Page 113 of A Simple Truth

Yes, Inadios was cautious to make sure not a single slave would ever escape. Unlucky for him, I was no longer a slave.

My clammy hands silently slid down my leathers, pulling out the throwing knives. I let myself take a long breath, my chest filling with cold air before I lunged across the plains to kill the unsuspecting guards.

I moved, but a large hand clamped across my mouth, yanking my body in a tight grip as I thrashed against his clasp. Only after a few panicking blinks, my mind registered the dark armor of the General. But even then, he didn’t let go, forcing me to look to the bridge. My eyes widened in shock, recognizing Orest and Broderick, dressed fully in their armor, already slicing the throats of the unwary guards.

“Stay close,” he growled in my ear, letting me go. His cold voice sent a shiver down my spine, but I nodded and followed him. He marched down the bridge with brutal force, the spear throwers and their guards immediately being incinerated under his wrathful stare.

Orest and Broderick opened the gate for us as we entered the Rock Quarry. Rows of Royal soldiers were lined up, ready for battle.ActualRoyal soldiers, not the measly guards that I had expected. I shoved down the initial shock as my feet halted. I reached far within me, preparing for my powers to come forth. But before I could summon a spark, I heard a small buzzing.

Ten dragonflies appeared high above the Rock Quarries. Large, thick ropes dropped from them like snakes, and the Ten, dressed in their leathery armor, slid down them.

Yanush and Ioanna, with a rope wrapped around their legs, sent countless burning arrows flying like fiery rain as the rest of the Ten were literally dropping from the sky.

I gaped at the Ten, fighting the whole battalion of Royal soldiers. Only after a minute, I noticed the familiar creeping shadows of the robed figures floating towards them. But before I could shout a warning, the General had unsheathed his swords; a single blink and the metal sparked to life with silver flames. His flaming swords moved as he beheaded the approaching Kahors in one swift motion.

The strong smell of burnt human bodies and the stench of the dead Kahors suffocated me, making my eyes tear up, as the grunted screams and commotion encompassed me.

I found myself sending fire and shields as I made my way through the Rock Quarries, my mind focusing on one thing: finding Viyak.

I ran down each carved layer of the quarry, until I made it to the very bottom, to the small alcoves below, where frightened slaves hid in terror.

I thought I was prepared to see them. I thought that I could handle facing their starved figures, their haunted eyes.

But I was wrong.

My heart shattered at the sight, their chains thicker than their arms, holding them all together. Their bodies trembled as they watched the slaughter, preparing to be next.

But my eyes looked past their despair in search of the bright summer eyes in the crowds.

“Vi! Viyak!” I screamed with all my might, attempting to yell over the battle behind me.

I screamed his name again, yet no answer came.

I shouted.

I yelled.

Again and again, until my voice became raspy.

Only to be met with frantic silence.

I pushed through the slaves, looking for him, continuously calling out his name.

My voice cracked mid shout, desperation choking me.

I was too late.

He was gone.

“Viyak!” I shouted again. My chest squeezed excruciatingly tight, and my vision blurred.

He was gone. I was too late.

Tears poured out of me as my knees dropped to the harsh, pebbled ground, no longer able to take another step as pure, merciless defeat struck me at last.

I was late.

Too late.

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