The tunnels twisted ahead, leading deeper into the underground, the flickering lamplight from the sewer grates above barely illuminating the fight. They had no way to know if reinforcements were coming.
“You’ve got a price on your head, kid,” one of the men sneered, stepping forward, his sword glinting in the light. “Didn’t think we’d recognize you?”
Symond spat at the ground, his chest heaving. “You’re wasting your time,” he growled. “I’m not worth the effort.”
“Twenty gold says otherwise,” the man shot back. “And in Ravenpoint? That’s more than enough to risk gutting you in a sewer.”
Another bounty hunter lunged, this one wielding a short spear. Vye pivoted to intercept, knocking the attack aside with a flick of her blade. The clang of metal echoed in the tunnels, a harsh, grating sound.
Symond went for the next one, throwing a punch that connected hard with the man’s jaw. The bounty hunter reeled, butanother stepped in immediately, slamming a knee into Symond’s ribs. He coughed, doubling over for a split second too long.
A blade came for his exposed side.
Violette reacted on instinct.
She shoved him aside and caught the attacker’s wrist, twisting sharply until she heard the telltale pop of a dislocated joint. The man screamed, his sword clattering uselessly to the stone floor.
But in that split second, Vye’s focus had shifted, and it nearly cost her.
Pain seared through her side.
A knife. Someone had gotten past her guard.
She gasped, stumbling back, her free hand flying to the wound just as warm blood seeped between her fingers.
Not good.
Symond saw the hit and something shifted in him. His anger, his recklessness—it turned lethal.
He grabbed the nearest attacker and drove his dagger into his thigh, twisting the blade until the man collapsed. Another came at him from behind, but Symond turned, too quick, too brutal, slamming an elbow into his throat. The bounty hunter gurgled, choking as he dropped to his knees.
“Go!” Symond shouted at her, shoving another attacker off him. “I’ll cover you!”
Vye bared her teeth. “Not happening.”
They moved as one, back-to-back, striking, dodging, trying to hold their ground. The tunnels felt tighter, the flickering light making the shadows lurch.
The bounty hunters weren’t skilled—not truly. They were desperate men looking for quick coin. But desperation made people dangerous.
One of them lunged, swinging a rusted mace. Vye ducked low, feeling the rush of air as it barely missed her skull. She slashed upward, her dagger cutting into his arm. He roared, stumbling back, but before she could finish him off, something slammed into her side.
She barely had time to register the shove before she was airborne. The world tilted violently—then cold.
Freezing water swallowed her whole.
Vye hit the surface hard, the shock knocking the air from her lungs. The current dragged at her immediately, pulling her under. The weight of her weapons and gear made it worse.
A hand grabbed her shoulders.
No—hands.
They wrenched her down, pushing her deeper.
She thrashed, twisting, trying to kick free. Her lungs screamed for air as she clawed at the hands holding her under.
Above the water, she could barely make out muffled shouts.
Through the distorted haze, she saw Symond.
