Auriel gave me one look, cursing under his breath, and ran, my blade already in his hand. He crossed the distance, picking up his speed before bending his knees and leaping at the last moment. Their bodies collided in midair and fell in tangles to the forest floor. The soturion rolled on top of Auriel, landing a punch to his cheek.
I started forward, reaching for my sword, ready to jump in, when a second soturion’s hand slid across my mouth and another hand crossed my waist from behind, trapping me against him.
“Got her,” came a grunt from behind.
I started to struggle, but a third soturion stepped in front of me, a knife in his hand. He wasted no time, placing it atmy throat, digging it into my skin. “Hold her tight,” he told his friend. “Get a blade out.”
I tried to squirm, but was quickly stilled by the edge of the blade. A second later, my captor replaced the knife at my throat with a fresh one. The third stepped back as he pointed his knife between my eyes.
“Lady Lyriana,” hissed the soturion behind me, his mouth right by my ear. “You must be silent and still. Or your friend dies.”
My heart thudded, my stomach twisting as I tried to decide how to get out of this. How much time did I have to surprise the soturion holding me captive? Could I risk slipping out of his hold, and avoiding the blade of the man before me? I didn’t have much time—just enough to reach for my own weapons. Then I could strike.
My left arm pulsed with pain. The skin had grown tight and swollen around my bicep. My fingertips had gone completely numb. I’d only be able to fight one-handed. Maybe this was it. Maybe this was how it ended.
I began to stretch my fingers, silently moving to the hilt of my sword. But Auriel’s soldier screamed, then went silent.
The soturion before me took off along with his knife. Before I could shout out a warning, the man holding me retracted his, and spoke into my ear again, “Not a word, Lady Lyriana,” he warned. “And I won’t hurt you. I swear it. If you want to be free, stay silent.”
“And why the hell would I trust you?” I asked.
“Because,” he hissed. “You must!”
I froze. I couldn’t see his face. But something about him seemed familiar. The way he kept using my title. Still calling me lady even though I was forsworn, and the way he— Gods! The way he said my name. He’d spoken with a lilt, adding an extra syllable to Lyriana just like Rhyan did.
He was Glemarian.
“Wait here. Don’t run. Not yet. They’re everywhere,” he ordered, racing into the brawl.
His friend hauled Auriel to his feet, his blade to his neck, drawing blood.
“Got him?” asked the Glemarian. “This the blond they mentioned?”
“One way to find out.” The soldier reached for Auriel’s mask.
“Wait,” said the Glemarian, his eyes meeting Auriel’s intently. Then he turned to his companion. “Give me your vadati, I’ll call it in. Let the turion know we have them.”
The soturion’s eyes narrowed, but he held his hand out, a clear white stone in it.
The Glemarian looked back at me, only a small flash of light in his eyes. A warning.
It was at that moment that the soturion saw me: armed with my sword, and unbound. His face reddened. “You didn’t tie her up? The fuck are you?—?”
The Glemarian brandished his sword, and thrust, his entire body poised for attack.
My mouth fell open in a silent scream for Auriel. But instead he stabbed his companion, gutting him, and let him fall to the ground. He stabbed once more, ensuring he was dead. Then the Glemarian raced to Auriel, both hands on his shoulders, shaking him.
“Rhyan?” he asked. “Rhyan?”
Auriel’s lips were drawn tightly together, and he shook his head. “No. I’m so sorry. I’m not Rhyan.”
“Don’t play with me,” the Glemarian seethed.
“I swear. I’m not him.” He pressed a fist to his chest. “I swear.”
The Glemarian’s shoulders slumped in defeat. “But you …” He craned his neck, trying to get a closer look. “You look like—your eyes and you’re—you’re not? Are you sure? Please! I heard about the sentencing, the stripping, and the attack, but no news of the outcome. I was hoping—praying that?—”
Auriel shook his head. “I wish I was. But I’m not Rhyan.”
