Chapter 4 #2
Across the room, Vyraetos released Thalira’s limp arm, her blood streaking his hands. His eyes snapped to the fallen spear near his feet, and he grabbed it in both fists.
He bared his teeth and twisted, slamming the spear into the wall.
The soldier charging him froze, eyes wide in confusion, then terror, as Vyraetos yanked a dagger from his belt and drove it into the man’s eye socket.
The venom-coated blade hissed as it sank deep, and Many-Greats slammed the attacking soldier in the back of the head with his club.
The guard gurgled, his knees giving out as he lurched to the side. Vyraetos shoved the corpse aside without flinching, already scanning for the next threat as Many-Greats stepped forward and braced for his next battle.
Around us, the chamber burned.
Smoke choked the air, thick and acrid, stinging my lungs with every breath.
Firelight flickered off blood-slick armor, and screams echoed all around us.
Winged guards still surged from every side, steel flashing like fangs in the haze.
Shadows pressed in, coiling at the edges of the battle like they were waiting for the blood to run dry before devouring what was left.
Through it all, we fought.
Every one of us was bleeding, staggering, running on fumes and anger. But none of us fell back. We held the line because there was no other choice.
But how much longer could we keep this up?
Are we going to fight until they wear us down and pick us off one at a time? I linked to Vad, breath ragged, wobbling with every step.
A guard Silus had knocked in the head twitched and tried to pull himself up. As he got to his knees, I lunged and clamped my jaws down on his throat. The twisted rim of his helmet scraped my gums, but the artery was there, and I didn’t care. His hands clawed at my fur, then slackened.
We’re leaving as soon as we have an opening. Vad turned toward the northern hall, his lips curled in a snarl.
What’s back there? I linked to him as I pulled away from the corpse.
Another ambush, he answered, his anger heating our bond.
At least some of them know we’ll try that route.
The northern and eastern hallways both lead to the royal family’s chambers, but the northern hall is the shortest way there since the eastern winds and curves.
We could take the longer path to lose them, but the stretch of hall before the family rooms in either direction will be far harder to fight through. With our injured, we’ll be vulnerable.
Shit.
We needed to pull the waiting guards here so we could make our own trap.
I glanced down the northern hall. It was broader, had fewer chandeliers, and had a lower, flatter ceiling.
Winged fae would find flying harder. I could force the guards into the open where their numbers wouldn’t matter so much. I’ll lure them in.
Absolutely not! Vad scowled, his jaw working. He bashed a helmeted guard’s skull with the bottom of his hilt, knocking him against the wall. Another guard lunged, and Vad blocked the man’s spear with his sword, sending the weapon clattering to the floor.
Trust me. Get everyone ready. My claws clicked across the marble as I ran toward the northern hall with every sense raw–from the smoke, from being coated in my friend’s blood, and from the sounds of my friends and the beat of my whole heart, fighting to live.
Fear slammed through our bond as Vad realized what I intended, but I was fast.
I bolted straight into the hall, my guttural howl tearing from my raw throat. Despite my determination, my strides were uneven, but I pushed forward anyway.
Dark shapes flickered from around the next corner of the hall.
In the low light, I couldn’t make out faces, but the light reflected off some armor. Others moved like shadows in leather. Then the stench of sweat, oil, and blood hit me like a wave as five guards surged forward with their blades already drawn.
“She’s in beast form,” one growled.
Fattening into a crouch, I pinned my ears and whimpered, letting my tongue roll from my mouth. The blood dripping from my shoulder helped sell the illusion. I made myself look weak, wounded, and frightened.
Come on, assholes. Take the bait.
“Can she hear us?” one asked.
“She isn’t acting like it. Siln, shoot her,” a voice hissed. “If she’s running, they must’ve routed them.”
“Briar, get back here!” Thalen shouted from far behind me. His voice cracked with alarm, but I wasn’t sure if it was real or if he was playing along.
“Briar!” Vad bellowed from farther in. “Don’t go that way. We’re running east!”
I yipped and spun, then started racing back toward the chamber.
A sharp whistle cut through the air, and something grazed my back. Pain sliced through me as I dove between two pillars. The crossbow bolt clanged off the stone behind me, hitting hard enough to chip marble, then clanked across the floor.
I glanced back and counted the guards chasing me. Blood thundered in my ears. I linked to Vad, I’m coming straight in. Four of the fifteen men chasing me have crossbows. The rest have swords.
If any of them touch you, I’ll shred them, he snarled through the bond. And when we’re through here, you and I will have words.
As long as we live to have them, I linked and barreled toward the landing, the guards thundering behind me.
Vad stood with Veralt on the far side of the hall door, both ready to strike.
I slid through the arch and cut sideways at the last heartbeat, skimming the half wall that protected the stairwell. Pain flared through my battered body, adding to my torment.
Near the southern hall entrance, Silus and Thalen were battling three guards and sidestepping corpses. Quen dropped from the ceiling and landed on two men, driving daggers into their necks with ruthless precision. A wicked cut bled along her calf, but she didn’t slow.
“Don’t get in line of sight of the entrances,” Vad shouted. “Four crossbowmen are coming from the north.”
One leather-clad guard had taken up a position at the edge of the hallway’s entrance as if the wall would protect him.
Not a chance. My muscles bunched as I launched myself at a crossbowman taking aim at Vyraetos from across the landing.
My jaws closed on his forearm, bone crunching between my teeth.
He screamed, and the weapon clattered away. I shook my head, tearing muscle.
"Behind you, Briar!" Thalen shouted.
I dropped the guard and spun. A blade hissed past my ear, missing by inches. I ducked low and lunged, driving my shoulder into his gut. He doubled over, and I shredded his face and neck, tearing him down to the black marble.
“At least another twenty coming from the south,” Rhielle yelled.
“Same or more from the east,” Thalen said, sliding out of the way. Bells rang deeper in the palace, a call to arms, and Thalen’s face said it all. We couldn’t hold them off forever. “They sound lighter and faster. The plated ones lag. So best to double that number to know what we’re up against!”
“Get back!” Vad snapped. He launched himself into the chandelier above the western entrance. It cracked with a sickening snap, and the whole thing tore free and smashed onto the floor, spilling oil everywhere.
Quen seized a hanging lamp and hurled it through the smoke and ruin. It struck with a clatter, and flames erupted, eating the leaked oil.
“Thalen, take the other chandelier,” Vad commanded, pointing where the west corridor opened. He flew to the chandelier above the northern arch and crouched there like a watchful god. From that height, his voice cut clearly through the noise. “Do not cross any open archways until I give the signal!”
Another leather-armored swordsman charged out of the northern entrance. I lunged at him with a snarl and clamped my jaws on his thigh. I wrenched him down, ignoring the sword that clipped my tail and biting harder.
He screamed and dropped his sword, then clawed at my ears and snout. I twisted and shook him until bone ground and snapped. He collapsed with a broken cry, and I hauled him by the leg away from the archway so another guard couldn’t shoot me while I was there.
Rhielle snatched a fallen spear, launched herself across the archway, and flung it. The spearhead thunked into a swordsman’s chest, knocking him back.
I locked my teeth in the man’s throat and twisted. A sharp, burning shock seared my left shoulder, another bolt burying itself deep, and my leg spasmed.
How badly are you hurt? Vad’s voice punched through the bond.
I’m fine. At least, for now. Maybe for a few minutes more. My shifter healing fought to restore me, but the bolts embedded in my flesh stung, preventing my body from doing more than slowing the bleeding.
The sound of running boots thundered again.
Gasping, Rhielle ran out of the northern hall. A crossbow bolt whined past her, not even an inch from her cheek. “We’re almost out of time!”
Face set in determination, Veralt grabbed Rhielle’s arm gently but firmly. “Enough of this fight.”
Silus scooped Elara into his arms. She murmured something too faint to catch, her eyelids fluttering and her breathing far too slow.
Vyraetos helped Thalira to her feet. She swayed but managed to stand. Yuki nearly collapsed as he steadied her. Many-Greats moved behind Yuki to steady her further as he said something that made her nod.
Rhielle whispered something to Veralt. He gave a curt nod and crossed to the two women.
Veralt crouched and lifted Yuki as if she weighed nothing. She winced, shivering against him, then went limp, her head falling against his shoulder and her wounded hand pressed to her chest.
He glanced at Thalira and shifted Yuki to one arm. “C’mon, water girl.”
Thalira shook her head, grimacing. “Yuki’s in worse shape.”
“You think I can’t carry you both?” He swept her into his other arm. She let out a small gasp but didn’t fight him.
Vad perched high on the chandelier, his gaze slicing through the chaos as bootfalls thundered closer from either hallway. Quen crouched nearby with an oil lamp clutched tight and three more at her feet. At Vad’s nod, she leaped up and slammed them into the frame behind her.
With a groan of protest, the chandelier tore free from the ceiling, bolts and glass raining down. Vad kicked off from it just before it crashed into the floor. Shards of glass exploded, and oil fanned across the stone in slick puddles.
Quen hurled her lamp. Flames exploded in a whoosh of heat.
Vad lunged onto the chandelier above the eastern entrance. “Go!”
Silus ran toward the archway with Elara in his arms. Veralt followed, carrying both women. Thalira’s face twisted in pain with each jolt, but Yuki didn’t move at all.
Quen grabbed two more lamps. Vyraetos seized another pair along with a small box he tucked under his arm. Many-Greats picked up a couple of fallen swords. Rhielle ripped three more canvases from the walls and tossed them into the growing blaze near the northern archway.
I hesitated.
Velessa’s body lay crumpled behind us, motionless. Her eyes stared, unseeing.
My breath caught in my throat.
The pounding of boots came louder now, matching the rhythm of my cracking heart.
“Briar, come on!” Rhielle called from the eastern arch.
Briar, it wasn’t your fault. Vad’s voice pressed into my mind through the link, and a steadying calm slid through the bond. But if you don’t get into the eastern hall, I’m going to carry you there myself. I’m not dropping this chandelier until you’re through.
Some part of me wanted to give him a smartass response. But the words died before they could form. He was right.
I tore my gaze from Velessa and lunged forward, legs threatening to buckle and lungs squeezing tight. Smoke burned my nostrils, and tears blurred my vision.
Thalen and Myantha ran under the archway. Thalen glanced over his shoulder, white wings twitching against his spine. “Briar!”
“Move your butt, Briar! We aren’t leaving you behind,” Quen shouted, hands full of lamps. The golden lamplight surrounded her, bouncing with each step as oil sloshed inside the glass bases.
"Briar," Many-Greats shouted as he started toward me. "Hurry!"
I bared my teeth at Many-Greats and forced myself forward, stumbling, shaking, but building momentum.
As soon as I cleared the arch and made it a few feet down the hall, Vad stomped down on the chandelier.
It went down with a screeching groan. More glass exploded, and acrid oil splashed.
He shot through the archway, and Quen darted forward, hurling one of her remaining lamps.
It hit with a sharp crack and exploded, and another wall of fire and smoke rose behind us.
Surging to the front of the group, Vad linked, If you need me to carry you, I will.
I’m fine. The stinging aches and burns lanced along my body, but I didn’t slow.
Almost to safety. Just a little farther, I told myself.
Then we’d get Yuki, Thalira, and Elara what they needed.
Down the eastern hall we ran. Tears blurred my vision as I remembered Velessa’s face—the shocked tension in her expression and the life draining from her eyes.
Leaving her body behind felt like its own betrayal.
The knowledge that she wouldn’t have wanted us to stay behind offered little comfort.
The senselessness of her death hit deep, and if we didn’t move fast, Yuki and Thalira would share her fate.
If Fate were kind, they wouldn’t. But Fate could be such a bitch.
Vad gestured toward the left archway ahead. Vyraetos and Many-Greats kept pace in the center, holding two lamps by their handles. I ran behind Veralt and alongside Thalen and Myantha.
If Myantha wanted to kill me, this would be the perfect time. Unease twisted in my gut. I couldn’t believe she would, but how many things had happened that I never would have believed could?
The scent of fresh blood thickened in the smoke. I scanned the hallways...and my blood turned to ice.