I turn and focus on the gold Weian boat sitting on the floor of the harbor. Only a handful of guards and the scepter wielder are still on the ship. Fewer than I even first thought.
“Watch out,” Sora says as she points to my left.
Another soldier attempts to scale the black rocks. I decapitate him and wonder why the scepter bearer is not fleeing with the king. Then I remember the focus Euyn needed to wield the ring. If the bearer breaks focus, the sea will fall and drown everyone in the harbor—including King Uol. In choosing to create dry land, the scepter had to be separated from the king.
But it’s taking a while for Uol to reach the shore—far longer than expected, I’m sure. Wei’s forces are colliding with the Khitanese army in the harbor, and Quilimar is out for blood. The reserves have been called in to prevent the foreign troops from reaching dry land. And it’s taking a tremendous amount of power to keep this harbor dry.
The Water Scepter has never been this vulnerable, and I doubt it ever will be again. If I had the relic, Gaya would be free. I’d give it to Fallador, and we could push away any navy. I knew it before and I chose to stop and save Aeri. But now I can do both.
“I’m going to take the Water Scepter,” I say.
Sora and Royo exchange glances. They don’t think it’s a good idea—that much is written on their faces. But they look resigned.
“We’re coming with you,” she says.
I blink in shock. “What? No, take Aeri and get to dry land.”
“And what? You think they’ll just let us pass by with her?” Royo asks.
“We’re safest together,” Sora says. “We’re with you for better or worse.”
Royo nods, and then he places Aeri across Sora’s lap. Without hesitation, I climb down a boulder and get on Sora’s horse behind her. Royo meets my eye, then nods again. He’s trusting me with the person who has his heart—the greatest trust you can bestow on someone.
I won’t betray him. But now I have to figure out how to get all of us out of this alive.
I hold Aeri in place, and then Royo jumps down and smacks the horse’s flank. He runs through the muck behind us.
Nearly all the people who’d been on the royal Weian ship have already abandoned it, but two Weian palace guards climb down as we approach. We ride another step closer, and an arrow pings off my armor. Apparently, they also left an archer on board and he’s a decent shot.
“Stay out of their reach,” I say, dismounting. Sora nods, circling wide but holding on to Aeri.
I unsheathe my sword, and it flames to life in my hand. The fire thaws something inside of me—something that froze when Euyn died.
“No quarrel with you,” I say in Weian to the guards. “Flee now.”
I mean my offer. There’s no reason to kill them, and it’s just a diversion from getting to the scepter.
“Spymaster,” one says.
They both stand ready to battle.
Well, there goes that idea.
The first guard swings his blade and meets my sword. The Weian royal guard is better than any of the other realms. Their armor is thought to be impenetrable, the steel cooled with the magicked waters of the islands.
I’ll put it to the test.
I swing my sword, and it clangs off the side of the first guard’s armor. It’s better than I expected. As I recoil, I dodge a blow from the second guard. They attack in tandem, and I strike the weakest point at the shoulder joint. My jaw slackens as it does nothing. Not even a scratch.
A guard slices right above my head, and I duck. I swing out, kicking him to the ground. He gets back to his feet with speed that nearly matches mine.
I parry blows until sweat slicks my skin. They aren’t as fast as I am, but there are two of them and they are not falling. I don’t know how long I can keep this up. Frustration courses through me, and I strike harder and faster, now aiming for their faces, hands, and knees. Every moment I spend on this skirmish is one where more troops make it ashore. It’s another minute where Joon might escape with his life. Where Uol could make it to dry land, and then we’ll all be drowned.
“Left!” Royo yells out.
I roll just as his dagger flies by my nose. Another inch and it would be embedded in my face. I went to my left, not his.
Stars, Royo, use east or west!
