Page 95 of Of Blood and Fire
How much do you trust me?
With my life.
Well then, prepare to be stabbed.
What?he repeated.
I didn’t reply. I didn’t dare risk any further distraction. My gaze and my attention were on Aric, on the rock that would drag Damon into the water if I wasn’t fast enough, on the declining distance between us and how close I’d need to be to ensure my throw flew straight, true into flesh.
So many things needed to go right, and I was bone weary....
I do fire, Kaia said.You throw blade.
That would definitely help when it came to hitting all the required marks at the same time, but likely wouldn’t help my growing weariness.
Closer and closer I got to the dais and the two men. Damon’s feet, I now noticed, were leashed to the stone on which he stood, the metal ropes running up his lower legs to his knees, locking them in place. Aric remained partially shielded by Damon’s body.
“Climb up onto the dais,” he ordered, “and step closer.”
The dais was a good four feet high, which made lithely leaping up a little awkward—as intended, no doubt—but there were a couple of rocks to my right that were suitable enough to be stepping stones.
Kaia, get ready.
Am.
Melt that wire before you hit either man with fire.
Will.
I stepped onto the edge of the dais and stopped, placing both hands behind my back, my stance formal, as if awaiting the orders of a superior.
“Ah, a soldier to the last. I appreciate that.” Aric stepped sideways just enough to reveal his blade. It was long and narrow; a blade designed to slip into ribs, into the heart, from behind. Not that he’d use it that way. He wanted to watch. Wanted to see my helplessness and pain as death claimed my soul. Wanted Damon toseeme die before he sent his soul to Vahree after mine
I took a deep breath and wrapped my fingers around the knife’s hilt; energy pricked across my skin, its touch as hot as drakkon fire. It was almost as if in spelling the blade, the Prioress had imbued it with her own anger. Which might well be true, but I suspected the answer might be something far simpler—a second spell that would hit Aric if things didn’t go to plan.
Slowly, carefully, I drew the blade free from my belt. Aric didn’t notice; he was too busy staring at my face, enjoying the fear I freely allowed to show in my face and my eyes. His eyeswere filled with avarice but no madness. His actions might verge on the edge of insanity, but the man was deadly sane.
He reallydidbelieve he could murder us both with little reprisal from Esan.
“Come closer, Commander.”
“What, so you can stick me with your knife?”
“One way or another, this knife will find your flesh. Come closer, and I’ll make it quick.”
I no make his quick, Kaia grumbled.We do this soon?
We do. The minute my blade enters Damon’s flesh, you melt the wire and then burn Aric.
I took one step forward, glanced at Damon, and saw the fear in his eyes, the readiness. Took another step and felt the wave of anticipation rolling from Aric. Tightened my grip on the blade, then dropped my hand and flicked the blade, with as much force as I could muster, at my chosen entry point—Damon’s left shoulder.
As the blade arrowed through the air, visible and gleaming, Aric swore and raised his own knife. I had no idea if he meant to stab Damon or throw it at me, but he had no chance to do either.
The blade thudded into Damon’s flesh, and I yelled internally,Now, Kaia, now!
The force of her flames erupted through me, out of me, for an instant making me nothing more than an incandescent being of fire. Flames enveloped Damon, melting Aric’s blade and ashing the hand that held it. Aric swore violently and released his hold on the boulder, but Kaia’s fire was already there, severing the connection between man and rock. As it started to roll down the incline, Aric turned and ran—away from me, away from the flames, toward the lake.
Leaving Damon still standing, totally untouched by the heat that had briefly encased him.
