Chapter twenty-five
Shi'chen
Thesnapofboneand shriek of pain that came from A’bbni’s throat made Shi’chen’s heart skip a beat in his chest, knowing that sound would haunt his nightmares. He dove at Hi’jan, his spear whistling through the air, but Hi’jan dodged away and laughed, his sword coming up to meet the spear with a sharp ring of steel on steel.
Shi’chen planted his feet as Hi’jan’s strike connected, shoving him back with all his strength. Hi’jan stumbled back only a step, but it was enough for Shi’chen to get his spear around to strike at him, catching the Commander across his arm. Hi’jan snarled and dashed at him, but Shi’chen dove aside and spun the spear to catch Hi’jan in the back of the head with the shaft, causing the man to stumble.
Shi’chen planted himself in front of A’bbni. “Are you all right, i-sha?” he asked over his shoulder without turning his eyes away from the Commander in front of him, who had turned toward him, a trickle of blood running down from his temple.
“I… I will be,” A’bbni said, though Shi’chen could hear the sob of pain that he was forcing back.
That was all he could ask before Hi’jan rushed him again, and Shi’chen struck swiftly multiple times, driving the Commander back. Now that he was between Hi’jan and A’bbni, he was not going to let Hi’jan get any closer to him.
Hi’jan swung his sword in an arc that was much too wide, and Shi’chen let go of his spear and leaped. As much as his guards may have good-naturedly teased him for being short, he was undeniably quick. His legs went around Hi’jan’s neck, and he used his momentum to pull him over. Hi’jan hit the ground hard as Shi’chen whirled to his feet, grabbing his spear up in one smooth motion. Hi’jan scrambled backward for his dropped sword as Shi’chen came at him, and Hi’jan managed barely deflect his strike with his blade.
He went in to try to knock Shi’chen’s legs out from under him, but Shi’chen easily turned it into a flip and landed on his feet again. Hi’jan backpedaled, but his foot caught one of the stones on the floor, and Shi’chen took his moment. He threw his spear with deadly accuracy, catching Hi’jan in the side of his chest, right in the gap where his chest plate met his arm. Hi’jan stumbled back with a grunt, turning his eyes to see Shi’chen flying at him, the smaller goblin’s foot catching him across his face as Shi’chen grabbed the spear and yanked it the opposite direction of Hi’jan’s momentum, ripping it free of the man’s body in a shower of blood and bone.
Hi’jan was bleeding profusely down his side from a gaping wound under his arm. Blood loss would kill him shortly, but that was not enough for Shi’chen. Hi’jan let out a harsh, forced laugh as blood trickled out of the corner of his mouth. “It looks like you… you won, Captain,” he said, stumbling a bit as his blood hit the stone like raindrops. “But I will die kn… knowing that I have taken what was m… most precious to you.”
Shi’chen started to lunge at him, but he recalled A’bbni’s words, all those weeks ago.You know he tries to provoke you to get you in trouble.Shi’chen pulled himself up short and backed up a step, leaning back just as Hi’jan’s hand that had been holding his injury swung forward, a blade slicing the air where Shi’chen’s throat had been a fraction of a moment ago. He swung the spear, ducking low and shoving it straight up with all his strength into the spot between Hi’jan’s ribs. The point of the spear went under the chest plate and came out the back of Hi’jan’s neck. The next moment, the Commander had slid down onto the spear’s shaft as his body went limp.
Shi’chen dropped the weapon, not even bothering to watch Hi’jan fall. He turned and sprinted back to A’bbni’s side, skidding to a stop and kneeling down next to him. A’bbni’s face had drained of blood, giving his charcoal skin a ghastly pallor, heavy sweat having broken out on his face and neck, his breathing hard and fast, each exhale an effort not to scream.
Shi’chen leaned down, sliding his arm under A’bbni’s shoulders. A’bbni curled into him, his fingers tangling into Shi’chen’s shirt and gripping it like he would never let go. “Breathe,” he prompted, stroking A’bbni’s damp hair out of his eyes. “He’s dead, i-sha. I’m here.”
“E… En’shea,” A’bbni said softly.
“I do not care about him; I care about you. We need to get you to a physician.”
A’bbni’s damp eyes turned up to look at him. “Wh… where is Lai?”
Shi’chen swallowed hard, his ears dropping as he gazed down into his twin’s pale face. “I… I’m so sorry, i-sha. He—”
“Was chasing down the Emperor that you lost,” came a voice behind him, and Shi’chen nearly dropped A’bbni as he whirled around to see two figures coming down the stone steps from the fifth level. One was En’shea, wrists still bound, though his blindfold was no longer in place, being prodded along by a second person whose golden blond hair caught the torchlight.
“Lai?” he asked, feeling A’bbni shift in his arms, too.
Lai gave Shi’chen a bright grin. “Hey. Sorry I wasn’t here to help you.” He gave En’shea a prod with the tip of his dagger, and the goblin stumbled forward another step, glowering at the twins. “Luckily, he didn’t get too far.”
“How the—” Shi’chen started to ask and then realized that telling his injured brother that Lai was somehow was alive after being thrown off the top of The Keep was not what A’bbni needed to hear right now. He exhaled a sharp breath, his heart racing in his chest. He had so many questions, and he wanted to run over and throw his arms around his friend, but A’bbni’s ragged breathing next to him brought him back. “Are you all right?” he asked, trying to keep his tone lighter.
“Better than him,” Lai commented, gazing at Hi’jan’s fallen, impaled form. He then grabbed En’shea by the neck and hauled him over to the twins, dropping him a few steps away before kneeling down next to A’bbni. “Hey. I’m sorry, i’jaa.” He brushed his gloved fingers gently over A’bbni’s cheek, and A’bbni leaned into his touch, letting go of Shi’chen’s shirt to wrap his arms around Lai. Lai held him close, rubbing his back gently, though he gave Shi’chen an apologetic look over A’bbni’s shoulder. Shi’chen gave him a small shake of his head. He was exhausted, and Lai was not dead. That was the most important thing.
He stood up, crossing over to the battered body of Hi’jan. He grabbed the Commander pin from the man’s shoulder, ripping it free of the scarlet cape that had turned a deeper red with blood. He stuck the pin in his pocket, then turned back to haul En’shea to his feet. “We need to get him to Reverence Sa’ben,” he said, motioning to A’bbni.
“I can take him,” Lai offered, inclining his head at En’shea, but Shi’chen shook his head firmly.
“No. The last thing I want right now is for the city to see you holding a knife to the Emperor’s throat. Let me be the bad guy here. You just take care of my brother.” Shi’chen pulled Lai’s rapier off his hip and handed it to him.
Lai took it with his gloved hands, giving him a grateful smile. “Thanks for watching it for me.”
“Looks better on you anyway,” Shi’chen replied with a grin. He reached over and retied the gag on En’shea, who glowered murder at him, before giving him a shove in the back. “Let’s go.” He headed down the stone stairs, steering En’shea in front of him, glancing back every few steps to make sure his brother and Lai were all right.
His mind whirled, trying to figure out how Lai had managed not to only to survive the drop off Traitor’s Ledge, but then to reappear there seemingly unscathed. He was sure Lai would tell him later, but hopefully not in front of A’bbni. His brother was anxious enough already, and Shi’chen was more than a little worried what Reverence Sa’ben would say about A’bbni’s injuries.
They reached the second floor, and Shi’chen could see the open door to the room he and A’bbni had been imprisoned in. A flood of anger rushed through him, and he gave En’shea an extra hard shove toward the stairwell. He could hear a contingent of guards at the bottom, and he steeled himself for another potential fight. He placed his dagger at En’shea’s throat and started down the stairs.
As soon as they saw him, the seven guards below all drew their swords, eyeing him and the bound Emperor warily. Shi’chen glowered at them. “Commander Hin-Ve’ssa is dead. We wish to speak to Captain An-Hila’ra.”
