Page 151 of Skalterra By Nightmare
“Yes, but—” I pointed a finger at Ferrin, trying to stutter out Ferrin’s own involvement in Ciarán’s fate that night.
“I suppose that’s how he found Tulyr.” Ferrin grinned at me now that no one was watching him. “He used her to follow us. She was probably in on it.”
“I didn’t mean to—”
“So you admit it?” Ferrin demanded, still smiling. Panic swirled in my veins alongside the Skal I’d take from Ciarán.
“No, it’s not like that!”
Iseult extracted herself out from under Galahad’s arm to take heavy steps forward.
“You put my home in danger on purpose?” she whispered.
“Ciarán was trying to stophim!” I pointed at Ferrin, still on my knees. “He killed the Firelds! And Oren and Bryony!”
“How dare you accuse me of murdering my own sister,” Ferrin pretended to seethe. “Maybe it’s a mercy Orla is incapacitated, so that she doesn’t have to witness this betrayal.”
“Galahad,” I begged. “Galahad, you have to listen. Ferrin is going to release the Frozen God!”
Galahad’s face might have been carved from stone beneath his silver beard. His expression hadn’t changed since he’d found me with my spike at Ferrin’s throat.
The tiniest deepening of his frown was the only warning he gave me before throwing a silver javelin across the room.
I acted instinctively, pulling an orange flail from the air to deflect the attack.
Iseult and Tiernan cried out in tandem and charged as one.
“Youarewith the Grimguard!” Tiernan howled and shoved passed Iseult so he could be the one to do me in. His rapier crackled against my flail, and Iseult shoved passed him with an outstretched hand.
The magick that made up my every molecule buzzed and vibrated as she drew nearer.
A single brush of her hand, and Iseult could unmake me with her Skalbreaking powers. I would be dead.
I pivoted, trying to keep Tiernan between us, but she managed to make contact with our weapons, and they disintegrated into dust on the floor. I brandished my arm spikes at them, but Iseult was undeterred by the threat of something she could easily destroy.
I danced out of her reach. If Tiernan wasn’t so hotheaded, he might’ve had the sense to stand back and let her work. Luckily for me, he insisted on attacking me with a new rapier. I deflected the attack with a bone spike, and shoved Tiernan into Iseult.
They sprawled on the floor together.
“Galahad, make them stop!” I could jump out the window and try to hollow my bones and sprout wings like Titus had when I’d fought him in the Umberdust Plains, but Ciarán’s magick was running low and our connection was faltering and weak. There was a good chance I’d plunge to my death if I tried to turn into a bird.
I had my back against the wall, both literally and figuratively. My arm blades dissolved so I could reabsorb what Skal I could from them. I pressed against the smooth wall of the Obsidian Hall and forced the last of my magick into my hands.
I didn’t want to hurt my friends, but if they killed me, Ferrin would win.
Iseult was nearly on top of me when I darted out of her reach, spun around, and slammed two metal fists into the perfect surface of the wall. A massive crack ran up to the ceiling. Tiernan managed to avoid the falling obsidian rocks, but Iseult cried out as they rained down on her.
I tried to reach her through the cloud of black dust.
“Iseult!” I hadn’t wanted to hurt her. I only wanted to slow her down. I needed her to be okay.
My tunic choked up against my throat before I could reach the rubble, and the room spun as Tiernan threw me to the floor and pinned me under him.
“Is she okay?” I choked as I craned my neck, trying to see Iseult where she lay unmoving under the rocks.
“I can’t believe I felt bad for blowing you up.” Tiernan’s goggles had been knocked askew, and dust and dirt clung to his twisted locks.
“Tiernan.” I tried to rally whatever Skal I could find lingering in my veins and along the weak bond between me and Ciarán, but there was nothing left. My strength was gone. My hands had reverted back to human flesh. I had no magick. “Your sister. Caitria…”
