One of Moriel’s.
Dario grabbed a torch from the wall, and raced toward the flames to light it. Then he withdrew his blade, his black curls shining in the firelight.
“Aiden,” Rhyan yelled, spitting the blood that spilled onto his lips. “Aiden. Unbind me! You must! Unbind me, now! Aiden!”
But Aiden was frozen, his aura filled with fear, as he watched with stunned horror as his friend approached the akadim. He grasped his stave, his knuckles turning white. His face had paled with the same look of terror I knew I’d had when I’d first seen akadim up close. Despite how seasoned Rhyan and Dario were at fighting, Aiden was a mage, not a warrior. This was probably the closest he’d ever been to an akadim. Maybe even the first one he’d ever seen with his own eyes.
“Aiden!” I yelled, my entire body vibrating. “You have to unbind us! Or we’ll die!”
The akadim growled, and swiped sharpened claws at Dario’s chest. He backed away, just enough for the beast’s nails to graze his armor. With a yell, Dario launched the torch at the akadim’s head, but the beast swatted at it, sending the flames flying back in my direction.
“Lyr!” Rhyan screamed.
The torch hit the wall beside me, the fire catching on loose twigs. The sticks blazed instantly, the flames licking at my leg. Shit! Shit, I was going to burn. Angling my boot away, I repositioned myself, and kicked out, stomping on the flames until smoke rose beneath my foot.
“AIDEN!” Rhyan roared, sliding his body toward mine as if he could pull me back from any further dangers. “Aiden! Unbind us.” His voice filled with panic. His muscles strained to near bursting, his fingers touching mine. “NOW!”
Dario yelled as he raced for the akadim. But it grabbed him, hoisted him into the air and tossed him into a wall with a sickening thud. His vadati stone smashed to pieces beside his head.
Another growl echoed through the cave, this one louder and deeper. A second akadim, its body thicker and more muscular than the first, had entered, wearing the same silver collar around its neck. Another one of Aemon’s soldiers.
These were a new breed. When I first fought akadim, I’d been protected by Asherah’s chest plate. Her blood was like torture to them, because she’d been a Guardian. That had saved me when I had no magic. But now the undead who served Aemon carried his blood in their veins, the blood of a reincarnated God. They could touch me now. As well as Rhyan, and Meera.
And worse, they had the potential to activate the Valalumir inside me. Aemon’s blood, the blood of a Guardian could do that.
We absolutely had to get free.
“Aiden, do it. Release them,” Dario finally commanded, pulling himself to his knees. His pants had torn at his knees above his boots, and blood was dripping from his forehead, his face covered in soot. With a grimace he was back on his feet, repositioning the hilt of his sword between his hands. “Now!”
Aiden blinked rapidly, then pointed at me with his stave. There was a blast of light, and at last I felt the ropes drop from my body, my magic and strength rushing back through my limbs. I felt like I’d been underwater, and I’d just risen to the surface, and could breathe again. I jumped to my feet, immediately racing to the corner where they’d thrown my armor and weapons as Aiden unbound Rhyan and Meera.
The mage’s eyes darted between us as we brandished our swords, bodies tensed to fight. He took a step forward, like he was going to help, but I snatched Meera and my stave off the ground first, pushing her behind me. Aiden’s chest heaved, his hands trembling at his sides as the akadim roared.
“Aiden,” Rhyan said firmly. “Aiden, listen to me. I need you to take Lady Meera to the back, and stay hidden until the threat ends.” He held his friend’s gaze, offering him the confidence he’d given me so many times before when I’d needed it. “Okay? You’ve got this. You’re strong. Keep her safe.”
Aiden’s throat bobbed, but to my surprise, he nodded, his eyes blazing. “On my life.” He pressed a fist to his heart twice, before flattening his palm. Meera took his hand, offering a reassuring squeeze, and he nodded. He placed his other hand on Meera’s elbow, his eyes meeting mine before disappearing with her into the shadows.
I held my sword with two hands, my eyes meeting Rhyan’s. Dario raced for the first akadim, jumping and striking its arm.
For a second, Rhyan pressed his side to mine, a brief reassuring touch we’d both needed. Then his voice was low in my ear, strained from his broken nose. “Attack its right flank. I’ll go left. Strike deep. No holding back.”
My throat tightened, but I nodded, tightening the grip on my sword. Rhyan’s lips curled back, his body preternaturally still, ready to attack. I took off towards the right. He ran left. The akadim’s eyes flashed on me, his claw at the end of a giant, muscled arm thrashing. I leapt, swinging my sword across his body. The blade struck his skin and the hit reverberated through the hilt and up the nerves in my arms. I resisted the blade’s inclination to bounce back, slowly piercing through the rough skin to the thick cords of muscle. Gritting my teeth, I pushed, straining as hard as I could without losing my grip. Blood spurted from his arm as my feet touched the ground, my sword still in my hand.
The akadim growled, and before I could attack again, Rhyan made his second leap, the tip of his blade arcing downward. The beast’s arm hung limp from its shoulder, less than a tendon keeping it from falling off.
It sank to its knees, groaning in pain as its severed arm hit the floor with a sickening thud.
Rhyan readied his sword again. But then a blood curdling scream rang through the cave. The first akadim had lifted Dario into the air by his neck, strangling him. Dario kicked helplessly, and stabbed at the akadim’s arm with his dagger, but it was no use. The akadim squeezed harder, ripping Dario’s armor away from his chest. He was stripping him for access to his heart.
To eat his soul. To turn him forsaken.
“NO!” Rhyan roared.
“Go!” I shouted. I could see the pain in his face, the warring needs to protect both me and his friend.
Rhyan stared hard at me, his eyes assessing.
“Just a fucking rope,” I said. “Go!”
