Page 149 of The Endless War

Firelight flickered off their weapons as they exchanged blows, the collision of swords violent and quick.

Keris let instinct guide him, sensing each attack before it happened and meeting it with rising ferocity, for this man stood between him and Zarrah. This man had watched Petra brutalize her and done nothing.

He would die for it.

Keris feinted, and as the soldier moved to parry, Keris reversed his slice, taking the man’s sword hand off at the wrist. Blood sprayed as he staggered, clutching the stump, but his pain was short-lived, for a heartbeat later, Keris’s blade was through his throat.

Too late, for the ancient timber of the bridge was engulfed.

“Keris!”

Her distant scream sent a shudder through him, and pulling his hood up, Keris leapt onto the bridge.

Heat seared through his boots with each step, embers burning the leather of his trousers, but Keris ignored the pain and ran. Beneath him, the timbers groaned, and gathering his strength, Keris jumped right as it collapsed beneath him.

SHE STRUGGLED ANDkicked, driving the toes of her boots into the soldier’s body and slamming her bound wrists against his back. Threw her weight from side to side, every hiss of pain or stumble fueling her efforts despite the agony it inflicted upon her broken ribs.

“You betray Valcotta by remaining loyal to her,” she growled as the soldier caught hold of one of her legs to stop her kicking. “She’s a liar. A murderer. A monster.”

“She is Empress.”

“She is a usurper!” Wasted words, Zarrah knew, for these men had not heard the confession in the stadium. Even if they had, she doubted their fanatical loyalty would be swayed.

But even the slightest doubt might buy her time, for as they reached the mouth of the cave, Zarrah knew she was running short of it.

The river poured out of the cave in a great spraying arc, plunging over a hundred feet to join the great river below. And if they reached the boat waiting for them before Keris and his companions caught up, the Usurper would escape.

And a monster like Petra Anaphora could not be allowed to run free.

“Hurry!” the Usurper hissed, leading the way down the narrow path cut into the side of the cliff face. “They won’t be able to hold the bridge forever, and even if it burns, he’ll find a way across the river eventually. We need to be gone before he does.”

Zarrah’s heart skipped. What if Keris tried to swim across, not knowing about the falls? She left off her struggles and lifted her head, seeing the waterfall had turned orange and red in the sunset.

“The boat is waiting,” one of the soldiers said, and Zarrah cursed. For while the Usurper had not remembered the acoustics of the stadium, she had most certainly remembered the escape route the game masters took during the riots. She was prepared.

The pathway switched back, leading down, and Zarrah fought the urge to scream as she lost sight of the falls. “Keris!”

What if he fell and she didn’t see?

What if he already had, his body broken and caught in the endless flow at the base of the waterfall?

Panic rose in her chest, making it hard to breathe, but Zarrah dragged in an agonized breath.If he’s fallen, then you must stop her. Whatever it takes, you must stop her.

Zarrah slammed her weight sideways.

The soldier gasped as he swayed toward the deadly drop, letting go of her bound wrists to fling his arm out for balance.

She took advantage.

Lifting her torso, she twisted sideways. As his arm clamped around her body to try to lock her into place, Zarrah bit down on his ear.

The man screamed, shoving her away from him, only to lose his footing. He fell sideways off the cliff, his screams fading until they cut off abruptly.

Zarrah landed on her back on the pathway, the impact knocking the wind from her chest, the pain of her broken ribs making the world spin.Get up, she ordered herself.Fight.

She eased onto her hands and knees, lifting her face.

Only to find the tip of a blade pressed between her eyes.

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