Page 18 of Forged By Heart and Claws
“Thalen, take the other chandelier,” Vad commanded, pointing where the west corridor opened. He flew to the chandelier above the northern arch and crouched there like a watchful god. From that height, his voice cut clearly through the noise. “Do not cross any open archways until I give the signal!”
Another leather-armored swordsman charged out of the northern entrance. I lunged at him with a snarl and clamped my jaws on his thigh. I wrenched him down, ignoring the sword that clipped my tail and biting harder.
He screamed and dropped his sword, then clawed at my ears and snout. I twisted and shook him until bone ground and snapped. He collapsed with a broken cry, and I hauled him by the leg away from the archway so another guard couldn’t shoot me while I was there.
Rhielle snatched a fallen spear, launched herself across the archway, and flung it. The spearheadthunkedinto a swordsman’s chest, knocking him back.
I locked my teeth in the man’s throat and twisted. A sharp, burning shock seared my left shoulder, another bolt burying itself deep, and my leg spasmed.
How badly are you hurt?Vad’s voice punched through the bond.
I’m fine. At least, for now. Maybe for a few minutes more. My shifter healing fought to restore me, but the bolts embedded in my flesh stung, preventing my body from doing more than slowing the bleeding.
The sound of running boots thundered again.
Gasping, Rhielle ran out of the northern hall. A crossbow bolt whined past her, not even an inch from her cheek. “We’re almost out of time!”
Face set in determination, Veralt grabbed Rhielle’s arm gently but firmly. “Enough of this fight.”
Silus scooped Elara into his arms. She murmured something too faint to catch, her eyelids fluttering and her breathing far too slow.
Vyraetos helped Thalira to her feet. She swayed but managed to stand. Yuki nearly collapsed as he steadied her. Many-Greats moved behind Yuki to steady her further as he said something that made her nod.
Rhielle whispered something to Veralt. He gave a curt nod and crossed to the two women.
Veralt crouched and lifted Yuki as if she weighed nothing. She winced, shivering against him, then went limp, her head falling against his shoulder and her wounded hand pressed to her chest.
He glanced at Thalira and shifted Yuki to one arm. “C’mon, water girl.”
Thalira shook her head, grimacing. “Yuki’s in worse shape.”
“You think I can’t carry you both?” He swept her into his other arm. She let out a small gasp but didn’t fight him.
Vad perched high on the chandelier, his gaze slicing through the chaos as bootfalls thundered closer from either hallway. Quen crouched nearby with an oil lamp clutched tight and three more at her feet. At Vad’s nod, she leaped up and slammed them into the frame behind her.
With a groan of protest, the chandelier tore free from the ceiling, bolts and glass raining down. Vad kicked off from it just before it crashed into the floor. Shards of glass exploded, and oil fanned across the stone in slick puddles.
Quen hurled her lamp. Flames exploded in a whoosh of heat.
Vad lunged onto the chandelier above the eastern entrance. “Go!”
Silus ran toward the archway with Elara in his arms. Veralt followed, carrying both women. Thalira’s face twisted in pain with each jolt, but Yuki didn’t move at all.
Quen grabbed two more lamps. Vyraetos seized another pair along with a small box he tucked under his arm. Many-Greats picked up a couple of fallen swords. Rhielle ripped three more canvases from the walls and tossed them into the growing blaze near the northern archway.
I hesitated.
Velessa’s body lay crumpled behind us, motionless. Her eyes stared, unseeing.
My breath caught in my throat.
The pounding of boots came louder now, matching the rhythm of my cracking heart.
“Briar, come on!” Rhielle called from the eastern arch.
Briar, it wasn’t your fault.Vad’s voice pressed into my mind through the link, and a steadying calm slid through the bond.But if you don’t get into the eastern hall, I’m going to carryyou there myself. I’m not dropping this chandelier until you’re through.
Some part of me wanted to give him a smartass response. But the words died before they could form. He was right.
