Pace and agility. These have been my two strengths when it got here to bodily fights. I wanted to be fast and make the most of any careless strikes he made. And he made a number of them.

Time and again, he lashed at me. He wielded his heavy blade like a reckless youngster, exhibiting little concern for the place or how he struck—simply so long as he did. He managed to get one lash in towards my calf and I screamed as the new searing ache ran by way of me.

However he foolishly gloated over his one small victory, permitting his sword to fall slack, and I seized the chance to drive my blade straight into his stomach. His face morphed from triumph to confusion as blood started to spill from his mouth. He sputtered earlier than falling to the ground, and I forcefully eliminated my blade from his lifeless physique.

I turned again in time to see Cyrus vanquish one other foe as effectively. They’d each been scrambling on the bottom, however Cyrus dealt a deadly blow to his chest, driving a small knife into his coronary heart.

The soldier went nonetheless and Cyrus’s face paled. He was lined in blood. His face was splattered with it and his shirt was soaked in it. In actual fact, it appeared to develop redder by the second. He slumped and clutched his hand to his aspect.

“Cyrus!” I yelled, dropping to the bottom beside him.

It wasn’t simply the blood of our enemies on him—it was his blood. I may see by way of a gaping gap in his shirt that he’d been pierced and darkish purple flowed freely over his hand…over my hand as I attempted to cease the bleeding.

I appeared round for a chunk of material to cowl the wound. I appeared for somebody to assist, however all I noticed was a blur of unrecognizable faces. The world moved on whereas I held Cyrus’s head in my lap.

“Assist!” I cried, however nobody paid me any consideration. They have been too preoccupied to cease and pay attention.

“Emilie,” Cyrus stated. “It’s okay. It’s barely a scratch.”

I may inform he was mendacity. There was a lot blood. I pulled his shirt again to get a very good have a look at the wound. It was a clear lower and at the same time as I watched, the move of blood appeared to gradual. However the edges…the encircling pores and skin was turning darkish like a bruise. One thing wasn’t proper. I shortly lined the wound and utilized extra stress. “You’re proper. It’s nice. We simply…we simply must get you assist. We’d like a healer.”

He noticed the priority in my eyes. “What’s mistaken?”

I searched the battlefields, on the lookout for somebody sturdy sufficient to hold Cyrus again to the healers’ tent. Once I lastly caught one other soldier’s eye, I waved him over frantically. He nodded and started to run in our course.

“It’s okay, Cyrus. You’re going to be alright.”

“Emilie?”

Chapter Forty-One

Ladon

I walked by way of the raging battle and roaring chaos targeted on one mission—kill Reyna. It was by the grace of the gods that only a few selected to method me. Every soldier that did met a swift finish.

I scoured the battlefield for her, however she was nowhere to be discovered. I don’t know why I anticipated something completely different. She was a coward. She solely placed on a courageous face when there have been others to do her bidding.

Stepping over useless our bodies and crimson puddles, I headed towards a well-recognized panorama. Amongst a darkish and dreary valley nestled between onyx mountains stood a tall wall of hedges. The uncommon sight of greenery was a stark distinction towards the ominous mountain vary.

I knew what lay on the opposite aspect of that maze of hedges. I entered with my again straight and my chin held excessive.

I made it midway by way of earlier than I bumped into the primary trial—Reyna’s surviving hound, Nova. Instantly, I knew I used to be heading in the right direction to seek out her. She wouldn’t have let her treasured pup behind if she have been anyplace else, particularly because the first had already been slaughtered.

The canine slobbered and growled, pawing on the floor because it ready to pounce. Taking a step ahead, I twirled my blade in a circle as a grim smile appeared on my face. Nova faltered and took a step again. I assume it was a bit extra timid with out its twin.

“Not so scary now, are you? Come on. Don’t you wish to play?”

It leapt into the air, and inside two steps, was snapping at my face. I grazed its stomach with my sword and the hound yelped, retreating just for a second earlier than it dashed round me to assault my different aspect. I whirled on my heel and slashed throughout its snout. The canine’s mouth, which had been open, snapped shut because it retreated in ache.

It circled me, on the lookout for a weak level to assault, discovering none. I made the primary transfer this time, sending a seismic wave by way of the earth. It stumbled, and I lurched ahead, putting its hind leg. It tumbled to the bottom, however not earlier than it whipped a heavy paw in my course. I used to be in a position to dodge it, barely lacking these sharp claws. I struck once more, and this time, my blade pierced the hound’s eye. It shrieked in horror—each on the ache and the lack of sight.

I nearly felt sorry for the creature. It was solely a product of its setting, by no means standing an opportunity with Reyna as its grasp.

It howled once more earlier than limping off by way of the hedges. I drew a small knife from my belt and flung it by way of the air. The blade hit its goal—proper on the base of the hound’s cranium. It fell to the bottom, legs nonetheless twitching as its spirit left this world.

After permitting myself a second to catch my breath, I approached the beast and retrieved my knife. I saved it drawn in case one other considered one of Reyna’s abominations appeared.

Mist hung over the hedge maze, cooling me to the bone. It by some means tuned out the din of battle past the tall inexperienced borders, leaving me feeling extremely remoted. I’d’ve felt misplaced with terror if I hadn’t spent a lot time in these hedges. I knew my means round now.

Supply: www.seynovel.com