A streak of black, indigo, and orange lets me know Ree definitely lied to Thivoll when she said she would only shoot from a tree. Instead, she is plummeting toward Mar'cte, her face betraying just how much she would like to scream out in horror.
She hits him hard, throwing him off balance just long enough for me to drag a ragged breath in and push myself up to my feet. I launch myself at the arm he is raising to swat her out of the way, terrified he will hit her before I make it.
I plant both my daggers in his arm before he has a chance, screaming out my defiance as he tries to fling me off. Then a moment later he uses his much greater strength, making my new ant power seem like nothing, to slam me down onto the ground.
My collarbone snaps, sending a wave of agony, then he's tearing at my belly, not yet realizing that he can't penetrate the hard sand monster skin. He's reaching up to tear into my throat when I hear Ree's scream and a thump.
A glance down lets me know she's used her new venom on a small opening in his armor. Mar'cte starts bellowing out hispain, limbs twitching, his claws still close enough to my throat to make long gashes in the black scales.
Thivoll said his venom would only last a few minutes, so I push past my agony, rise up with a screaming cry of pain and push on the end of my sword as hard as I can. It penetrates to the hilt, and Mar'cte's dead weight is suddenly crushing me.
"Kira!" I hear Ree scream out, then pull at one of my arms, but I'm not going anywhere, my lungs screaming out with the need to breathe.
53
Drasuk
I'm bleeding from multiple wounds, but so is Xar'Ar'ax, despite his better levels of protection. Armor only protects you so much and it also slows you down.
I've fought him hundreds of times in mock battles, so I know he has lost his edge. Whatever he's been doing out in the universe, it hasn't been a challenge.
I thought he couldn't sicken me more, but living a soft life after killing Nkisa and all the others of our clan somehow seems like the ultimate betrayal.
I realize I've been dragging the fight out for my own revenge when I hear Ree scream out Kira's name, terror infusing her voice.
A moment later, I use the latest of the dozen openings Xar'Ar'ax has given me to dart my spear forward into the small space left between his armor and his throat. I don't even bother to let anysatisfaction flow through me to see his life blood pumping out of his heart or the surprise in his eyes.
I turn and sprint toward Ree's screaming. Thivoll is still trying to dart his tail at the belly of the large green drak, having to pull it back hastily to avoid the swings of the drak's giant axe. I push aside all thoughts of fair fighting and grab onto his green arms just long enough for Thivoll to envenomate him.
I leave the screaming drak to Thivoll's sharp claws, panicking when I see Ree pushing at Mar'cte's dead body. It only takes a moment to realize Kira must be underneath of him and my heart skips a beat as I speed toward them.
"Move!" I bellow out at Ree, giving her a moment to scramble away before I shift to where she was and lift the drak up and fling his body away.
The ragged breath Kira drags in, followed by coughing and pained keening, are the sweetest sounds I have ever heard.
Her throat is bleeding, and I would guess by the way she is simply laying there crying out in pain that she has broken bones, but she is alive.
Ree is back over, pushing against me to get by. "Oh my diety, Kira. I thought you were dead."
Ree's voice sounds broken, but her movements are practiced and her hands are steady as she checks Kira over. I move forward again, sure I can better care for Kira, but Thivoll's hand on my shoulder stops me.
"She's a healer. Let her do her work."
I look back to Ree and notice she already has wound spray in her hands, misting it across Kira's throat, and then is working to slow the terrifying flow of red blood pumping out of Kira's neck.
"Sit down, Drasuk," she barks out at me, and my body instantly complies.
The pool of blood continues to grow. Surely someone so small can't afford to lose so much?
"Fucking nanites!" Ree yells out, using her weight to push down on Kira's neck so hard I'm concerned she might kill her. "Work!"
With the fear rises the self-loathing. I was playing in my fight with Xar'Ar'ax while she lay here dying?
Never again, I vow to myself.
If she lives, I will never again let my inattention put her at risk. If I continue to run straight into fights, she will run into them with me. Always by my side, no matter the stupidity of the risk.
No more.
