Page 159 of Bloom
“Get away from him!” Zacharie screamed.
A fireball whizzed over Jaime’s head and hit the stone wall above the fireplace. A tiny figurine he’d never really noticed before fell off the mantle and shattered on the hearth. Closer, he stood and raced for the poker hanging on a small hook to the side.
The handle grew hot in his hand, although his magic wouldn’t burn him, and he whirled. Lord Monet was on the floor and bleeding from his side. Zacharie had just stabbed Smith in theback who’d gone for Aleric, and Gautier had moved to get around a table and farther away from either brother.
Aleric had taken the screen and folded it closed so he could hold it like a shield. Strands of lightning raced along the metal surface, and one of the other two men-at-arms threw fire at it. Aleric lifted it enough to protect his face, and the fire harmlessly hit. Smith stumbled forward when Zacharie pulled out the thin blade, and Aleric came forward as he swung.
Smith screamed as the metal slammed into his head, and the lightning shocked him. He fell to the side, and Zacharie lunged with the blade to stab him in the neck and ensure he was finished.
The other three were racing for Jaime. Clearly, they feared him more, and he was more dangerous with a flaming poker. One threw his fire magic, and Jaime had to sacrifice another table. The first was alight with flames greedily eating the tablecloth. Jaime snagged the crystal lantern from the one he’d ducked behind and threw it. Fire yelled as it nailed him right in the face. The glass shattered, and glowing crystals rained to the floor.
The other two came a little slower, and one drew back his hand to throw lightning. Jaime barreled right for him. The “oh, shit” look on Lightning’s face was almost comical as he threw his magic.
It was clumsy, and the lightning skimmed Jaime’s left arm. It wasn’t enough to stop him even though the shock hurt like a bitch, and his left arm locked in pain. He let his momentum carry him forward and swung with his right as Lightning stumbled backward.
The bastard had probably never been in a real fight, and the Castle job had been a cushy one.
The iron slamming into his skull was beyond satisfying. Lightning dropped like a sack of potatoes. He was vaguely awareof Fire screaming on his knees, Gautier going for Aleric who shouted something, and the third man who didn’t seem to have magic.
He was probably a healer. He ran around a table and pulled back his mace.
Jaime tried to dodge and didn’t move fast enough. He gritted his teeth as a new pain exploded in his left arm, and Healer pulled back his heavy mace. Jaime parried him in time to avoid another hit, although the strike reverberated through his arm.
“Bitch!” Jaime lunged forward and swung the poker right into Healer’s throat. The hit wasn’t as satisfying even though skin scorched from the fire around the poker. Watching Hearler’s eyes nearly bulge out of his head.
He almost dropped his mace and made a strange noise as he clutched at his neck, trying to breathe. A throat hit might be dirty, but it works. Jaime went for the face that time, heard bones break, and kicked the man in the gut to knock him on his back.
The next crunch of bone was more satisfying when he brought the poker down on his skull. Dead or alive, Healer wouldn’t be getting back up too soon, and Jaime ran for Gautier as his left arm throbbed.
Zacharie was putting pressure on the wound in his Father’s left side while Gautier attacked Aleric. His sword clanged against the metal screen which had cracked and buckled since it wasn’t meant to be used as a shield or a weapon. It also wasn’t meant for channeling lightning.
Aleric swung it, and Gautier jerked back before he threw a fireball and caught Aleric’s right arm the moment he was open. Jaime came from behind and lifted the poker.
Gautier, the fucking bastard, ducked just in time and turned to attack. Burning pain exploded on Jaime’s chest as he took fireright to the chest. A second later, Aleric slammed the screen into Gautier’s back.
The lightning was enough to make him drop his sword. Enraged, Jaime slammed the poker into his midsection. Aleric bashed his back with the screen again. Completely unprotected except for thin clothing, the fire, lightning, and being struck were too much. Gautier fell to his knees, and the folding screen broke. Aleric threw it down and went for the sword.
“Finish the fucker-for what he did to your Mother.”
Jaime snatched it, let his fire engulf the blade, and with one arm, slugged Gautier’s back. The bloody line that appeared wasn’t enough. The fucker needed to bleed and suffer for the people he’d hurt. People who might not have said a word about anything he’d done.
The first had been for Mother. Gautier shouted at the second strike, and his sleep shirt caught on fire that time. He pushed on the floor as if trying to stand and cried out instead when the sword made another slice in his flesh. For Aleric. Another was for Zacharie. Lord Monet. Matthew, the Morian King’s cousin. Whoever needed to be avenged. Blood dribbled from Gautier who shouted weakly as he collapsed on his stomach, too injured to even roll over and try to put out the fire.
Jaime switched grip, put the point to Gautier’s neck, and pushed. The flesh split, and the neckbone grated against the flaming metal. Gautier flailed that time as if realizing death was seconds away.
Jaime shoved until the sword went through entirely, and the metal point tinked on the marble, slick with blood. The smell of scorched flesh turned his gut, and Aleric watched as Gautier finally stilled, and the puddle of blood under him slowly widened.
The double doors burst open. William and several other men including the four from earlier raced in. Jaime realized how badit looked with a mutilated body in front of him. Fire was still alive and making a faint sobbing sound as he hunched over on the floor. One hand hovered in front of the glass sticking out of his left eye like he wanted to pull it out but was too scared.
“I can’t see. Please! Someone…” He lifted his head to show the other appeared to be glowing at first glance. A piece of crystal had embedded itself in the eyeball, and twin trails of blood ran down his face. Jaime hadn’t planned for that when he’d thrown the lantern, and the sight was quite gruesome.
“Elira’s will preserve us!” William bellowed as he took in the sight along with Jaime’s burned chest. Aleric’s arm had been hit too, and he looked like a wild man with his hair a wreck.
“Heal my Father. Now.”
“Round up the bodies.” William barked at the men as he raced for Lord Monet. “Get him over there and hold him down. I’ll heal him in a second.” He gestured at Fire.
“No, you’re not.” Aleric stalked over to where Zacharie had dropped the slim blade in his panic. “I’m done waiting. I’m done living like this, and I’m not living one more fucking day knowing that someone who worked for Gautier is alive. Four fucking men under our noses.”
