Page 38 of Caress of Fire
A noise came from behind him and Fedryc twisted to the side, his dragon blade slicing clean through another of Ignio Marula’s men’s stomach. The unnamed Delradon fell to the floor with a wet sound, and the scarred-faced Delradon man’s blade came down fast on Fedryc from the other side. Fedryc parried the hit easily but he was still turning his back to the fight.
Another deadly arc and Fedryc parried another blow.
Time melted into slow motion as Fedryc parried the scarred-faced man’s surprisingly skillful attacks. None of the hits were aimed to be fatal, but were designed to slice through a hand, an arm, a leg. All it would take was a nick, and Fedryc would be as good as dead. Fedryc had to turn and twist to slice through less skillful but armed enemies at his back, until finally, the door to the establishment exploded in a great burst of dust and wood splinters.
Henron’s war cry resonated in the sudden cloud of dust and his guards poured in after him, slicing through fighters one after the other while leaving cowering humans alone.
“To the High Lord!” Henron yelled over the shouts of battle.
Fedryc whirled on the scarred-faced man, the years of training taking over as his sword parried up and down in a frenzy of slicing and stabbing blows. His opponent took a step back, his face no longer confident and bloodthirsty but full of doubt and fear as Fedryc finally sliced into his sword hand. The poisonous blade fell to the floor with a metallic clang and Fedryc kicked the man squarely in the chest. His heavy body hit the floor and the man screamed.
“Now, you tell me who controls the Knat-Kanassis in my kingdom, or you die.”
Fedryc brought his sword above his head for the killing blow just as the scarred-faced man reached inside his shirt. A small blade shone in the dim light and Fedryc understood his error. The man had another poisoned blade.
A sword pierced through the air, embedding deep in the man’s chest, right through his breastbone, piercing his heart and killing him instantly. Blood came up from the man’s mouth as a confused look in his eyes gave way to the blankness of death.
Fedryc sighed, bringing his sword down.
“They took Devan.” Henron stared at his men, then at the door through which Ignio Marula and the others had vanished.
“Marielle will be upset.” Fedryc inhaled and his nostrils were assailed by the smell of men soiling themselves as they died. “The boy was hurt.”
“How hurt?” Henron came to stand by his side.
“He won’t survive long if I don’t take him away, and soon.”
The words fell between them and Fedryc could feel Henron’s gaze on him. His old friend knew how he felt, what he thought. And he wasn’t wrong.
“You saved my life,” Fedryc said to Henron without turning around. “I am grateful.”
“As you should be!” Henron retorted in the way only he could, reaching over the body and pulling his sword free. “You should have called for reinforcements. You could have been killed.”
“They had Marielle’s brother. They still do.” Fedryc shook his head as he wiped his bloody blade clean on a corpse’s clothes. “And Devan is not the worst of our problems.”
Fedryc kicked the scarred-faced man’s hand, revealing the mark of the Knat-Kanassis tattooed inside his wrist. Henron opened his mouth to answer but his eyes grew wide and he stepped closer. He stared for a long time, then swallowed.
“Knat-Kanassis?” Henron brought his shocked gaze back to Fedryc. “Here?”
“Here.” Fedryc made a wide gesture as more of his men noticed the marks on the fighter’s wrists and spoke amongst themselves in angry, muted tones. “This one hadVenemum Ardereon his blades. He all but told me it was they who killed my father.”
“Ignio Marula killed Lord Aymond?” Henron frowned with confusion but anger made its way to his face.
“No.” Fedryc shook his head. “Ignio Marula doesn’t have the power to stage a coup like that. Someone else planned all this, someone else is leading the Knat-Kanassis in Aalstad and wants to take power for themselves. Someone close, too close for comfort.”
“So it’s a conspiracy, then.”
“Yes, my friend.” Fedryc sheathed his sword and walked over the Delradons’ bodies until he felt the outside air on his face. “The Knat-Kanassis want my kingdom, and my Draekarra.”
Nyra’s roar echoed through the air as the dragoness flew overhead, her scales as bright and red as his own fury.
Chapter 13
Pain and fear mixed together in a cold shroud around her body, and all she could think of was Devan.
“I have to go back!” Marielle tried to move against Fedryc’s hold but he was too strong and she couldn’t fight his arms around her shoulders. “He needs me!”
“I am so sorry, my little firebrand.” Fedryc spoke soft and low against her hair, but didn’t loosen his hold on her. “Henron will find him again. He has people looking out for him all over the capital.”
