The Wildcat's Claw

by Varian Johnson

  She snapped her fingers, and one of the men behind her raised a concave horn to his lips. A low wail echoed through the room. The Oathbound immediately stopped fighting.

  “Put down your weapons,” the woman said, moving her blade closer to Anka’s throat. “This battle is over.”

  ABEKE WAS JUST ABOUT TO RELEASE ANOTHER ARROW when a loud horn reverberated throughout the room. The Oathbound warriors advancing toward her immediately stopped and began to pull back.

  Why are they retreating? she wondered. Have we won? She looked at Uraza. The Great Leopard’s purple irises showed the same confusion that must have been present on Abeke’s face.

  Her bow still in her hand, Abeke searched the cave for the others. Meilin and Rollan stood side by side, their weapons lowering slowly. Conor was in the process of setting his ax down on the ground.

  Then she saw the woman. Tall and regal, she towered over Anka, a long red sword pointed at the Greencloak’s throat. Abeke worried that the woman had killed her, but then she noticed Anka stirring a little.

  “Perhaps you didn’t hear me,” the woman said, keeping her blade at Anka’s neck while meeting Abeke’s gaze. “Either lower your bow, or your friend loses her life.”

  Abeke stared at the woman, looking for any signs of bluffing or weakness. Gaudy rings circled each of the Oathbound’s fingers, serving as a stark contrast to her otherwise drab uniform. The woman sneered, then moved the blade closer to Anka. The tip pierced Anka’s skin, drawing a single drop of blood.

  Abeke slowly released the tension in her bow. As she placed it on the ground, she noticed Worthy unbuttoning his cloak.

  “Just proving that I’m unarmed,” he said as the cloak floated to the ground. She wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw the glint of a silver blade right before the red cloak fell over it.

  Worthy then spun in a circle, just to prove his point. His black tail waved behind him.

  “My, aren’t you a peculiar one?” the woman said. “Perhaps I’ll spare you after all. I could add you to my collection. Or perhaps I’ll make you my pet.”

  “My name is Worthy,” he said defiantly. “Who are you?”

  “I am Cordelia the Kind,” she said. “Haven’t you heard of me?”

  Rollan snorted. “The trappers told us about you. You don’t sound very kind to me.”

  One of the men pushed Rollan in the back, almost causing him to trip.

  “Kindness, like beauty and power, is all a measure of perspective.” Removing the sword from Anka’s throat, she walked over to Worthy. “I could use this blade to sever your friend’s tail from his body,” she said. She smiled, then raised her foot and jammed it onto his black tail, grinding it into the rocky ground. Worthy howled, baring his teeth, but didn’t move to strike the woman.

  “But wasn’t that a kinder gesture?” Cordelia said, batting her eyelashes.

  “Leave him alone,” Abeke said. Beside her, Uraza growled.

  Cordelia turned her attention back to Abeke. “Greencloaks, put your spirit animals away. Now.” Once they’d all complied—and Briggan, Jhi, and Uraza disappeared into flashes of color—the woman turned to a group of warriors to her right. “Bring them here,” the woman said. “But be careful. None of them are to be underestimated. If they’re bold enough to kill the emperor, think what they will do to you.”

  Abeke jerked away from one of the warriors as he tried to grab her elbow. Holding her head high, she marched to join the others beside Worthy. “We didn’t kill the emperor.”

  “Then why did you run?” Cordelia asked. “Why not remain at the Citadel and face trial?”

  “The Greencloaks do not answer to bounty hunters like you,” Abeke said. “We heard about how you threatened all the towns in Eura during your search for us.” She shook her head. “Why did you terrorize those people? They’ve done nothing wrong.”

  “Harboring fugitives and withholding information is a crime,” she said. “I was merely giving them incentive to cooperate.” She returned her sword to her belt. “And don’t worry, I only burned the homes of half those trappers. I’d threatened to destroy all their belongings if they failed me. Again, my kindness has no bounds.”

  “The Oathbound aren’t a sovereign military,” Conor said. “You’re mercenaries. You don’t have the right to arrest people.”

  “People are afraid. Scared of the Greencloak army that has already destroyed much of this land. They want us here to protect them. Who else is mighty enough to stand against the evil Greencloaks?” She twisted a ring around her finger. “The queen herself has welcomed our assistance in any way, especially when we deliver you to her in six wooden coffins.”

  Abeke thought about what Gransfen had said. People, when afraid, would follow anyone. Even a group as twisted as the Oathbound were proving to be. And worse, people would do it willingly.

  “But because I am so kind, here’s what I propose,” Cordelia continued. “If you turn over the two gifts you’ve located, I’ll allow three of you to live. You can spend the rest of your lives rotting in a cell.”

  “We don’t have them,” Worthy said. “Essix took them both and escaped.”

  “And you’ll never catch her,” Rollan added. “Both the gifts are long gone by now.”

  Cordelia paused to consider this. Abeke realized that the woman didn’t know what the Wildcat’s Claw looked like. It was the only thing working to their advantage.

  Cordelia spun on her heels, then marched to Anka. She knelt in front of her, her lips snarling. “If that is true, why were you trying to escape?” she asked Anka. “Do you have the gifts? Or are you just a coward that hides and runs instead of fighting?”

  It only lasted for a moment, but Anka’s eyes flashed to the ground, toward Worthy’s feet.

  “Silly Greencloak,” Cordelia said. “Your eyes have already betrayed you.” Cordelia rose, then started to move toward Worthy.

  Just as she reached him, Worthy thrust his fist into the sky. The Oathbound drew their weapons, but Cordelia held up her hand.

  “I have the Heart of the Land,” Worthy said, his fist clamped shut. “Move another step, and I’ll start an earthquake and bring this entire cave down.”

  “I don’t believe you,” she said. “You would kill everyone in here.”

  “That’s better than letting you have the gifts,” Worthy said.

  Cordelia spun another of the gold rings around her finger. “Nothing is in your hand,” she said. “You’re lying.”

  “I guess there’s only one way to find out,” Worthy replied. His yellow eyes stared back at Cordelia, unblinking.

  “Actually, there are two ways,” she said. She nodded toward one of the Oathbound who was standing beside her. “Shoot him. Let’s see what falls from his hand when his warm body hits the ground.”

  Worthy’s eyes widened as the soldier raised his crossbow. “Fine. You want it? Take it!” He reached back and hurled his hand forward.

  Cordelia and every other Oathbound spun and stared, searching for the invisible amulet as it tumbled through the air.

  “Liar,” she said after a moment, turning back around. “I knew—”

  She stopped. Worthy’s red cloak was draped across his arm. He held the Wildcat’s Claw in his other hand.

  “My, my, you really are full of surprises, aren’t you?” She shook her head. “That’s a nice sword. But how long do you think you’ll last with it?” She took the crossbow from the Oathbound holding it and aimed it at Worthy’s chest. “My kindness has run its course. Now, where are the gifts? I won’t ask again.”

  Worthy tightened his grip on the sword and took a step forward, placing himself between the Greencloaks and the Oathbound. “Cordelia, let me introduce you to the Wildcat’s Claw.” As he said the name, the jeweled hilt began to glow, driving all the darkness from the cavern. “Not every gift is as small as an amulet.”

  She didn’t lower her weapon. “Hand it over and I’ll let you live.” Then she paused. “From what I remember of Eura
n history, the famed black wildcat didn’t have special armor powers like the Amayan gila monster. It couldn’t stop arrows in midair.”

  “That’s right,” he said. “But haven’t you heard of the wildcat’s ROAR?”

  As he said the words, the yellow jewel began to smoke. The sword vibrated in Worthy’s hands as it gave off a low, deep rumble. There was a loud boom, and then fire spewed from the jewel like a geyser turned on its side, the orange flames leaping horizontally across the room. The Oathbound nearest to Worthy were immediately set ablaze. Cordelia dropped her crossbow and rolled out of the way before getting singed herself.

  Worthy waved the sword at the Oathbound, pushing them back, then looked behind him at Abeke and the others. “Don’t just stand there and stare. Attack!”

  Abeke rolled, plucking one of her arrows off the ground, and stabbed it in the nearest Oathbound’s thigh. As another rushed toward her, she released Uraza in a flash. The leopard raced across the space between her and the attacker, flinging herself at the man. The warrior tried to hit the animal with a quarterstaff, but Uraza easily dodged, and grabbed the end of the weapon as it bobbled in the air. She yanked it from him, then swiped at the man again, slicing his arm.

  The Oathbound solider retreated, but two more arrived in his place. Abeke picked up Cordelia’s abandoned crossbow. Not as good as a bow, but it would do. She quickly fired a bolt into one of the men attacking Uraza, then turned and smashed the weapon into another Oathbound’s head.

  “Head for the mouth of the cave!” Worthy yelled, the Wildcat’s Claw still breathing out fire. “I’ll hold them off!”

  “I’ve got Anka,” Conor said, helping her to her feet. “Let’s go.”

  Rollan and Meilin took the lead, punching and stabbing any soldier that got in their way. Meilin’s attacks were almost poetic, the girl spinning and kicking in a way that exuded grace and control. Rollan was more rough around the edges, slicing and thrusting like a madman, but it was just as effective.

  After using the last of her bolts, Abeke flung the crossbow to the side and grabbed a bow and quiver of arrows from an unconscious soldier. As they slowly fought their way forward, she continued to collect and fire arrows at approaching soldiers. Once out of the cave, they rushed toward the waterfall.

  “Great,” Rollan said. “Don’t look now, but there are more Oathbound waiting for us.”

  Indeed, another set of soldiers had trickled in. Abeke fired an arrow at one of them. He fell as it struck his leg, but there were just too many to stop them all.

  “Hold on,” Worthy said. He moved to the front and held the sword steadily before him. Again, fire sprung from the hilt, causing the men to scatter backward.

  “Keep moving,” Meilin said. “They’re catching up behind us.”

  Abeke turned to look. Sure enough, Cordelia and her men were quickly rushing through the tunnel, swords drawn and crossbows level.

  They reached the mouth of the cave. The tall black-carved statue stood just as they’d left it, its shoulders still bearing the crumbling ceiling. Oathbound now stood on two sides of them. The waterfall rushed just behind the forward group.

  “We’re flanked on both sides!” Worthy said, turning the fire back toward Cordelia’s group. She and the approaching Oathbound retreated farther down the tunnel, but the others were now freed to attack.

  “We should fight our way through and jump,” Rollan said. “It’s our only chance.”

  Conor held up Anka with one shoulder and blocked an Oathbound with his free hand, sword meeting ax in a metallic clash. Briggan was a few steps ahead, fighting with a mountain lion. “Didn’t you almost die in that same waterfall?”

  Rollan jumped backward as an enemy blade sliced his arm. He would definitely need Jhi’s help once they made it out of here—if they made it out. “There’s a big difference between almost dying and actually dying,” he said. He kicked the soldier in the shin, dropping him, then buried his dagger in the man. “I’d rather take my chance with the rapids.”

  “They’ll just follow us!” Meilin shouted. She now wielded two swords, and was swinging them both to keep the attackers at bay.

  Worthy gritted his fanged teeth, still focusing the sword’s flames on Cordelia’s group. He began to back up and butted against the statue, his back pressed against the black obsidian. Abeke watched as Worthy’s face rose to meet the Euran hero’s. As his chest swelled, she saw a change in his expression.

  “Jump,” he said. “I’ll hold them off for as long as I can. Try to buy you some time.”

  Conor shook his head, his eyes wide. “Worthy—”

  “Go!” he yelled. “You’re wasting precious time.”

  Conor nodded, then he, Anka, and Briggan leaped through the waterfall. They screamed all the way down. The Oathbound nearest to them hesitated, then jumped after them.

  Abeke tried not to dwell on wondering if her friends had made it. She yanked an arrow from a fallen Oathbound and rushed to Worthy’s side.

  “Rollan and Meilin, you go next,” Abeke said. She fired another arrow into one of the Oathbound to their right. “I’ll help Worthy hold them off.”

  Meilin hurled both her swords at the Oathbound she was holding at bay. The blades found their mark, slicing though the men’s black uniforms. Then she back-flipped off the ledge into the water.

  “Show-off,” Rollan muttered, before leaping off after her.

  Holding the sword with one hand, Worthy wiped his damp brow. The heat must have been brutal, but he hadn’t let up yet. “So how many arrows do you have left?” he asked Abeke. “Maybe a hundred?”

  She quickly counted the arrows lying at her feet. “More like three.”

  “I figured you’d say something like that.” Looking up at the statue again, he said, “You and Uraza should make a break for it. I’m right behind you.”

  Abeke grabbed the last of the arrows and rushed to the edge of the cliff. When she turned around, she saw that Worthy had stopped using the sword’s fire powers. Instead he faced the statue, the sword raised high above his head.

  “What are you doing?” Abeke fired her last arrows at the Oathbound. They would reach the mouth of the cave in seconds.

  “Remember what you said? United in our mission, but not necessarily in how we execute that mission?” He swung the sword over his head, gaining momentum. “Finish the mission. Find the other gifts.”

  “Worthy, wait!” she yelled. She knew what he was trying to do. “There’s no way you can cut through that statue. It’s made of solid stone.”

  “The wildcat had a ferocious roar, but she also had nails and teeth as sharp as diamonds.” This time the entire sword glowed. The steel blade had turned shiny blue. “Tell Dawson I was a hero!”

  Worthy brought the sword down on the statue. The blade sliced through the black stone with surprising ease, lopping off a chunk of Gransfen’s leg. He swung again, completely severing one stone leg. The statue shifted and began to tilt. There was a loud rumble as boulders dropped from the ceiling.

  “You fool!” Cordelia yelled, dodging falling debris. “What are you doing?”

  “Being a hero!” Worthy shouted back as he sliced the statue one last time. The carving collapsed, as did the roof of the cave it was holding up. Worthy disappeared in an avalanche of boulders, debris, and dust.

  Cracks splintered underneath Abeke’s feet as the rest of the cave began to fall apart. Turning, she took a flying leap through the waterfall. She looked to her left to see Uraza jump as well, her body arching in the air.

  They slammed into the water. Abeke felt like she’d been hit in the stomach with a hammer. Kicking as hard as she could, she reached for the sky while the rapids pulled her along. Surfacing, she caught sight of Uraza and quickly took in a breath before the swirling currents pulled her under again. Abeke crashed into a large submerged boulder, then ricocheted off another.

  There was no navigating this river. She was at the mercy of the currents.

  She surfaced again
, and quickly took in another gulp of air. This time, she couldn’t see the leopard. Was Uraza behind her? Ahead of her? Was she—?

  Abeke’s thoughts were interrupted by a feeling of weightlessness. She hung in the air, almost like she was floating, before her body crashed into the water below.

  She had fallen over another waterfall.

  Her vision became blurred and pain radiated throughout her limbs. She knew she was bleeding, but she didn’t know how badly.

  Her body was heavy, as was her mind. She felt herself sinking. Slipping. She tried kicking her legs, but they refused to work.

  The water became darker. Her lungs screamed out in pain.

  She almost gave up.

  But then, something caught her eye. Below her. A flash of gold fur.

  Uraza! And she was in trouble.

  Ignoring the pain in her lungs, Abeke stretched out to the beast. A second later, the leopard disappeared onto Abeke’s arm.

  Abeke shook her head, trying to push away the blackness, and kicked toward the surface. She kicked harder than she’d ever kicked before. She pulled at the water, trying to grab it like handfuls of straw, using it to pull herself up toward the light. Toward air. Toward life.

  She exploded past the surface. Opening her mouth, she swallowed gulp after gulp of air, her chest heaving with each breath.

  She heard splashing around her, and opened her eyes. “We’ve got you,” Conor said as he and Briggan swam to her. “You’re safe.”

  The Great Wolf reached her first, his gray fur wet and slick. She wrapped her arms around him once he was near. “Thank you,” she said, rubbing her face into the wolf’s coat. Then she quickly looked up. “Where are the others?” she gasped at Conor. “Are they—?”

  “They’re on shore. Jhi is taking care of Meilin. She’s got a bad gash on her leg.” Swimming on the one side of Briggan while Conor held fast to the other, Abeke headed to shore. “What about Worthy?” Conor asked. “Is he right behind you?”

  Abeke looked at her friend, then shook her head. “He’s not coming.”