The metal spikes across his side remain half-formed, now silent and still like he is.
My chest heaves, my breath rasping in and out of my mouth as I stand over him, gripping my bloody weapons, ready in case he’s still alive, preparing to cut him again if I need to.
Because there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to protect my family.
Nothing.
“Erik?”
I look up to find Thoren, frozen and wide-eyed, hovering at the top of the ladder only a few paces away.
His face is pale as he fixates on the body at my feet.
Blood pools across the loft floor and I’m certain it’s splattered across my face, but somehow…
I can’t feel it.
All I have is rage where compassion would normally be.
Thoren’s question is strained. “Did you use your light to do that?”
I hesitate.Did I?
I don’t want to replay the moments or second-guess how fast I moved, but I’m certain I didn’t, so I shake my head.No.
Thoren takes a sharp breath and now I can see that his hands are shaking where he crouches at the top of the ladder and his cheeks are streaked with tears.
Fresh fear rises within me.
My question is urgent. “Thoren?”
He gasps. “We need to get out there. Father’s in trouble.”
Chapter 16
Irace along the loft and down the stairs, gripping my bloodied hunting knives.
Thoren is close on my heels, his feet flying as fast as mine are. He’s holding his bow, but he only has two arrows left.
I don’t have time to check on Asha beneath the stairs—even though I’m worried about her. I know I wrapped her safely and I also know that none of the Blacksmiths came near her. I stopped Deron before he could go back outside and tell any of the others that she’s here.
A brief glance tells me she isn’t awake; she isn’t struggling to free herself from the straps.
But what if she’s lying there because she’s stopped breathing?
I nearly turn, nearly run back to check that she’s still alive, but Thoren grabs my arm, pulling me onward.
“No time!” he shouts.
The door is ajar, but because of the way it faces, I can’t see what’s happening within the clearing. The fight certainly hasn’t moved near it.
We burst through the door, kicking up snow as we sharply turn the corner.
Finally, I can see the fight ahead.
“Father!” My shout rings out as fear rushes through me.
My father lies on the ground at Kalith’s feet all the way at the other end of the clearing. It will take us long seconds to reach him.
