49. Myron
Myron
Recienne comes out of nowhere. I only see him because Tori’s gaze darts to the side where Tata pops up with the Fairy King in tow. Someone curses behind me, and I pull back my hand from the arrow I was going to shove into my heart. Jeseida unsheathes her sword, an expression of horror on her face as she takes in the face of the male ruling the lands she wants to make her own, and readies it to drive into Royad’s stomach.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Recienne warns.
It’s the only warning she gets. The next moment, a dark wind rushes along the platform, plucking the blade from her hand and ramming it into the guard behind my cousin. The male doesn’t even get a chance to scream as he goes down.
Royad uses the opportunity to spin on his knees. With two efficient kicks, he manages to shove my guard off me while Herinor doesn’t move. The sword at his throat is already biting into his flesh, and one wrong breath will drive it so deep it could be his end.
Recienne stalks closer, site-hopping onto the wagon, and flicks his fingers.
The sword at Herinor’s throat splinters, pieces crumbling over the male’s neck. I want to get up and help, but someone bumps into my back, and I stumble forward. The arrow slides deeper. High above, a familiar caw echoes through the sky, the sound filling my veins with ice.
Turn around, Ayna!
Whether or not she feels what I want her to do is irrelevant when the taste of blood fills my mouth and every breath becomes hard labor.
In front of the wagon, Tori and Clio are fighting side by side, facing one Flame guard together.
A gust of wind flips me over, and someone slaps me in the face. “No sleeping,” Recienne warns, but he’s not standing close by. His power carried his voice to my ear. Didn’t know he could do that. I’ll tell him how this could be used for pranks if I survive this.
“I said, up with you.” This time, Recienne is standing above me, his boot toeing my side as if to check if he’ll need to carry me out of here. He lifts his sword arm to block an attack from the side, an elegant parry that I remember from our battles in the Seeing Forest. I’d hated it back then. I also remember that this is the type of movement that opens him for another attack.
“Watch out,” I cough.
Recienne spins, but it’s too late. It’s not a blade that hits him but a splash of liquid that isn’t the rain Ayna sent upon us that lands square in his face.
Recienne sputters as he stumbles back, knees wobbling, hands gripping his sword harder.
They got him with the serum, too. Had I believed a moment ago that we might stand a chance against the Flames, all illusions are gone now. Even with Tori’s rocks firing at the Flames and Herinor and Silas fighting alongside Tata and Clio, we’re all drained from either the battle or the drug. In my case, it’s both.
Recienne knows it too. The odds have tilted against us within a breath, and if we don’t get him to safety, Askarea won’t have a king much longer.
“Take Clio and get out of here,” he shouts at Tori, words slightly slurred as he fights the effects of the serum. They are too far away to take Recienne with them without risking getting showered with the serum as well. Tori—Gods bless him—realizes it too and doesn’t hesitate to take Clio’s hand and site-hop her away.
I don’t know how far they’ll make it, but out of sight and out of reach is enough.
Recienne swings his sword at a Flame coming for him, but his aim is off, and his power fails him. The blow slides off the Flame’s shoulder piece, and Recienne stumbles into the enemy .
My vision goes dark, and the only comfort is that I’ll die knowing Ayna still loves me. I couldn’t have asked for anything more.