Page 59 of Songs of Retribution

His knife, in my possession, had disappeared into shadows with me. I could feel the way its weight had changed, how it had left his realm and entered mine. A sense of invincibility cloaked me. Which was needed before I barreled into a pit of fucking flames.

I moved past him and as close as I could get without losing shadows. I'd have to time it right. Once I pushed into the center where the fire grew, I'd lose the ability to disappear, the light revealing me.

Fire had climbed the wood beneath and licked the dais’ bottom beneath Orman's feet. He swallowed but kept his gaze fixed blankly ahead.

I readjusted my grip on the knife a few times. I'd never been the handiest with weapons, but I was the only option. If this was a job and we had our team together, Sai or Luz would dash into this situation, Sai pouring out memory magic and shadows to cause confusion as Luz used their quick blade skills to free Orman.

But the idiot only had me to rely on. My palms had grown damp on the knife’s hilt, and I tightened my grip, braced myself, and—

A roar broke out in the crowd. Guards dropped, elves scrambled to get away from the chaos. A woman dressed in fitted leather with a long pole in one hand and a short sword in the other whipped her way through the crowd.

She used the element of surprise to break through, dashing over the stones, and slashed Orman's bonds before I could move.

Orman gaped at her, but she shoved him behind her, off the burning section of the platform, and shoved the sword into his hands. Kirsi held the pole before her confidently, like she thought she could take the entire city with it if need be.

The council members stared open-mouthed. Sigurdur took a step forward. "What are you doing?"

"You think this is honor, Father?" She spat the words. Flames were growing, eating up through the dais’ center. A board gave out and fell with a flutter of sparks. Orman's eyes widened as he watched it. That would have been the moment he sank into the fire. Saints.

The crowd seemed uncertain of what to do. They looked between Kirsi and her father.

"Kirsi," Sigurdur said. "You have interfered with a council ruling and broken sacred laws. Stop now before you damn yourself."

"If this," Kirsi said through her teeth, "is what our people call justice, then you may damn me and send me to the flames as well. Tell the crowd why you're truly executing Orman Kuninkaan, Father. Let them know the charges you’ve shared only with the council members.”

The man stared at her, a deadly glint in his eyes. "Kirsi."

"It's because you caught me with him." A shuffle moved through the crowd, whispers licking the dark along with the flames. "He was my lover, and you are too proud to admit your daughter lay with someone you consider beneath you. You're willing to have his death on your hands—a man who did nothing but stand for the elves, even knowing he’d face his death with the dignity of a sankari—just to save your reputation. So tell me, Father, is this honorable? I do not see this as aligning with the vows I made."

Orman still held the sword loose at his side like he didn't wish to drop it for Kirsi's sake but he didn't intend to use it. "Kirsi," he said, his voice soft but somehow carrying over the fire’s crackling that had grown, eating its way up the pole the guards had tied Orman to. "Don't. Let me face my fate."

Kirsi turned halfway towards him, not leaving her front open. "You can shut the fuck up."

Orman stared at her for a minute then broke into a wide grin.

Sigurdur jabbed a finger at Orman and his daughter. "Stop them."

The guards beside me exchanged uneasy glances, hesitating a beat too long.

"Stop them," Sigurdur roared a second time.

The guards moved forward. Kirsi bared her teeth, spinning the pole in her hands. As soon as the guards passed the stones, she slammed her foot down, raising a plank, and flames unleashed, causing the guards to stumble back.

She shoved Orman in the opposite direction. I moved around the circle, staying away from the firelight’s edges, and caught up with them. Kirsi wielded her pole like a warrior goddess. She knocked multiple soldiers down at once and used it to tip over barrels and crates to add obstacles to their path. Orman had apparently gotten over himself and used the blunt side of his sword to stop pursuers, kicking them back.

They made a fierce team, fighting the entire elf city, using the narrowness of an alley as a defense. They needed to get away, though. I slammed forward, pushing down another pile of barrels, kicking over sacks of grain and anything I could shove my body weight against.

Kirsi gaped for a moment, her chest rising heavily, sweat glinting in the light of a lone lamp in the alley.

"Let's go," Orman said.

She nodded and turned several corners. I kept on their tail, remaining in the shadows. She clambered up a ladder, pulled down another rope ladder, climbed that, and pulled a third. She led and weaved her way up and over a building until we made it to some door she fiddled with and pressed her shoulder into before gesturing for Orman to enter.

I stepped in with him. The room was thick with dust, ripped raggedy fabric covering the windows, and not a scrap of furniture. She slammed the door shut and locked it.

I released myself from the shadow’s hold.

"Neia," Orman said. "You were supposed to run."

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