Page 106 of Path of the Dark
Around her, Anthor and Rithmar soldiers and enchanters alike turned to face the onslaught. Shock filtered across their faces, and then fear.
Screams echoed over the Great Square.
Ryana rolled to her feet, gathered the Dark, and prepared to defend herself.
But then she realized that the shadow creatures were ripping intoAnthorsoldiers and enchanters. They were leaving those of Rithmar alone.
Ryana’s breathing caught. She didn’t understand it—but somehow, they were here to help them.
A few feet away, Gael’s attention had been drawn by a mob of Dusk Imps that had just attacked an Anthor enchanter. The dark-haired woman went down screaming, and the wet sound of the imps’ feasting rose into the air.
Gael wasn’t looking Ryana’s way—her chance was now.
Ryana moved. She leaped at Gael and sank the Dark Blade deep into the hollow of his neck.
It was a mortal wound, unlike those he’d sustained a year earlier. She’d not make the same mistake. She’d not let this serpent live.
Gael choked, his knees buckling under him.
Ryana dug the blade deeper still, even as his hands grasped at her wrists, trying to pry the Dark Blade free.
“Not this time,” she said between gritted teeth.
Gael stared up at her, surprise rippling across his features. She watched the life drain from his eyes.
As soon as Gael went limp, Ryana released him.
And then, something small and grey wriggled out of the neck of Gael’s robes. Ryana reeled back, only to see a sleek rat emerge. Nose twitching, the creature turned its focus for an instant upon Ryana.
A keen intelligence shone in those crimson eyes.
Ryana rocked back on her heels. She hadn’t realized Gael had a familiar.
A heartbeat later the rat twisted away, streaking across the square to safety. Ryana let it go. She had more important things to worry about than chasing after a rodent—plus the creature could do no harm with Gael dead.
Elias.
The shadow creatures were tearing through the panicked crowd around her. She had to get to Elias before they did. They wouldn’t know he’d helped Rithmar. If he was still alive, they’d savage him.
Ryana scrambled across to where Elias lay on his side.
His face was frighteningly pale, and when she placed her hand on his chest, it came away sticky with blood. Yet he was breathing, just.
Ryana heaved in a deep breath as a sob rose within her. “Stay with me,” she whispered, climbing over Elias so that her body covered his. “Don’t give up.”
A Nightgenga lumbered toward them, its huge rawboned hands outstretched.
Ryana cried out, and moved to gather the Dark. But instead of lunging at Elias, the creature grabbed a Thûn enchanter who was trying to flee. Those strangler’s hands fastened around the man’s throat, cutting off his scream.
A tide of shadow creatures descended upon them then, and Ryana bowed her head, squeezing her eyes shut.
She’d done all she could. There was no more strength left in her to fight.
