95. Sloan
NINETY-FIVE
SLOAN
As soon as Aareth bit her, two things happened at once. The feeling of a dozen knives clamping down on either side of her arm, and for a split second, the pain was held at bay by the pure shock of the moment. Sloan screamed in agony once that half-second passed.
The second thing that happened was a group of guards who ran from the palace, all shouting things, trying to be heard over the loud sirens.
Sloan had bigger problems on her hands than trying to catch what the soldiers were saying, but she caught enough to understand. There was plenty of pointing and hand waving in her direction, along with the broken, “Stop the captain,” and “Get her.”
With Sloan’s right arm still in Aareth’s mouth, Sloan was left with only one choice.
She pulled back her left fist that still held her sword and struck Aareth in the nose with all her might.
The hilt made contact with the soft part of Aareth’s snout.
Blood flew into the air, but brought the desired result.
Aareth released his grip. Eyes watering, he shook his head from side to side.
Sloan didn’t have time to think. Soldiers from all around the cage were running at her. There were precious few seconds to react.
Sloan ignored her bleeding arm and the pain that accompanied the wound. She flipped on the switch to her mage sword, bringing the blade down on the last restraint around Aareth’s neck.
“Don’t kill anybody,” Sloan yelled at Aareth as she exited the cage. “Follow me.”
That was all she could do. Hands were already reaching to tackle her to the ground. Rifles were pointed her way. The siren continued, followed by so much shouting, Sloan wondered how even the soldiers could hear one another.
Sloan did her absolute best not to seriously injure any of the soldiers trying to grab her. But the fact was she was still getting used to her own strength. Sloan bulldozed past the first few soldiers. When a hand did grab her, Sloan ripped free, thanks to her newfound speed.
When Sloan did strike, she aimed for a stomach or a kick to a leg. She turned off her mage sword, worried she would actually kill one of the soldiers trying to grab her. As she bulldozed her way to the palace exit, the wrought-iron gates began to swing closed.
Gunshots filled the air, flying past her head or striking the cobblestone steps, sending up broken pieces of stone.
Breathing was easy as she sprinted. Even the pain in her arm was beginning to dull. Sloan chanced a look behind her. Whether he understood what she’d said, or he was as eager as she was to escape from the cage and the bullets, Aareth ran with her.
Sloan’s feet barely touched the ground before they lifted again. Still, by the time she had reached the front gates, they had just swung closed.
Oh come on, Sloan thought. I’ve already been punched, stabbed, and bitten tonight.
Sloan slammed into the iron fence at a full sprint.
Her teeth rattled as she made contact with the unforgiving frame.
It sagged, bent for a moment, and Sloan thought she might have broken the gate off its hinges.
But it held. Sloan stumbled back, stunned, before Aareth slammed into her from behind, sending both of them crashing into the gate.
A rending metallic tear added to the sounds of the night. Side by side, Sloan and Aareth sprinted down the street toward the city’s main gates.