The death-and-iron scent of the battle was gut-churning, but I sank into the mind of a predator and blocked out the screams, the echoes of clashing blades.
It was only me, my weapons, and the dark-armored enemies charging through my home. Begging to fall at my hands.
I lost track of the lives I took as we fought down a street packed with looming apartment buildings and innocent lives, my fury a storm unleashed.
One for every tear I would shed over my father.
One for every scar they put on Malakai’s skin.
One for every breath they silenced from my people.
The streets were overwhelmed, bodies falling as quickly as the ash coating them. The Engrossians—and likely Mindshapers if Aird’s agreement stood—moved as swiftly and quietly as I remembered, some unknown magic masking any clinks of armor.
Tolek and I fought back-to-back. Starfire met the blade of a long, jagged knife. Shoving the Mindshaper back, I brought my short sword up, swiping cleanly through his leathers from hip to neck.
I spun to meet the next opponent, but amid the shouts, a gravelly voice stood out. “Behave, girl.” A slap of flesh on flesh sounded.
A child’s scream followed.
Gritting my teeth, I ducked my attacker’s blade and ran down thenearest alley. I was vaguely aware of Tol taking out that warrior behind me. Following me, he guarded the entrance.
My eyes locked on the tear-streaked face of the young girl. On the hand locked around her throat, pinning her to the wall.
The Engrossian didn’t even hear me approach. Didn’t have time to fight back as my spear shot through his neck.
Crimson arced through the air with his tumble sideways, his body falling with a thud. The girl nearly collapsed with him—from relief or terror, I wasn’t sure.
“It’s okay,” I soothed, bending down to her level. My blood-streaked and tattered appearance was likely no comfort, but I placed a hand on her trembling shoulder regardless.
Her arms wrapped around her small body, holding her up—she couldn’t have been more than ten.
When she finally looked at me, recognition dawned in her round green eyes.
“He can’t hurt you now,” I muttered. Tentatively, I tucked a piece of hair that had pulled free from her braid behind her ear, fingers grazing the bright red spot on her cheek where the Engrossian had hit her. “What’s your name?”
“Anabeth—Anni,” she whimpered.
“Do you live nearby, Anni?”
Tol’s sword rang loudly behind me, but I couldn’t pull my attention away from this child. The way she stubbornly set her jaw and lifted her chin reminded me so much of my sister.
“Just there.” She pointed to a tall, narrow building at the dead end of the alley. “I only—I left my training sword outside. I thought I should get it. To protect my little brother and sister.” The apology in her round cheeks—the way her small lips trembled despite her forced confidence—twisted my gut.
She may resemble Jezzie’s courage, but that protective gleam in her eye was one I knew well.
“That’s okay, you didn’t do anything wrong. You’re so strong to defend your family. But you have to protect yourself, too, okay?”
Her lips twitched upward, cheeks flushing. “My mom and dad said they’d be back soon.”
“They will, I’m sure.” The uncertain words tasted like tar. “But grab your sword and stay inside. Promise me?”
“I promise, Revered.”
I watched until she disappeared through the dark doorway, a small wreath of daisies swinging as it closed.
The moment the lock slid home, the roars of battle crashed back down on me.
Forcing myself to tear my gaze away from the apartment and the vulnerable children inside, I gritted my teeth and ran back toward Tol. There would be more children like Anni at risk if we didn’t win.
