by Zaya Feli
When Anik turned his attention to Rafya, the assassin was twenty feet up the wall. Anik whistled quietly, watching as the agile man found tiny irregularities that were invisible from below. It was nerve-wracking to watch. Anik usually didn't mind heights, so long as he could plant his feet on a steady, solid surface. Climbing fifty-foot walls wasn't his idea of fun. Finally, Rafya grabbed the top of the wall. Anik watched as the assassin peered over the edge and pulled himself up, swinging his legs over. Then he was gone.
“Better hide the horses,” Anik said, turning Sakai around. He waited for the others to follow before leading Sakai to a slight dip in the terrain near the wall. The horses wouldn't be invisible, but it was the best they could do.
“Wait for me here, boy,” Anik murmured to Sakai in Lowlandish, giving him a last pat. None of them tied their horses. They wouldn't stray.
Anik led the way along the wall. A click made him flinch and he clenched his hand around the hilt of his sword, but it was only Rafya pushing open the hidden door.
“This way,” Rafya called softly, waving them closer. Once they were inside, he secured the sliding latch. “I haven't seen a single guard. This part of the city is ghostly empty.”
“Not so strange, all things considered,” Valkon said.
From the other side of the city sounded cries of men and what Anik thought could have been arrows hitting wood and metal. He bit the inside of his lip. Hopefully, Ren and the others could hold for a little longer.
The hidden entrance opened into a yard near the castle, its towers and arches reaching higher than the surrounding walls. Rafya led them around the castle towards the city streets.
The last time Anik had been in Aleria, the city had been buzzing with life. Now, empty and seemingly abandoned, it left Anik with an eerie feeling of wrongness. It was strange to think that Ren had lived his entire life here, hidden from Halvard inside a castle of gold and ivory. It was surprisingly difficult to compare that idea of Ren to the man he knew now. He glanced around at the buildings, the ones closest to the castle well-kept, with several stories and engraved doors and windows that were now all shut. What city inhabitants weren't in the sanctuary or outside the city must be hiding in their homes, riding out the storm.
“Based on Prince Ren's directions, the sanctuary should be straight ahead, the reservoir further south, by the west wall.” Rafya waved them forward.
They moved between buildings, trying to stay hidden and not act suspiciously. The streets might be empty of guards, but the feeling of people watching from behind closed shutters remained.
The sanctuary was only a short distance from the castle. They rounded a corner and suddenly it was there, a massive, circular building with smooth walls that curved outwards near the top and the same downward-facing spikes along the edge that Anik had seen in Fort Endurance. It was truly a colossus, big enough to fit the entire village of Filisa. The walls had been smoothed with grout, leaving not a single crack for purchase. The area surrounding it was an open space devoid of architecture so archers could easily pick off approaching enemies from tiny windows high on the walls.
“Wow,” Valkon said. He stared at it too, shaking his head. “Good thing we'll be opening the doors and not climbing that thing.”
“Let's make our way around. We don't know if the guards inside are watching,” Anik said, stepping into the shadows between the buildings.
Three hundred yards from the sanctuary, built in a half-circle against the western wall, the reservoir came into view, flanked by a gate and a tower from which to control the flow of the water. A number of wooden chutes protruded from the construction like the evenly spaced legs of a spider.
“Well, then,” Cainon said, pushing past them towards the tower. He clapped his hands. “Let's get to work.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The Lowlanders held the front, pushing back row after row of enemy Skarlans raining strikes upon their shields. Evalyne was doing everything she could to hold the right and centre, shouting at soldiers to fall back and for those behind them to push forward.
Three thick arrows protruded from Ren's shield; more adorned the shields of those around him. Arrows littered the ground like stiff blades of grass. The first barrage hadn't been fatal. They were still strong. Their lines still held.
Then the cavalry charged.
From the city gates, three rows of armoured riders wielding shining spears galloped through enemy lines. The soldiers on foot parted for their approach. Ren's eyes went wide, heart hammering in his throat. Not even the Lowlanders could stand against men on horses. The Lowlanders were their strongest fighters, and they couldn't lose them this early.
Ren heeled his gelding forward, the horse stumbling over a body. Friend or enemy, Ren wasn't sure. “Ilona!” he called, searching the ranks. His voice was raw from shouting orders. “Pull to the flank. Get out of the way!”
The first rider slammed into their ranks, mowing down the front line like a rock parting water. All along their defence line, the enemy horsemen carved paths of destruction.
“Cavalry forward,” Evalyne shouted.
Horses clashed. A rider came straight for Ren and he raised his shield, deflecting the man's sword. Ren spun his horse, but the rider had moved on.
The shining tip of a spear standing at an angle in the ground caught Ren's attention. Riding in close, he leaned down, scooped it up, and righted himself. A horse came barrelling towards him and Ren raised the spear. He saw the man lift his sword to strike. Ren waited, holding his breath, until the rider had almost reached him, then leaned back and sent the spear flying. The tip dug into the man's unprotected belly and he let out a cry, sliding from the saddle. His horse continued alone, brought to a stop by one of Ren's own men, who pulled himself onto its back.
Ren wrapped a hand around his shoulder and rubbed the tender muscle.
“Back eighty yards!” Evalyne's voice was hoarse.
Ren turned, looking in her direction. His heart skipped. She was surrounded, enemy riders cutting their way into the centre of their ranks. Men on foot ran forward in the paths cleared by the cavalry, dividing the allied army.
“Move back!” Ren barked, repeating Evalyne's order as he yanked his horse around and led the way. Their retreat was too slow – the gap continued to grow, filling with enemy soldiers.
The sound of a war horn made Ren's heart drop. It didn't come from the city, but from behind them, over the hill. Ren raised his hand, shielding his eyes against the sun. At first, he saw nothing, but then figures began to dot the horizon, dark silhouettes of riders becoming an unbroken mass. Realisation struck Ren and fear made every hair on his body rise. They were boxed in. Attacked on two fronts, they'd be crushed. It was over. They would all die.
Ren's eyes slipped closed. Anik was in Aleria, fighting for a cause that was already lost. I'm sorry, Anik, Ren thought. I'm sorry.
He had promised he wouldn't die, wouldn't be cut down like everyone Anik had cared about. The thought of death seemed insignificant compared to the horror and heartbreak he knew his death would instill in Anik.
I can't lose you, too.
How typical, that he should die right after finding out what it felt like to be in love.
* * *
“Move faster!” Anik said over his shoulder.
“Do you want to switch places?” Valkon barked, panting and gasping.
“Stop being a baby and push.” Anik leaned against the window, stretching to see into the chutes below, looking for any sign of water spilling through. The first half of each chute was a closed tube with a gate at the end and the pressure plates were supposed to be just inside the closed sections. Wood creaked and groaned under the pressure of the water.
“This is more than a little unsettling,” Rafya said, standing on his toes to look over Anik's shoulder.
“Let's hope the chute gates hold,” Anik said.
A thump echoed through the water and into the surrounding stone. The chain went still.
&n
bsp; “That's it,” Valkon said, brushing hair from his brow and joining Anik by the window. “The inner gate is open all the way.”
They all stopped to listen. The silence was complete. Anik's heart began to race. “Why isn't anything-”
A sound of grinding stone followed by a rumble like thunder rolled through the walls as the pressure plates gave and the internal chain mechanism rolled into motion all along the city walls.
They looked at each other.
“It's working.” Valkon grinned.
“Let's get the inner gate closed. Tavoc.” Anik waved the tall man forward and grabbed the crank. He groaned with effort, leaning his entire weight against it. Slowly, it began to turn. It became easier when Tavoc pulled with him, but the crank still turned agonizingly slowly.
“Now you know how I felt,” Valkon said.
“Keep an eye on the chutes,” Anik gasped.
Valkon leaned out of the window. “Um, boys?”
“What?” Anik bit out.
“You might want to hurry.”
Rafya pushed Valkon aside to look out and swore under his breath. “Yes, you definitely need to hurry up.”
Anik swore too, putting all his weight into turning the crank.
There was a loud crack, followed by the sound of rushing water. Wood groaned and splintered.
“Close the inner gate!” Valkon barked.
“Help me!” Anik urged.
Valkon fell in alongside them, closing his hands around the neck of the crank and pushing. “Fuck, it's hardly moving.”
Another loud crack and the rushing sound of water made Anik bite back a curse.
Rafya turned towards them. “Forget the gate. Go to the sanctuary and get people out before the rest of the chute gates break.”
Anik hesitated. If they stopped trying now, the city would flood. He met Valkon's eyes. Rafya was right. “Fuck. Let's go.”
“What if the rest of them break?” Tavoc asked.
“They'll break,” Anik said, looking between them. “We just have to be faster. Go!”
They all dropped the crank at the same time. It spun a few times and stopped as the inner gate fell open the rest of the way, the sound of creaking wood growing louder.
Anik was first out of the tower, darting down the steps and into the street. Water splashed against the curb and under his boots as he ran, followed by the others. “With the sanctuary open, the guards will be on high alert,” he called over his shoulder. “Be careful.”
Ahead, the sanctuary came into view. Anik circled the open space, pausing when he spotted the entrance, portcullis raised and sliding gate open. In the entrance, five Skarlan guards in silver and grey stood with raised weapons, looking around wildly. One locked eyes with Anik and pointed.
“Don't hesitate. Run!” Anik barked over his shoulder, speeding across the open space towards the sanctuary. Arrows glanced off the cobblestones to either side and he swerved to avoid them. A small silver dagger whipped past Anik's head and buried itself in the eye socket of the rightmost guard.
Anik took the three steps to the sanctuary entrance in a leap, grabbed the spear of a guard, and yanked him off the ledge, then turned the weapon and stabbed it through his neck. He ducked as Valkon swung his weapon over his head into the side of the second guard.
“Get inside!” Anik shouted, shoving a third guard in the chest so he fell backwards through the open gates.
Tavoc ran past him, plowing through the remaining two guards with the sheer weight of his body, shoving them aside like dolls.
Anik followed.
Inside, the hum of voices echoed between the walls. From a raised walkway, Anik could see into the centre of the sanctuary. Hundreds of faces turned towards him, eyes wide. Children cried.
Anik didn't have time to take in the sight. Guards charged him from both sides and he spun to face the nearest one, raising his sword to block a strike coming from his throat. They didn't have time for this!
A punch rattled Anik's jaw and he staggered back, heart skipping when he stepped off the edge of the ledge and fell. He squeezed his eyes shut, braced for a hard landing, but instead, hands stopped his fall. He looked around. A pair of young girls and an elderly couple helped him to his feet. Next to him, one of the girls drew a small dagger from her belt and pushed out her bottom lip in a determined pout.
A guard fell from the ledge and the hostages stepped back. The man's body hit the stone floor with an awful crush of bone. Anik looked up, expecting to see Tavoc at the top tossing guards. Instead, he saw an old man and a pregnant women kicking another guard off the ledge. The hostages had joined the fight.
Anik ran for the stairs, burying his sword in the back of a guard's neck. It came out the front with a sickly, wet sound and he led the limp body slide off his blade before slipping through the crowd on the ledge towards the entrance. He paused when his gaze fell on Tavoc. The man lay unmoving near the opposite staircase, on top of a pile of Skarlan guards. Only a handful of guards remained, and they seemed to realise they were outnumbered. They backed up, turned, and ran.
Water dripped from the ledge into the sanctuary. It trickled through the entrance in a steady flow.
Anik spun towards Rafya and his companion. “Get everyone onto the city wall. Lead them back towards the hidden door that way. It'll keep them safe when the flood comes.” He was about to turn when Rafya's hand closed around his wrist.
“What about you?” Rafya shouted.
“I'm going to stop the guards,” he replied, tugging free and waving at Valkon and Cainon to follow. If the fleeing guards managed to alert a larger force in the castle, they could stop the hostages before they reached freedom. They couldn't let a single guard escape.
The two men followed him out of the sanctuary. Anik looked around wildly. Roads branched in a dozen directions. If they didn't find the guards...
“There!” Cainon pointed with the tip of his sword.
Ahead, five guards raced down the street. Anik plunged after them. It was their luck and the guards' misfortune that they hadn't had the foresight to split up. In full armour, the guards were much slower than the Lowlanders, and Anik reached the closest guard before they reached the corner. He slammed into the man's back and pushed him against a wall. The guard cried out and dropped his weapon. Anik raised his own, placed a hand against the man's brow, and slit his throat. Blood splattered the sandstone wall. The clatter of the body collapsing was followed by the sound of crunching bone as Cainon slammed two guards' heads together.
Anik bent and grabbed the spear of his fallen target, sending it flying towards the man approaching Valkon from behind. It dug into his side between sections of armor and he fell, clutching his ribs.
“Get onto the walls,” Anik said. He yanked the spear from the fallen guard's body and tossed it to Cainon. “Make sure the hostages reach the hidden door. I'm going back to the sanctuary to make sure no one gets left behind.” He lingered for a moment, watching Valkon and Cainon run for one of the towers. Turning back the way he'd come, Anik sprinted to the sanctuary.
Panting for breath, Anik leapt onto the ledge and stepped inside. His steps echoed in the open space. Water dripped from the ledge. It was empty. Somewhere above, he could hear the faint sound of Rafya directing the hostages along the city wall.
Anik turned to leave, but movement in the corner of his eye made him reach for his sword. A small figure, too small for a guard, darted through the sanctuary entrance. “Wait!” he shouted, turning to give chase.
A child ran across the open space. She looked over her shoulder and stared at him with wide, frightened eyes, stumbling as she fled. “I'm here to help you,” he called, following her down one of the branching streets. It led towards the castle grounds.
The girl turned, hesitant. She no longer ran, but still trembled with fear.
“It's all right,” Anik said, approaching with both hands raised. The threat of the water urged him to run to safety, but he resisted. “I bet all that chaos inside
was scary. We were doing it so we could help you escape. I bet you have someone outside the city fighting to keep you safe, right? I want to make sure you see your family again.”
“I want my papa,” the girl said, her voice breaking as she clutched her hands in front of her chest.
Anik opened his mouth to answer, to assure her that he'd get her to safety, but a deep rumble shook the ground. He froze, hand darting to the hilt of his sword. His first thought was soldiers, a whole group of them coming his way. Only, the sound was different. Roaring. Growing louder. Anik's eyes widened and he darted forward, closing the space between himself and the child and wrapping an arm around her waist. He pulled her into his arms and raced for the walls, but he knew it was fruitless. No man could outrun crashing waves.
The girl clung to him. Her scream was drowned out by the thunder of the water as it crashed into buildings behind them and flooded the street. Anik didn't look back. He angled for a staircase and scaled it in two leaps. The water slammed into his back, pushing him forward, and he barely managed to avoid crushing the child beneath his weight. He clutched her to his chest, climbing to his feet with a hand braced on the staircase rail. Now that the wave had passed, the top of the stairs was free of water, but the street was flooded as high as a man was tall. Around him, people pushed open the shutters of their windows, shouting and pointing at the water flowing through the streets.
The girl's whimpers turned into hitching sobs and Anik stroked her back before pushing back strands of hair clinging to his face. “What's your name?” he asked, leaning back so he could look her in the eye.
She sniffed, rubbing her eyes with a fist. “Valerie,” she whispered, bowing her head.
