Page 30 of Of Scale and Blood

“There’s a part of me definitely wanting to run that risk.”

“An insane part, I suspect.”

I grinned and didn’t bother denying it. I squeezed his arm, then rose and padded away, following the line of rocks and using them as cover. Damon’s gaze was a heated weight that pressed against my spine long after I’d left.

The ground sloped downward toward the small stream that meandered through the center of the shallow valley, and was littered with not only stone but the shattered remnants of the old trees, making caution even more necessary. The last thing I needed right now was to be tripping over and gutting myself on one of the thick splinters rising from the stumps.

The closer I got to my target, the thicker the smoke became and the more difficult it was to breathe without coughing. I continued on warily, fighting the growing tickle in my throat, my gaze constantly scanning the area, keeping an eye on the few Mareritt that were close enough to see me.

I was near to the stream, about a dozen yards away from the privy sitting on the other side, when it happened—the tickle in my throat overran my control, and I coughed.

Just as a fucking Mareritten warrior came out of the damn building.

CHAPTER4

With a roarthat echoed across the valley, he charged. He wasn’t huge—as a race, the Mareritt tended to be short, squat, and powerful—but he was damn fast. He reached the stream before I’d even reached for my flames and was within sword-striking distance when they hit him. My flames were so damn hot they rendered him ash in an instant.

But the damage had been done.

A klaxon bell sounded, a piercing noise that echoed across the valley. As guttural shouts rose in response, I continued on, keeping low, jumping the stream and scrambling up the slope. A short, sharp explosion briefly overran the noise of the klaxon, but it came from the area behind me. Damon, destroying the pin stone.

Kaia? Get ready.

Am.

I reached the flat area and ran as hard as I could toward the privy. Felt the air brush a warning across the back of my neck; dropped low and whirled around, lashing out with a booted foot. The blow hit the Mareritten warrior coming at me in the knee, sending him staggering back but not down. I drew my weapons and lunged at him. Flames would have been quicker and easier, but I had no idea how much strength it would take to cinder their ballistas, and I had to conserve it where I could.

I swept his blade to one side with my knife, then thrust forward with my sword, sweeping it across his body, slicing through leather, then into flesh, gutting him from hip to hip

He didn’t drop, even if his innards now were.

He roared, swung his sword above his head, and brought it down hard and fast, forcing me to throw myself sideways to avoid being split asunder. His blade skimmed my bootheels and thudded deep into the ground, but he didn’t try to free it; he simply lunged—practically fell—at me. I swore, raised a hand, and cindered him.

As his ashes fell around me, I scrambled upright, sheathed my knife, then ran on toward the long privy building.

But there were now multiple Mareritt heading my way. Time was running out, and the damn shield still hadn’t fully dissipated.

Another man appeared, this time to my right. I slashed wildly with my sword—an uncontrolled blow designed to do nothing more than force him to jump back. As he did, there was a soft “thwack,” and he fell backward, the end of an arrow jutting out from his right eye. Damon, protecting my back as promised.

I sheathed the sword and sprinted on, my gaze on the edge of the privy’s roof. Like them, their buildings tended to be squat and square, so with a bit of speed, I should be able to leap up, grab the edge, and clamber up.

Another Mareritt appeared and was shot down.

I lengthened my stride and leapt. My fingers caught the joint between roof and wall, the roughhewn rock tearing at my skin as my body thumped into the side of the building. Pain spun through me, but I ignored it, digging my fingers deeper into the small gap before swinging my right leg up and hooking it over the edge. From there, I was able to drag myself up. My breath was now a harsh rasp, and my heart galloped, but it was the awareness that time was running out, that I would be dead if I didn’t get my butt into gear, that had me scrambling toward the front edge when all I wanted to do was rest a minute or two.

Fog clearing, came Kaia’s thought.Can sweep through.

Wait until I burn their weapons. It’s safer for you, and I can use your attack to get back to Damon.

Me no carry?

You can’t fight with me in your claw.

Truth. Want to fight.

I’ll tell you when.

Hurry.

---