Page 11 of The Lawgiver's Firebrand
Each time Ari had found someone in need, she said to herself, “Just one more. Please, Gahya, give me the ability to save one more.” Now, though, she feared she was drained. Only the Firebrand physical training and her own determination could help her.
The shoes and trousers belonged to a vampire who was breathing into the crook of his elbow. Obviously too shaken or injured to shadowflash to safety, he slumped against the wall.
Just one more.
“My leg,” he said between coughs after lowering his arm. “It’s broken. Damn berserker knocked me on my ass. When I fell, I heard a snap. Get me out of here now.”
“Can you stand?” Ari asked.
He frowned. “Are you dense? With a broken leg?” He slapped a palm over his nose and mouth, wheezing into it.
Ignoring his panicked outburst, Ari flicked a wrist to cast a spell, but she had depleted her power. Since the vamp wouldn’t be crawling under the smoke with her, she squatted and looped his arm over her shoulders. Straightening her knees, she levered the beefy vampire up, no spells to assist her.
After a few hops on one foot, he swayed sideways, taking Ari to the floor with him.
Water poured from her eyes and down her cheeks, the smoke nearly impenetrable. Flames erupted, licking the ceiling with an ominous swoosh.
Have to get up. Have to.
Each time Ari pushed upright, she toppled again.Damn. Her first major assignment as a full-fledged Firebrand was gonna end in failure.
No.
Someone grabbed her elbow. She angled her head. An ylve. He lifted her to her feet. When she latched onto his eyes, she recognized him. He’d been a protester at the Blood Shed the other night. Steadier now, Ari whispered, her throat scratchy and raw, “Thanks.”
“Yep. Let’s get you and this guy out of here.”
The protester-turned-savior assisted them to the exit, where Ari took over. The ylve charged back into the room toward a sound and the spreading flames.
“Don’t,” she yelled. “It’s too late.” But the ylve had already scurried off.
At the top step, Ari dropped to her ass, her legs too weak to hold her. She pulled the vampire’s arms around her neck, clutching his wrists, dragging him behind her.
Slow progress. To keep from passing out, she focused on each painful movement.
Step. Bump. Step. Bump.
Her cargo was no help. His contribution to the effort was to cuss, complaining with each jolt.
Ari’s chin slumped to her chest. With her eyes fluttering shut and her arms weakening, she lost her grasp on one of the guy’s wrists. Having drifted off for a moment, she awoke with a start. She had to get down. No time for a nap. Wrapping both hands around the vampire’s wrist still in her grip, she tugged. They would reach safety. Step by step.
As Ari rounded the last turn, her vision blurred. She slumped to the side, cracking her head against the wall, dizzy, unable to go forward. Her arms and legs quivered like rubber, unresponsive.
Damn.
She’d almost made it out alive. Almost. They were going to die right here with the end in sight and smoke clogging her lungs.
Fuck.
The inglorious, short life of a rookie Firebrand.
A frantic shout. A male. Heavy footsteps thundered toward her. Then, blackness…
Ari awoke in familiar arms, someone soothing her. “You’re okay. You have to be okay.”
Her fingers scratched at her raw throat as she rasped, “The fucking vamp. His leg’s broken. He’s a whiner. Gotta save him.”
“Someone else has him,” said Daire.
