Page 60 of Over the Emerald Valley
He waited for the men to be distracted by the new group.
Abasi barked more orders, “Traitors among us. Take them. These guards can’t be trusted.”
Temaj wouldn’t get a better chance. He clenched the dagger as tight as he could, knuckles white, aimed for the middle of Abasi’s back, and thrust.
Abasi howled as he was pierced.
Temaj panicked. Let go of the handle—knife still in Abasi’s back—and scrambled away.
Abasi whirled on him, ignoring Solon and Ottah. A stupid move but a lucky one. The fresh group of guards attacked, dragging attention away from them.
Abasi grabbed Temaj by the wrist and yanked him off his feet. He dragged Temaj along so fast everything blurred. It was as if he were no heavier than a sack of grain.
“Solon!” Temaj cried. “Help me!”
Abasi slowed down enough for Temaj to get his bearings. They were retreating underground, leaving the fight behind.
Abasi stopped and let Temaj go. “Take it out.”
Temaj froze in terror.
Abasi presented his back. Bright red blood soaked the fabric of his formerly crisp white linen.
“Now, or you’ll regret it.”
Temaj stared at the grisly stain. The hilt of the knife. The knife he’d wielded. Against his own master. “I can’t.” His voice came out as a shaky whisper.
“Take it out, or I’ll flay your precious general right in front of you,” Abasi snarled.
With a shaking hand, Temaj reached forward, gripped the hilt of the dagger, and pulled.
But not hard enough. It was stuck.
Solon and Neku were catching up, their footsteps echoing as they barreled downhill.
“Take. It. Out.”
Temaj yanked.
A terrible sucking sound came from the wound, a liquid squelch that made him wish he didn’t have ears. But the knife broke free. And with it, another gush of blood.
Temaj backed away slowly. But Abasi grabbed him and tugged him along just fast enough to stay ahead of Solon and Neku.
Farther down they went into the earth. The air grew damp. It was so dark Temaj had trouble seeing. He didn’t remember this passage from their earlier exploration.
Who knew how many tunnels there were down there? Seli’s information wasn’t as accurate as he’d hoped.
“Stop,” yelled Solon. “You will not get away with this.”
Abasi chuckled and said quietly, just for Temaj’s ears, “Oh, I think I will.” He kept them just ahead of their pursuers, turn after turn, door after door, until finally they stopped and waited.
It didn’t take long for Solon and Neku to catch up, sprinting as they were.
Abasi let Temaj go and disappeared. Temaj fell on his ass, rattled.
Solon and Neku bounded into the room, stopped when they saw Temaj, and glanced around. “Where is he?”
“I don’t know,” said Temaj. “He was just here, and then he was gone.”
