I surged forward, but Razel stepped into my path. “Wrong way, Thia dear.”
Breathing heavily, I turned toward the door. Something tugged inside me. My heart fluttered as a humming threaded along my skin. In Razel’s arms, Resyries shifted. I felt the cord between us pulse. Then again.
In the midst of everything, with Caylus and Kiva injured, with Ericen standing idly by, Shearen smiling and Razel staring me down with the judgment of a goddess, simply feeling that pulse centered me.
Now. I shoved the word down the line.
Res’s body crackled with lightning.
Razel screamed, releasing him. His wings flared as he tried to catch himself, but the drug was still in his system, and he hit the ground hard. At the same time, a guard yelled and crumpled to the floor, revealing Auma’s small form several feet behind, her arm still outstretched from throwing the knife.
And she wasn’t alone.
Thirty-One
At Auma’s back stood five masked Trendellan monks in black robes. Kuren had told me about them once; they were a special part of Trendell’s small army so well trained in stealth, they could even fool a shadow crow. And now they stood here, at the back of a girl who had vanished in the world’s most heavily guarded city and, with the single throw of a knife, had downed a Vykryn.
The other guard charged one of the monks, but Auma intercepted him. She was so light on her feet, so quick. She slit his throat in an instant.
There was another cry, and I whirled back the other way. Kiva had driven her foot into Shearen’s knee, then stumbled to her feet. Razel yelled for more guards as Shearen regained himself and launched at Kiva, dagger raised.
I seized the torch from the servant and slammed it into Shearen’s chest, throwing him back. His uniform caught fire, and he screamed.
The Trendellan monks broke into action. One surged toward Shearen, who frantically tried to put out the flames on his chest, and another toward Ericen, who stood frozen with shock and indecision. As the monk bore down on him, he broke free of his trance and threw up a block in time to avoid getting hit.
Another monk went for Razel, and she whipped her moonblades from her back. As the shouts of approaching guards echoed from the hall, the other two monks went to meet them.
Auma appeared at my side. I flinched, my mouth opening and closing, everything from words to the simple act of breathing failing me. Then I realized I was holding a flaming column of fire and chucked it across the room. The torch bounced, sending up a shower of sparks before settling against the wall.
“You have to go,” Auma said.
Behind her, Kiva was charging toward us. To my right, Caylus had regained his feet unsteadily. Someone had cut his bonds.
Crouching down, I scooped the disoriented Res into my arms, Auma guarding my back.
“There are horses outside the stables,” she said. “Follow the road west toward the nearest port. Find a ship to take you to the Ambriels. Lie low. Someone will find you.” Nothing of the demure servant was present.
“Who are you?” I asked before I could stop myself.
“There’s no time!”
Kiva and Caylus both reached us. I could tell Caylus was in pain, but he barely grimaced.The tolerance of a fighter. Then I noticed his hands. They weren’t shaking.
Kiva’s eyes went to Auma. They stared at each other for the briefest second, thoughts and questions and flashes of emotion whirring across Kiva’s face, and then Auma shot past her with a brush of her fingers along Kiva’s hand.
“Can everyone move?” I clutched Res tight to my chest. They nodded, and we bolted for the exit, Kiva casting one last backward glance as we fled.
I led the way down the corridor to the front of the castle, avoiding the two monks holding off a trio of Vykryn. We sped out onto the grounds and around to the stables. Rain fell in sheets, the chill in the air sharp as a sword. I held Res tighter.
Three massive Illucian warhorses waited for us, but as we grew closer, Kiva stumbled. Caylus caught her before she struck the ground and heaved her to her feet. “You’re losing too much blood.”
“Comforting.”
“I’m just saying that—”
“I’m fine,” she hissed, trying to push off him and move on her own. But she swayed, and he quickly ducked under her arm to support her. Shifting Res to one arm, I doubled back to slide under her other side, and together, we helped her onto the nearest horse.
“Ride with her,” I told Caylus. “Make sure she doesn’t fall.”
