Before he could so much as shout for help, six ropes suddenly dropped from the sides of the other ship.It was much smaller than this ship, perfect for flying without detection.Shadows climbed over the sides and slid down in a flash.Heavy boots hit the deck all around Kieran as they came to a halt.The figures were all in black and armed with blades that glinted in the moonlight.Kieran straightened from the dead gull with a gasp.
“Evening,” the nearest one said, holding his saber out in Kieran’s direction.“You must be Kieran.”
Kieran—not sure what else to do—threw up his hands.“Who?I don’t know anyone named Kieran.M-must be on a different aeroship.”
“Cut the shit,” another figure behind him said.Kieran felt something poke against his back.A cold burst of horror ran up his spine—it had to be a dagger.
“Now, no one needs to get hurt,” the first speaker continued.“Really, we’re not interested in getting blood on our hands if we can avoid it.We just need the Hilt, and we’ll be on our way.”
Well, no point in lying, I guess.“Did Elias Barclay send you?”
“Indeed.He sends his regards.”The first speaker stepped close enough that Kieran could smell his breath.“Now, why don’t you go get that for us?”
Kieran glanced around him.There were five of them and one of him—there was no way he could take them.He could scream to try and get Briar and Delilah’s attention, but with a knife about to slide into his back, that wouldn’t do him much good.It didn’t help either that he could feel his attacker’s breath on his neck.There was no getting out of this.
What other option did he have?
“F-fine,” Kieran started to say.“Just, um, please put your weapons aw—”
Suddenly, Kieran heard a sickeningcrackbehind him.The mercenary let out a choked sound, and the knifepoint fell away from Kieran’s back.He whipped around just in time to see the mercenary land flat on his face on the deck, unmoving—
With a single throwing knife lodged directly in his brain stem.
“Kieran!”Sebastian cried.“Move!”
All hell broke loose.
Chapter Eleven
As four armed men ran at him at full speed with swords drawn, it occurred to Kieran that he might actually vomit in terror.
Before he could, Sebastian stepped in front of him.He held a knife in each hand, arms tensed as he prepared to throw.He looked over his shoulder, meeting Kieran’s eyes as he pointed to the dead man with the knife in his spine.
“Take his sword!”
Kieran’s voice came out a strangled squeak: “And dowhatwith it?!I’m in abathrobe!”
“I don’t think you have a choice—” Sebastian suddenly broke off and cried, “On your right!Duck!”
Kieran spun to find a saber headed for his throat.He was barely able to dodge before it sliced through his windpipe.The blade flew past as Kieran scrambled back.
Before the attacker could get any closer, Sebastian flicked a knife in his direction; it landed squarely in his shoulder.The manstumbled backward as he pressed his fingers to the wound, howling in pain.Another mercenary weaved around him, sword held aloft as he let out a war cry.
Kieran bent down and pried the sword from the dead man’s hand, brandishing it just in time as another mercenary swung at him.With a yelp, he blocked the attack.The swords clanged so hard against each other that he felt the vibration all the way up his arm.He jumped back, dodging a blow.
Kieran felt something else: the burn of magic welling in his chest, begging to be released.His brain clawed for the few ledrith moves Briar had shown him.How did you shoot a magical blast at someone?Kick–ball change–fourth position–relevé?Wait, no, that was the beginning of a pirouette—
The mercenary roared and charged at him again, sword aloft.Acting purely on instinct, Kieran planted his slipper-clad foot, then twisted his arms around with a flourish.He stabbed the sword forward, bathrobe fluttering around him.
And while the blade landed nowhere near his attacker’s heart, the bolt of lightning that shot out from the tip of it did.
The mercenary’s muscles all locked up at once.He fell to the ground, shaking as flickers of electricity skittered across his body.While he seemed momentarily paralyzed, he was thankfully still alive.Kieran coughed out a shocked gasp.He looked down at the sword, realizing that it had acted like a conductor for his magic.Maybe he could use that again to his advantage.
Behind him, Kieran heard a choking sound.He spun to find Sebastian prying one of his throwing knives from the quivering body of another dead mercenary, blood burbling from the woundand staining Sebastian’s hands.Sebastian stood stock-still.His lips were parted, and he seemed to be breathing through his mouth.He looked…pained.As if the blood on his hands was disgusting enough to make him sick.
He was so distracted he didn’t seem to notice the mercenary running up behind him.
“Sebastian!”Kieran cried.“Behind you!”
