Only one of the soldiers had the wherewithal to look around. The others stared at the gorgeous bird, seeming to come out of nowhere and disappear into the darkness over the river.
I buried my sword in the smart man’s throat, one swift motion in and out. Then I spun, ducking low as another soldier threw electricity with his hands. I used the flat of my wolf’s claw to direct it into the ground.
The space between the rocks was wet, and the electricitycrackled briefly, lighting up the rocks with a brilliant flash. I sliced up, under the man’s arm, hearing him scream, clutching his shoulder. He turned straight into Iradîo’s blade.
She had taken care of one of the soldiers, leaving us with the captain and another electro mage, already gathering a ball of electricity in his palm. He spread his fingers wide, creating a blanket of electricity. I ducked low, but the rocky shore was dangerous to roll on, and a stone hit my shoulder hard when I tried. Springing onto my feet, I shrugged my shoulder, hoping it was just bruised.
The captain finally had his blade out, and he circled me, holding it level with my chest.
“One of the Dogs.” He grinned. “I always knew I could beat you. Now I’m given the chance. I’m going to enjoy this. All of you, so sanctimonious. So full of yourselves.”
He lunged forward, his blade passing next to me as I turned, grabbing hold of his wrist and pulling him off balance. I hoped Iradîo was there, ready for his exposed throat as he stumbled, but I glanced and saw she was busy dancing with the electro mage.
He hadn’t drawn his sword yet, instead sending random bolts into the air, clearly blinding himself with each one. His movements grew more chaotic, and I turned the captain again, pulling him in front of me just in time to catch one of the electro mage’s bolts.
The captain gurgled, screaming. I smelled smoke as his armor heated, branding his skin. Pulling my blade up, I tried to draw it across his neck, but he raised his arm, and my blade only caught the gauntlet around his forearm.
I ducked low as the electro mage threw another bolt, and the captain turned, raising his foot to kick me, striking my side. Grunting, I slid my blade up, finding space in his armor between his leg and groin.
He screamed in pain, and I pulled the blade loose just as he fell. I was on him in an instant, pinning his arms with my legs and plunging my blade deep into his throat.
There was the sound of something shrieking, as though a nightmare itself had come to life. A piece of darkness launched itself off of the tree, claws extended as it headed straight for the electro mage. He raised his hands, firing off bolts of electricity, but it was impossible to catch a nightmare. Terror scratched across his face, and Iradîo finally got her blade in a gap in his armor.
The electro mage fell, blood dripping from between his lips.
The roar of the river covered the sound of men gasping for air as they died.
I turned to Zolle. She had a knife. It was small with a worn wooden handle, likely something she had picked up in the kitchen.
The blade trembled when she held it. Her lantern had fallen, the flame extinguishing. The only light was the electro lamps the soldiers had used.
Neither Iradîo nor I spoke.
Terror, after circling overhead, landed on my shoulder. “I was very dramatic, wasn’t I? Surely that deserves a pig’s liver, and we can all be done with this nonsense ofRatcatcher.”
“Stay back.” Zolle wet her lips. “Stay back!”
“Why did you do it?” I didn’t even recognize my voice when I asked, as though Iwasone of the Dogs, hidden in shadow and impossible to fight.
“Why? The better question is why you still serve him! He lays down with an animal from the north! He drew our nation into war with itself!” Zolle’s eyes were wide. “Why? You know what he is doing is wrong. You know that a true emperor is meant to unite the continent under the rule of the Imperium, not fracture the empire! We all know the promise. There’s a prince now.Halluis clearly the true heir of Emperor Millu. We must unite under him.”
As she spoke, she stopped trembling, her mouth relaxing in confidence.
“Who told you that?” I asked. “Empress Koque?”
Zolle pursed her lips, before raising her upper lip in a sneer. “The lapdog of Emperor Tallu? No. She’s just as much a traitor ashim. She killed Emperor Millu! I was there. I know what that witch did to him. She’s no better than a blood mage.”
“And you have so much faith that General Kacha will unite us?” I tried not to laugh.
Slowly, I pulled the scarf from around my face, exposing it in the lamplight. Zolle gaped at me, her mouth working briefly before she shook her head.
I didn’t wait for her to think of an insult. Her other already rang in my ears.He lays with an animal from the north.
“Get in the boat,” I said. “Take your faith to General Kacha and tell him this: Tallu and I are coming. I will finish him as I was stopped from doing before. There is no place he can hide in the Imperium that will make him safe from me. He can lock himself in the emperor’s quarters and I will still kill him.”
Unsteadily, Zolle backed toward the boat, getting into it. Iradîo stepped forward, pushing it into the water. It splashed, following the current. Zolle had no electro magic, and it would be impossible for her to take it to the Blood Mountains. Her only hope was following it all the way to Heron Lake and then on to the capital.
When the boat was long gone, and the roar of the river covered our words, Iradîo said, “You should have killed her.”
