flames, shot through the guards, slamming into the one closest to Christian. He watched the man go down as blood bubbled on his lips, and then the guard lay still. Christian whirled, searching for the archer. He caught sight of him in the trees beyond the gate. Without hesitating, Christian went after him. He rounded the guards and raced past his mother. âChristian!â she screamed, but he didnât hesitate. She couldnât burn a spell fast enough to stop an arrow if it came after her. Christian had to get rid of the archer.
He burned a rikil, one of the three kill spells Ada had taught him, as he ran. It took him two tries, and the second time his hand shook so badly he wasnât sure it would hold. But hold it did, and he shoved it toward the trees with all the fury pulsing through him. How dare they come here and attack his home â his mother? The spell shot through the air, burst through the tree the assassin hid behind, and slammed into the manâs skull. Christian watched with a sick satisfaction as the man grabbed his head, screaming as he plummeted to the ground. Then he spun, finding himself at the backs of the other soldiers. He burned spells, one after another, everything Ada had taught him, and shoved them at the mercenaries in front of him. They went down screaming, those big, seasoned warriors who should have been fighting the queenâs battles, not here attacking an Edren estate.
He felt the arrow plunge into his shoulder and he bellowed in pain as it tore through his flesh, scalding the skin as it burst from the other side. His mother screamed his name again, but he ignored her, instead scanning the trees behind him for his attacker. The archer rode on a big, armor covered horse, but the manâs head was bare so he could see to notch his arrow. Christian didnât hesitate. Burning the lirik into the air, he pushed it, watching as it rocketed straight toward the uncovered flesh. The manâs head burned as he screamed until the flames devoured him and there was nothing left to scream with.
But there were more behind him. Christian leaped into the trees, clambering halfway to the top the way he and Ada had done a thousand times before. From there, he attacked. Burning spell after spell, he threw them at the men riding in, until they broke formation and raced around in chaos, trying to find him. While they were distracted, Christian went after the men still fighting with Scarlett and her pathetic gathering of guards.
âThere! Heâs in the tree!â He heard the yell, and the arrows followed it. By now, the air was thick with smoke and the smell of burning flesh, acrid against his tongue. He dropped from the tree and flung another lirik , the spell coming more easily every time. The world spun, just a bit, and he realized his entire chest was covered in blood. He couldnât keep fighting much longer before heâd pass out from blood loss. He met his motherâs eyes over the soldiers and nodded grimly. Heâd do what he could for as long as he could.
****
Ada and Horse meandered through the thick forest. She hurt too much to keep up their frantic pace for long. The sun was sinking in the western sky and she struggled to keep her head up and her heavy eyes open.
Hurry, Ada. We need you .
Charityâs voice nearly split her skull and she screeched, grabbing her head. The pain was gone almost as soon as itâd begun, but Ada had seen a flash in those few seconds â what Charity could see, undoubtedly. The estate was under attack, and Christian and Governess Buttercroft were the only ones fighting to save it.
âHorse? How much do you have left? They need us.â Her voice shook in fear, pleading, exhaustion⦠she wasnât sure what. But Horse heard, and somehow, he understood. Taking the bit in his mouth, he lunged forward, lengthening his long strides until he fairly flew over the dirt road.
Iâ m coming, Charity . Just hold on.
He burned a rikil, one of the three kill spells Ada had taught him, as he ran. It took him two tries, and the second time his hand shook so badly he wasnât sure it would hold. But hold it did, and he shoved it toward the trees with all the fury pulsing through him. How dare they come here and attack his home â his mother? The spell shot through the air, burst through the tree the assassin hid behind, and slammed into the manâs skull. Christian watched with a sick satisfaction as the man grabbed his head, screaming as he plummeted to the ground. Then he spun, finding himself at the backs of the other soldiers. He burned spells, one after another, everything Ada had taught him, and shoved them at the mercenaries in front of him. They went down screaming, those big, seasoned warriors who should have been fighting the queenâs battles, not here attacking an Edren estate.
He felt the arrow plunge into his shoulder and he bellowed in pain as it tore through his flesh, scalding the skin as it burst from the other side. His mother screamed his name again, but he ignored her, instead scanning the trees behind him for his attacker. The archer rode on a big, armor covered horse, but the manâs head was bare so he could see to notch his arrow. Christian didnât hesitate. Burning the lirik into the air, he pushed it, watching as it rocketed straight toward the uncovered flesh. The manâs head burned as he screamed until the flames devoured him and there was nothing left to scream with.
But there were more behind him. Christian leaped into the trees, clambering halfway to the top the way he and Ada had done a thousand times before. From there, he attacked. Burning spell after spell, he threw them at the men riding in, until they broke formation and raced around in chaos, trying to find him. While they were distracted, Christian went after the men still fighting with Scarlett and her pathetic gathering of guards.
âThere! Heâs in the tree!â He heard the yell, and the arrows followed it. By now, the air was thick with smoke and the smell of burning flesh, acrid against his tongue. He dropped from the tree and flung another lirik , the spell coming more easily every time. The world spun, just a bit, and he realized his entire chest was covered in blood. He couldnât keep fighting much longer before heâd pass out from blood loss. He met his motherâs eyes over the soldiers and nodded grimly. Heâd do what he could for as long as he could.
****
Ada and Horse meandered through the thick forest. She hurt too much to keep up their frantic pace for long. The sun was sinking in the western sky and she struggled to keep her head up and her heavy eyes open.
Hurry, Ada. We need you .
Charityâs voice nearly split her skull and she screeched, grabbing her head. The pain was gone almost as soon as itâd begun, but Ada had seen a flash in those few seconds â what Charity could see, undoubtedly. The estate was under attack, and Christian and Governess Buttercroft were the only ones fighting to save it.
âHorse? How much do you have left? They need us.â Her voice shook in fear, pleading, exhaustion⦠she wasnât sure what. But Horse heard, and somehow, he understood. Taking the bit in his mouth, he lunged forward, lengthening his long strides until he fairly flew over the dirt road.
Iâ m coming, Charity . Just hold on.
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