left port, people up and down the coast had started fighting back with vigor.”
“I thought they already were, sir?”
“In certain cities, yes, where the Graygual host was light. Now everyone is rising up, I hear. But they wait to hear from the woman that made it all possible. That stood up to a tyrant, against all odds.” Cayan looked back at the tent. “They are waiting for Shanti, and she is in a deep sleep.”
