The Glider that lost her wing, still howling, tried to rise. Zarrek’s battleaxe caught her mid-motion, slicing clean through her torso in a diagonal arc. Blood sprayed the stone like ink on parchment. The other clawed toward her blade — too late. Zarrek stomped down on her wrist, crushing it with a sickeningpop. He reached down, grabbed her by the braid, and dragged her upward.
“Say hello to the Rivers for me,” he growled and buried his battleaxe in her chest.
Silence returned in slow beats.
Auryn sat up, legs freed, breath ragged, her face and robes soaked in blood — some of it hers, most of it not.
The warrior turned toward her, chest heaving, eyes unreadable.
“Zarrek…” she breathed.
He sheathed his weapon.
“Not here,” he said hoarsely. “We have to go. More might come.”
She nodded, still dazed.
He offered his hand. She took it, letting him haul her to her feet.
And together, they ran for cover.
They didn’t go far. Auryn could hardly move. The burns on her legs throbbed in agony, and the weighted ropes had done some kind of other damage she couldn’t yet identify.
Zarrek stopped them in a nearby alleyway, shaded and hidden from easy view. His eyes never ceased their movement, his spine stiff, and his hands clenched into fists. He crouched beside her, gaze sweeping the alley’s mouth for anything out of place, blood still dripping from his battleaxe. Then, and only then, did he look back at Auryn.
“You all right, little star?” he asked, voice gentler than the carnage deserved.
Auryn nodded. “I think so.”
He exhaled roughly through his nose. “Didn’t think I’d get here in time. Though,” he added, flashing her a dry smirk, “figured your Resh’Agar wouldn’t let anything happen tohis woman.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m not—”
The smirk widened into a grin. “His? Don’t forget, I can smell lies, Auryn. Honestly, I’m surprised he hasn’t carved your name into the walls of the Jade Lattices by now.”
Auryn blushed crimson, brushing blood from her arms more for something todothan any real concern. “Zarrek, you’ve returned for minutes, and you’re already teasing?”
Zarrek chuckled and helped her to her feet, steadying her as her knees trembled beneath her.
“Need to keep you distracted. You look like you’re about to fall over.”
Auryn glared. “I don’t have such a weak stomach,” she bit out.
“Aye, that I recall. Good to see you haven’t gone soft.”
He looked her over. Once. Twice.
“You’re mostly in one piece.”
“Thanks to your timely intervention,” she mumbled, her voice thick with emotion. “Those Gliders cut through the Reskala so easily...”
Zarrek made a dismissive sound. “You haven’t seenrealGlider warriors. Those were low-born scouts. Had it been Apexwings, neither of us would be here talking.” Zarrek’s mouth twisted in distaste. “Apex don’t fight in groups. One's enough to decimate a battalion.”
His gaze flicked to her bloodstained robes. “You’d have bled before you saw them coming.”
She wanted to ask him what that meant, wanted to ask him what he was doing here, but he was already looking around, shouldering his weapon, pulling his hood over his head.
“Wait…Zarrek…”
