Mighty Hammer Down
Page 71
Chapter 36
He felt a sudden, numbing pain in his right hand. He couldn't understand how the girl wasn't dead. As he rode past her he saw her swinging her sword at the Bhoors surrounding her, apparently unaffected by his attack. In his confusion, he looked down at his hand where his sword should have been, only to find it missing. He turned his horse around, perplexed but still in a white-hot rage.
He jumped from his horse when he saw his sword on the ground. Someone must have hit it with their sword as he rode past and knocked it from his hand. It was the only explanation that made sense. As he bent to pick up the blade, a heavy boot came down on it.
"She's with us, leave her be."
He slowly looked up at the man who was standing on his sword, ready to tear his arms and legs from his body as soon as he stood up. When he saw who it was, his rage was totally extinguished and he felt as if he was going to faint.
"Arius? It cannot be," he stammered.
Arius did not answer but turned to the girl and helped her to kill the rest of her attackers. Tannis stood in awe as he watched the god of war slice through his enemies. He was filled with a dizzying mix of pride and confusion, and he found it hard to stand. When the girl's eyes finally met his, she went pale, looking as if she might faint herself. He could not see the eyes of Arius, for a strange darkness inside his helmet kept his face hidden even in the bright sunlight.
"This woman fights for the same cause we do. Why would you try to kill her?"
"She tried to kill me in the city of Brinn. She is an assassin."
"You're mistaken. She was wrongly accused."
"No Arius, I am certain."
The girl began to cry. "Rommus, he is right. It was me. I have felt so terrible, but I just couldn't tell you."
Tannis glared at the girl. "Rommus? How do you know the name of my son? What is going on here?"
"I think we all have some explaining to do," Arius said as he removed his helmet.
"Rommus! How dare you wear armor like that and pretend you are a god? And what are you doing with this woman?"
The girl spoke before he could answer. "Please forgive me General Tirinius. I was wrong to do what I did. I am Alana Irith; you killed my father and my brothers Angelo, Edgar and Logan. I was seeking revenge, but I regret it now."
"I have killed many men in my life, but only men who sought to do me harm," he said as he looked at the two of them. He could see his own fury mirrored in the eyes of his son.
"How could you lie to me all this time? How could you do this after all we have been through?" Rommus said, barely containing his anger.
Tears streamed down her cheeks. "I did it before we went through anything Rommus. It was a mistake and I'm sorry."
Rommus put the helmet back on. "I don't think your apology is enough."
Tannis wasted no more time. He bent down to pick up his sword, fully intending to slice open the girl's belly. But then he heard a scream behind him. The girl had spun in a flash and cut a man nearly in half; a man who would have killed him if she didn't kill him first.
She wiped the tears from her face as the man thrashed on the ground. "When this battle is over, we can argue over if that makes up for trying to kill you."
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