“Don’t do that!” I yell at him. My mind races trying to figure a way out of this mess. There are cries all around us, and I don’t want to know how many of Rauk’s people won’t make it out of this alive.Redara, we’re under attack; I need you.
Her response is immediate.Where are you?
In the main building.
We’re on our way.
“Let me go to them,” I shout to Rauk over the noise.
He turns to me, eyes dangerous. “No.” He crouches and pulls his halberd from over his shoulder.
“Rauk, listen to me!” I have to shout to be heard. “I don’t think they’ll shoot me. Let me get Auri.”
“No.”
I grab a hold of his arm. “Rauk!” His eyes flick to mine. “She can’t keep being used as bait. Let me get her out of here. Redara’s on her way. I’ll take Auri and get her to a place where she can’t be used as bait anymore. Just until things settle down.” I can see the indecision in his eyes, and I push. “I’ll get to the Wolf Kingdom. They’ll keep us safe.” His face tightens, and I push. “Rauk, it’s the only way to keep her safe.”
“Do you know the way?” he asks, voice fierce. Somethingshoves against the table, but it doesn’t faze him.
“Redara does.”
He nods once. “I’ll get you to her.”
“I’ll need help getting Auri up on Redara.”
“I’ll get both of you up there.” His face is set like a stone, and I’m glad he’s on our side. “When we move, you go right to the exit. I’ll clear the way; stay behind me. You grab Auri, and I’ll make sure you both get on Redara.” I don’t even get a chance to respond. He stands up and throws three knives in the blink of an eye, and then he’s running. I stay right behind him with a knife in each hand. Arrows fly, but we keep running. He uses his halberd to keep anyone from getting close to us. He shouts something at Thorne, but I can’t hear over the noise of battle. Everywhere I look, people are fighting. It’s brutal and awful. I race after Rauk. Somebody grabs my arm and yanks me backwards, but Rauk’s there a moment later. He shoves the end of his halberd into the warrior with black paint and pulls me free. Then we’re running again. We reach Auri, and Rauk decimates the men near her. I look for a chance to help but don’t get one. I reach out and grab Auri.
“Let’s go, Kiddo.” She wraps her arms around me, and I burst through the exit and run down the hallway. Three warriors see me coming and run towards us. I’m ready to turn and run the other direction, but all three of them go down a moment later with knives to their chests.
Rauk puts his hand on my back. “Go!” We race down the hallway and towards the exit door.
Are you close?I send to Redara.
Almost there.
Chapter 29
Rauk throws the door open, and we race outside. Rauk takes down the warriors watching the door, and we race to the front of the building. Redara lands hard, and we’re already almost on top of her. Rauk takes Auri from my arms. “Go!” he shouts, and I race towards Redara.
Rauk’s coming up with Auri,I mentally shout the warning to Red. I climb her leg as fast as I can and settle in place on her back. Rauk’s there a moment later, settling Auri in front of me, where she can lean against me.
He bends forward and kisses her forehead. “I love you; I’ll come for you soon.” He meets my eyes. “I don’t have anything to send with you—food, furs.”
“We’ll be fine; we’ll make it.”
There’s a new commotion on the ground. “Rauk!” I hear Thorne shout.
“Go!” Rauk says. He meets my eyes one last time, and they he drops off the side of Redara.
The front door to the building slams open, and warriors come pouring out. “Go, Redara!” he shouts. Redara’s already moving. Seconds later, we lift into the air. My heart nearly drops in my throat when I see Rauk surrounded by warriors. Thorne and several of Rauk’s warriors join him, and then we’re too high up for me to see anything more. Neither Auri nor I say anything as we fly over the city. It only takes minutes for us to get to the wall. There are a few guards on the walls but not enough. My heart feels heavy as we soar over the walls and out into the land beyond.
“You okay?” I ask against Auri’s ear. She nods but doesn’t say anything. My heart is still racing, and I try to take a calming breath. There’s a dark shadow, and my heart jolts, until I realize it’s Nox. He levels out to fly next to us.
Shouldn’t he be with Rauk?I send to Redara.
Rauk sent him with us to make sure we made a clean getaway.
Her words land heavy on my chest.Are you okay? Did you get injured at all?I ask Redara.
