Page 157 of The Iron Flower

Rafe glares across the room at the large cluster of Gardnerian military apprentices with barely contained fury. “Come on,” he says to Jarod. “We’re going to get you out of here.”

Jarod regains some of his footing, his face taking on a dazed expression as we lead him through the dining hall, all of us the center of attention while bewildered and mortified conversation buzzes all around.

As we pass by the table of military apprentices, one of them smirks and calls out, “Hey, Rafe!” Then he lets loose with a boisterous wolf howl, the other apprentices breaking into laughter.

Abruptly, Rafe releases Jarod and lunges at the young man, pulls him out of his seat and punches him in the face so hard that a sickening crack reverberates throughout the room. Then Rafe hurls the apprentice onto the dining table, blood gushing from the young man’s nose as plates, cups and silverware fly everywhere. The other apprentices jump back to avoid the spray of food and drink and the body being hurled about.

The young man’s companions move to pull wands, but Trystan is faster, his wand already pointed at the group.

“Get back,” Trystan warns, the Level Five Mage stripes edging his military uniform a silent threat. The other apprentices waver and eye him with extreme trepidation, their hands on unsheathed wands and swords.

Rafe looms over the bleeding young man, fists clenched, cold fury in his eyes. “If Ieverhear you mocking her like that again,” he snarls, “I willkillyou.” Rafe turns back to Jarod and takes his arm once more.

We stride out of the dining hall, Trystan half-turned with his wand pointed behind us, the crowd growing quiet as they watch us go.

As soon as we’re outside, Rafe turns to me. “Get Andras. Tell him to get five horses saddled and ready for a long journey. Get himquickly!”

CHAPTER FIVE

SHIFTERS

I race toward the long stables where most of the University scholars’ horses are kept. Andras is out in the field, examining the back leg of a white-speckled mare as lightning flashes over the distant wilds.

“Andras!” I rasp out, my side painfully cramping as I limp toward him, Konnor in my arms. Andras looks up and rises, his eyes immediately lighting on his son. He breaks into a run toward me.

“The Lupines,” I gasp as he reaches me and takes Konnor into his strong arms. “They’redead.The Gardnerians. They might have killed them all. Everyone but Brendan and Diana and Jarod and Konnor...”

Andras stares at me with dawning horror as he hugs his son close. He murmurs to Konnor for a moment, kissing his son’s dirty head before gently handing the trauma-stricken child back to me.

Thunder rumbles overhead.

“Come, Elloren,” Andras says, more an urgent command than a request. I follow him as he breaks into a run toward the stables, breathlessly telling him everything I know.

Once inside, Andras grabs his rune-marked weapons and deftly fastens them to himself. Then he grows still, closing his eyes and tilting his head up. His black stallion gallops toward us from a far corner of the field. Andras walks out to meet the horse and leaps astride, then holds his arms out for his son.

“Rafe said to bring horses,” I say as I hand little Konnor up to him.

“No,” he counters, pulling Konnor into a tight, one-armed hug. “We need an army. We need the Vu Trin.”

“Why?”

“The Gardnerians are killing Lupines, Elloren. Which means they’ll come for Diana and Jarod.”

Oh, Holy Ancient One.

“Go back to the North Tower. I’ll bring the Vu Trin.”

* * *

Just as I reach the North Tower, I spot Brendan and Yvan in the distance. They’re both emerging from the woods, Brendan carrying Diana in his arms, her limp form wrapped in his cloak. Rafe and Trystan run out from the North Tower, and I break into a sprint up the field, Yvan the first to spot me as I draw near.

“What happened to her?” I ask fearfully. There’s a large, bloody welt on the side of Diana’s head.

“She hurled herself over a cliff,” Brendan says, pain etched hard on his face. “But she’s alive.”

“Bring her upstairs,” I tell them all, steeling my nerves. “Andras has gone to get the Vu Trin.”

Rafe sends me a grim look, and I can tell that he’s rapidly reaching the same conclusion that Andras did. We have to find a way to keep Jarod and Diana safe, and the Vu Trin might be the only ones who can help them escape.

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