Page 110 of Bloodmoon Ritual

“That’s the one,” Rhyder said harshly, reaching for his knives. “He’s working with your enemies.”

“Shit,” Ronan said succinctly, then he whistled a series of low, rough notes and the Congregation began to move.

“How sure are you that this will work?” the Prophet asked Edmund.

“Pretty sure,” the younger man said.

“Be more sure,” Ronan replied, and then he whistled again as men began to run for weapons and women and children for shelter.

Before I could say a word, Ronan had come up behind Bee and she quickly grabbed onto me, tightening legs and arms around my body so I would be dragged along with her.

“Temperance?” Rhyder growled.

“It’s too much trouble to separate them,” Ronan barked. “She’ll be in the safest place in the Congregation. With my wife.”

We were thrust in Ronan and Bee’s neat house, warm and smelling like savory pies and sugar.

“Hurry,” she said. “We need clotheslines out so their Avenging Angels can’t get close.”

She grabbed spools of the strong clothesline, moving to the highest window then passing the clothesline to the next woman in the next home.

I looked in astonishment as their settlement began to be covered and criss-crossed with the simple but effective defense, the lines stretching from the tip of one house and window to another.

And then I saw movement in the distance, an army of men coming, the noisy drones whirring their deadly blades.

Bee and I moved to the front windows, and she began to spool out more lines as we watched.

“Prophet, these weapons are dangerous,” Rhyder warned, trying to step ahead of him. “You should take cover. Let me bear the risk.”

“If you’re going to be in this Congregation, you’re going to have to trust me,” Ronan said sharply. “I’m not asking for blind loyalty, asshole. Just trust me on this. Don’t move until I make the signal.”

There was a split second of hesitation, but Rhyder nodded his head.

As they approached, I saw Eli at the head, and he looked triumphant.

“Your time is up, Ronan, son of Jonas,” Eli called out. “Our Congregations are here to kill you and take your lands. You have been weighed and found wanting, Apostate. The Allfather is no longer with you here.”

The breath caught in my throat.

I knew what those drones could do, what I had seen them do, and my belly twisted to see Rhyder standing underneath their deadly power.

As always, my twin would be fearless and brave until the end.

Ronan raised his arms as the drones began to whir faster, their wings spinning with incredible speed, pointing their deadly missiles at his Congregation.

“The Allfatheriswith this Congregation. We will not fall,” he thundered.

I saw Eli with the handheld device controlling the drones in his hand and he readied the weapons to fire. Even though they were blocked from close combat by the clotheslines, the drones could still kill Ronan and Rhyder where they stood.

But just then I saw them start to wobble, spin crazily, tipping side to side.

And then under Eli’s astonished eyes, they began to fire. Towardhismen, then sputter, their mechanics whirring fast, uncontrollably fast, overloading the delicate electronic circuits with a grinding, sickening sound.

Shit. Edmund had done it!

Ronan moved his arm. and I saw Rhyder charge forward, his deadly blades extended on either side of him, just that slight limp that was the only sign of his changed loyalties.

He didn’t play with Eli this time. Just knocked aside his weapon with a crunch like a mountain settling, then sliced both blades through his throat.

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