They failed.
Twenty-seven arrows and the dagger in my boot.
That’s all I had left.
“Duck!” I roared at the closest warrior just as a greasy-haired northerner scissored his cutlasses toward his neck.
The metal screeched against thin air as the warrior rolled down and kicked his opponent against a tree. The crack of his spine haunted me as I rushed forward.
The silencing spell helped Vylkor shout attack commands, which helped us surprise enough to survive. Then he turned into a blur, just like Ryker, but only for a few moments. He halted with a gasp, unbalanced. He still hadn’t become accustomed to his new vision, but his broadsword still left a trail of blood and fallen weapons behind him.
But there were too many soldiers.
Too well-prepared.
Too armed.
Each exhale and grunt from our warriors pressed against the spell, draining me further.
But I couldn’t risk dispelling our advantage. If I could move, I could cast.
I swerved through the grappling bodies, dodging blades and slipping on patches of blood melting the snow.
Twenty-one arrows.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw only Dax’s back as he struck one of the soldiers with his dagger pommel, bringing him to his knees.
Why hadn’t he just killed him?
The split-second distraction cost me.
My vision blurred as a body slammed into me. I grabbed my arrow in my fist, ready to impale it into a neck with my bare hands, when I recognized the raspy grunts.
Vylkor slammed his back to mine, as his broadsword swung through the air.
“Can’t you make us invisible?” Vylkor shouted. “Or invincible?”
“The wind can steal your voice, but it can’t steal your face or petrify–TO. YOUR. LEFT!”
I cocked the arrow back in my bow and fired.
The Northern soldier’s body slammed into the ground before his barbed spear fell next to him.
Nineteen arrows.
Vylkor roared and charged at the wave trying to engulf us.
More soldiers, baring their teeth and swinging their weapons at us.
They appeared from behind.
They dropped from the trees.
They rushed us in waves.
They’d been ready for us.
The metal tinge of blood soured each of my gasping breaths.
