“And you’re weak,” Ivor snarls.
I spit blood, blade ready as Elio manages to get on his feet again, favouring one side. Together we face Ivor, dancing with death. All three blades clash, a calamity of steel and bone. There is no room for finesse, no elegant footwork, just dirt under our boots and sweat in our eyes.
Ivor barrels forwards, jamming his shoulder into my arm. The sudden impact sends my blade flying from my hand and into the sand. With a roar, I spin and swing my fist around, connecting it to his jaw. His head cracks to the side, but it doesn’t put him down, and we’re shoved into hand-to-hand combat.
He smashes his forehead into mine with a sickening crunch, stars burst behind my eyes, pain throbbing through my head, all the way into my teeth. Elio cries out, scraping his blade across Ivor’s side, catching the captain off guard. I take the opportunity to dart inside his reach despite my blurry vision.
With the jerk of my elbow, I jam it into Ivor’s jaw. His teeth snap shut as he roars. For a moment he’s all fists and fury, but I block him, twisting and kicking out my foot to trip him as he lurches for me. With quick reflexes I dash for myblade, reaching it, and turning to face Ivor. At the same time Elio rolls behind him, slashing at the back of Ivor’s knees with his sword.
Ivor cries out, the cut deep enough to bring him crashing to his knees. His broadsword flies from his hand, and I rush to kick it from his reach. I flick my wrist out, chest heaving as the tip of my blade digs into his bare throat. He snarls as I hold him there. Elio stands behind him, his blade pressed to the back of Ivor’s neck.
Grey eyes cower up at me. He’s trapped. The moment he tries to get up, I’ll take his head from his shoulders with one fell swoop and he knows it.
I push the blade harder, leaning forwards as a bead of blood spills down his throat. “If I’m weak, then what does that make you? Beaten, bleeding, and abandoned by the only soul who might have saved you, if you only took the time to love her.”
UNTIL I MUST BE STILL
40
ODELIA
The remaining Vipers are tied up and left under guard on the beach. Those with life-threatening wounds are bandaged, but we don’t take any more risk than necessary. Instead, several of ours stand guard while a few row out to theSea Baneto dump or confiscate whatever weapons the rowboats can fit.
Otto scurries along the tree line of the beach, tending to the crew’s wounds. Some pull him close to ruffle his hair, their bloodied faces grinning wide. Others tease about his mudalik pods. There’s an undercurrent of proud relief. Like though his high-collared shirts hid the brutal scar on his chest, none could ever truly forget. Their booming voices carry down the beach.
We got him, Bear. It took long enough, but we got him.
I help where I can, tending to those whose wounds aren’t as bad. Killian watches me carefully as I bring fresh water and salve for a slice on his thigh.
“You must be the spy Rune sent to watch Ivor,” I say, figuring it’s probably better to get introductions out of the way.
“And you must be the Viper’s prized bloodletter.”
His tone isn’t unkind, so I offer a curt nod, avoiding his pale-blue eyes. All he can know about me is what he gathered while stalking theSea Bane.
“Can I just say I’m glad you’re on our side?” He grins, then, wide and almost mischievous as he takes the salve from me. “You move like the water. I’d hate to be on the other side of that bola.”
My cheeks warm, the words taking me by surprise. “You’re not bad yourself, that Kelpie had grown men wetting their pants.”
The air between us eases and he nods, rinsing and slathering a few smaller wounds on his forearm before gesturing to the water, where the kelpie lays in the shallows. “Eithne is as savage as they get. She fights for her own. You know the kind,” he says, meeting my eye.
“I know the kind,” I agree, deciding I like Killian.
Eventually Otto catches me and demands I sit and pull my shirt up over my ribs.
“This should have been seen sooner, Odi,” he says, his tone fatherly enough I can’t help a grin.
“We were busy.” I try not to hiss as he washes and salves the slice. If it were truly serious, I wouldn’t be walking right now. “There are worse injured than me.”
“Yeah, until it gets infected.” He laughs. His hands work quick, wrapping four passes of the bandage before tucking it into itself. “You’ll need to wash it again tonight once we’re on the water.”
“Yes, sir. And I’ll be ready to help the others tonight too.” It’s strange how little he talks when he’s in this role. It makes me wonder what’s going through his mind.
Further down the beach, someone calls for more bandages, and he stands to go, but hesitates. “And Odi?”
“Hmm?” I stand too, casting my eyes around for Rune.
“Thanks for saving me.” He scratches the back of his head. “ I was a little worried there for a minute.”
