Stars, I’d really like it if we could stop running for our lives.
Now clearly isn’t that time as dozens of armed Marnans pour out of the cave mouth, the alarm still echoing behind them. They have maces, swords, clubs, and spears. A few have bows—that’s concerning. We need more distance.
I push myself to run even faster, but not so fast that Euyn can’t keep up. It shouldn’t matter soon, though. The horses are beyond that ridge, and all the Marnans are on foot. Once we reach our mounts, Euyn can cover us with his crossbow and then get on himself. We won’t have a chance to find Staraheli’s head, but we can live to try again.
We crest the hill, and there’s nothing. Just snow and the tree they’d been tied to. My stomach drops. The horses wandered, or, more likely, they were taken.
What now?
I look for a solution, but I don’t see one. And the Marnans are gaining on us. Their war cries echo louder.
Arrows fly up into the sky. I duck and roll out of the way of two poorly aimed shots. I use my scabbard to shield my head and neck, but nothing lands near me.
They should really know to plant their feet before they fire.
Suddenly, Euyn cries out. His scream chills me, and he falls forward. He’s been hit.
I run to him, diving into the snow. I pull him out of the way as a well-aimed spear hits where he just was. He’s alive, but now he can’t run because of an arrow lodged in the back of his left thigh.
This won’t be pleasant for him, but I grab the arrow shaft in my fist. In one smooth motion, I yank the bloody arrow out of his leg.
Euyn lets out an animal cry, but I had to do it. It was better not to warn him because he would’ve tensed up and made the pain worse. I couldn’t leave the arrow in because it would’ve sliced the muscles of his leg apart.
It’s done now.
All I need to worry about is Euyn losing too much blood. Oh, and also how to get away from three dozen armed Marnans without horses and with Euyn limping.
Not ideal.
I stand, looking around, desperate, but I quickly realize from the terror in Sora’s eyes that there is nowhere for us to go. No way to get out of here. This is it. Lord Yama will collect from Euyn and me tonight. I can’t help that. But I can still save Sora. I can keep my promise to her.
“Run,” I say to her. “Live a long life.”
I take out my sword. I can occupy enough of them to maybe give her time to get away. Euyn sees my determination and understands it’s hopeless for him, for us. But we can take as many Marnans to the hells with us as possible. He stands and readies his crossbow despite bleeding steadily down his left pant leg.
Sora stands, terrified and torn.
“I’m sorry, Sora,” Euyn says. “Now go.”
His eyes meet mine after he just apologized to a common girl. Surprising until the very end.
“Yours in this life and the next,” he says, grimacing.
“Yours in this life and the next,” I say.
The Euyn I once knew would’ve tried to save himself without looking back. Now, he stands his ground, shooting so that an indentured girl can live. Prince, criminal, villain, hero. Liar and unfailingly true. He is all of that and more. There is no easy way to describe Euyn, and maybe I’ve always loved that.
Sora gathers herself and runs.
The Marnans close in, falling back where Euyn shoots but constantly gaining ground. I’m ready with my sword, but three sharp whistles pierce the night. I whip my head to the side. I know that shrill, birdlike whistle. I remember it from the fields of Gaya.
I look behind me. There, a few yards away, Gambria sits in a sleek, black sleigh with her wife next to her.
“Well, are you going to just stand there and die?” Gam asks, gesturing crudely.
Sora is already halfway to the sleigh. I run, helping Euyn as he hobbles. He turns and shoots haphazardly, making the Marnans stay back a bit.
We jump into the sleigh as Gambria whips the horses. As we fall into the high-sided sled, spears thud against the back. Euyn lies on the floor, and Sora curls into the bench where the arrows and spears can’t reach. But I don’t duck and cower. I stand, protecting Gambria’s back.
