It’s hard to breathe, to think. I know by now how cruel the emperor is; this is no bluff. I can’t watch these people die. There has to be a way out of this, but for the seven hundredth life of me, I cannot figure it out.
If I lie or say nothing, he will kill them. If I betray Jyn, I would rather kill myself. I’m petrified with indecision.
My answer is made for me, however, when the mighty roar of a dragon sounds overhead. I don’t know whether to be relieved or frightened for Jyn. My dragon is here, and I’m not ready for the carnage that is sure to follow.
“From above!” one of the Imperial soldiers screams. “Draw your bows!”
“No!” I shout, swinging my elbow back to ram the huntress in the ribs. I grab her wrist and twist, forcefully snatching her blade to use as my own.
And then, all at once, havoc breaks out.
36
Irun to the villagers andfree the strongest of their men. I free Chyou and her child along with the rest of the women and children next, while the soldiers are preoccupied with Jyn above.
“Run!” I tell them. “As far and as fast as you can.”
Bodies fall, the camp is overturned, and the scent of blood weighs on the air. I try to channel my magic, but I can’t manage it. Instead of rage, I’m swimming in fear and helplessness; I cannot tap into the strength I once possessed. I have no choice but to fight blade to blade.
I lose track of how many soldiers I maim, the sensation of metal slipping through flesh happening again and again. Though the wet sound of skin and muscle and bone splitting open makes me sick, I attack anything and anyone that makes the mistake of charging at me.
The emperor is nowhere in sight. He’s retreated for now—that coward.
Jyn roars as she dives down, scooping up soldiers in her sharp fangs and her claws. She drags them into the skies with her before tossing them to the unforgiving earth. They scream for their lives as the fall finishes the job for her.
The Imperial soldiers take their aim, letting their arrows loose. Thankfully, few hit their mark. Those that do ricochet off of Jyn’s scales, the speed of her flight splintering arrows on contact. I come for them while they’re distracted, stabbing and slicing through those who wish to harm her.
With a shriek, Feng tackles me to the ground. She sits on my chest, pinning me down, then draws her spare dagger from her sheath and winds back. The blade drives straight through my left shoulder, an excruciating fire radiating from the spot, leaving me without breath. Feng pulls the blade back, readying for another go. She’s going to stab me to pieces.
“Nothin’ personal, Leaf Water.”
“Please,” I beg. “Don’t do this. The emperor isusingyou.”
Much to my horrified amazement, the huntress pauses, her dagger flashing mere inches from cutting my eye in two. Her moment of hesitation is my advantage—and likely my only chance.
“You truly believe he’ll make good on his promise?” I press on. “What reassurance do you have that he won’t kill you the moment he has what he wants?”
“I—”
“Please, Feng. Don’t allow your thirst for revenge cloud your judgment. He’s bound to go back on whatever deal he’s struck. He’s taken a whole village hostage just to get what he wants. Imagine if these people were your own back home!”
“But ye lied to me,” she hisses. “Over an’ over again. About where the dragon was, about yer woman, about who ye are.”
“Because she’s my Fated One!” I exclaim. “I was trying to protect her. I still am. I beg of you, let me go before he hurts her. We both know the lengths we’ll go to for the people we love.”
The huntress sets her jaw, her gaze hard and scrutinizing. I can’t tell whether I’ve gotten through to her. All I can do is pray.
If only I knew how to transform fully. I should be up there withJyn, defending her, and instead, she’s fighting for the two of us. I shut my eyes tight and brace for the impact. Could this be it?
Just when I think I’m about to meet yet another tragic end, Feng throws her dagger overhead, the hilt tumbling through the air before puncturing a soldier through the side of the neck. He sputters, choking on the metal lodged in his throat. He fumbles helplessly, falls to his knees, and collapses flat on his face. The black loop around his finger tells me he’s dead before he even hits the ground.
“Get up!” Feng yells at me, standing quickly while offering me her hand. She helps me to my feet.
“Thank you,” I say, breathless. “You won’t regret—”
“Less talk, more killin’, moron!”
We remain outnumbered, but the fight feels less hopeless with an ally on our side. While Jyn soars above, swooping in with her claws extended to ram into large swathes of soldiers, Feng and I pick off Róng’s soldiers one at a time. But it’s quickly evident that I’m no fighter. Whatever blows I land are pure luck, and whatever strikes I take are unsurprising. It’s frankly a miracle I’m still standing.
