Aisha lifted her head to look at Tariq, and her expression frightened him. He brought his face closer to hers. ‘What is it?’
‘It won’t be enough.’ Her eyes struggled to focus on him. ‘You’ll have to fight hand-to-hand.’
‘That’s all right,’ he assured her. ‘We’re ready for that.’
She shook her head. ‘Not here.’ Then she coughed. ‘In the castle.’
Chapter 45
The world returned in nauseating flashes. Aisha could see the shock on Tariq’s face as the weight of her words settled. The sounds from the beach were getting louder—shouting, crying, steel clashing. He rose to his feet and looked down the hill.
‘Go,’ Aisha said. ‘They need your help.’
Tariq looked torn.
‘I’ll stay here with her,’ Safiya said. ‘Keep her hidden.’
That seemed to ease the tension in Tariq’s shoulders a little. ‘Don’t move from this spot. I’ll come back for you.’
He gathered the rest of his men, and they headed off down the slope towards the beach—gone from sight.
Safiya propped Aisha up against the rock. Aisha’s head still swam, but she didn’t tell her sister that. From that position, they could see part of the beach below. The real fighting was well underway.
Safiya nocked a fresh arrow and crept forwards to see what was happening.
‘Can you see him?’ Aisha called to her.
Safiya looked around. ‘He probably hasn’t even reached the beach yet.’
Even in her weakened state, Aisha found the energy to go and look for herself.
Safiya groaned. ‘Will you get back there and rest, please?’
It was pure chaos below, but eventually Aisha found him. He moved like a current, cutting down every warrior he encountered. The sun flashed off his blade each time it came down. Men fell into the surf, turning the water red, but plenty made it ashore.
Nearby voices drew Aisha’s gaze to the left. Three holy warriors appeared over the crest, immediately spotting the two women.
‘Safiya,’ Aisha said.
Her sister was focused on the fighting below. ‘What?’
‘Incoming.’
Finally seeing the men, Safiya immediately swung her bow in their direction. ‘Stay back!’
The warriors ignored the warning and continued towards them.
Safiya released the arrow, but the men were ready, and it missed. Panic surged through Aisha. She reached for the sword at Safiya’s hip, her fingers clumsy on the hilt. Her hands shook so violently she nearly dropped it. She knew the basics of sword fighting, but she had never used a sword outside of a training yard before—and certainly not straight after a vision.
The closest of the three warriors raised his shield and charged towards them. Aisha got to her feet—barely—and tightened her grip on the sword. Safiya fired a second arrow at his leg, this time hitting her target. He went down, clutching his leg as he slid a few feet down the slope. Safiya’s next arrow hit the man behind him before he could get his shield up. He toppled backwards, collecting the third warrior on his way down.
The sword fell from Aisha’s hands. ‘Thank the gods one of us is useful right now.’
Safiya snatched the sword up and returned it to its sheath. ‘Next time, don’t grab my blade unless you mean to use it.’
That was completely fair.
‘We need to leave,’ Safiya said.
