“Laugh at me again, Emberlash, and I’ll cut out your tongue and stuff it down your throat.” She lowers her body, preparing to pounce.
I narrowly block the next surge of attackers. A swing of my hammer sends them scattering like leaves. But another group rushes to take their place.
I chance a look back at Caspian. His eyes are frantic, hands outstretched. A few pitiful, half-dead briars snake along the floor. He’s completely drained. With a sigh, I swing the hammer again, connecting with a set of ribs.
I’d found one of Caspian’s portal seeds in Kel’s room, which got me into Cryptgarden this morning. But we’re so far Below, the transportive powers of my token are nullified; I was counting on Caspian using his briars to get us out.
Guess it will be up to Rosalina’s half-mad sister.
“Here, birdy, birdy, birdy!” Emberlash calls, followed by a maniacal laugh as he whips the bow around.
With a roar, Wrenley lunges. A sound like a thunderclap echoes through the tunnel as Emberlash cracks his whip. Wrenley screams, the flaming barbed point striking her on the shoulder. She falls, then hisses, staring at her molten armor.
Seven realms, where does Sira find these demons? I can tell by the glint of Wrenley’s armor it was forged with Spring steel, and his fire burned even that.
A part of my mind wanders, eyes caught on the remaining pauldron of her armor.Who forged these pieces?The craftsmanship is remarkable?—
“Ez, watch out!” Caspian cries.
I backflip out of the way of the swing of a morning star, sprinting toward Caspian to get my bearings. My breath is heavy as I assess the situation. There’re still ten attackers, plus Emberlash.
“So what’s the big escape plan?” Caspian asks, ducking behind me.
“We can’t leave Rosalina’s bow here. I thought you’d be of more use. Is that all you’ve got?” I gesture down at his limp briars.
“And this.” Caspian grabs a handful of scattered gemstones. With a pathetic motion, he tosses them in the direction of an ugly, pockmarked man charging us. The gemstones scatter off the man’s chest plate like drops of rain. He stops and looks down in disbelief before throwing his head back and laughing.
I take the opportunity to turn his skull into jelly.
“See?” Caspian shrugs. “I’m a good distraction.”
Just as I release a sigh, ready to run back into the fray, Caspian’s brow furrows.
“A distraction…” he mumbles. “That’s it. Do whatever it takes to get Emberlash’s eyes off me.”
“Why?” I growl.
“We can’t leave without the bow, right? Wrenley can touch it.”
I grab his wrist. His skin is papery, bones frail. I’m surprised by how weak he feels. I loosen until I’m only lightly holding him. “How do I know you won’t direct her to shoot me as soon as she gets a hand on it?”
I expect him to tell me that’s exactly what he intends to do or at least give some snarky comment. But instead, his dark purple gaze finds mine. “Trust me.”
Trust Caspian? Rescue him, that I can do. Accept him as Rosalina’s mate? Of that I have no choice. But trust him?
With a growl, I raise my hammer over my shoulder. “Fuck this up and I’ll kill you myself.”
I charge at Emberlash. His wild eyes catch sight of me. His whip cracks forward, a searing line of fire slicing through the air, but I block it with the hammer, sparks flying from the collision. It coils around the hilt. He grins, an ugly, jagged thing, and yanks the whip, dragging me closer.
Meanwhile, the bow has fallen to his side. Wrenley stalks toward it, a cat hunting a mouse.
“You think you can stop me, hammer boy?” he growls, flames licking along the barbs of his weapon. His shadow flickers in the gemlight.
“Not stop you,” I grunt, pulling back with all my strength. “Stall you.”
I rush forward and swing again, forcing him to dodge. His whip untangles from the hammer. He lashes out, and I barely roll out of the way. My hair sizzles from the near contact. I saw what it did to steel armor. What would a lash like that do to my skin?
He turns his attention to Wrenley, striking at her. She somersaults, nearly rolling into a grizzled attacker with a mace. Pivoting, she cuts his thigh with her knife, then springs up, setting her eyes on the bow, glowing in the rubble by Emberlash’s feet like a taunt. I can see her calculating the distance, the odds. Another strike, and he could shatter her entire chest plate.
