least
worried of us all.
“I can’t believe you trusted that charlatan,” Prae Athim pants, glancing over her shoulder at me.
“He told us you stole the werewolves,” I growl. “Based on your previous threat to kidnap Bill-E and me, why wouldn’t we believe
him?”
“Anyway, he worked for
you,
” Meera chips in. “Why didn’t you see this coming?”
“Enough!” Shark huffs as Prae bristles. “If they catch us before we make it outside, it doesn’t matter who’s to blame — we’ll
all be crapping bullets.”
We push on in silence. I’m finding it difficult to keep up. Although I’m fit, I’m used to operating on magic. It’s been a
long time since I worked up a sweat. I’m out of practice.
I can hear Juni’s guards, their cries to one another. They’re keeping pace with us but can’t break through. We have a slight
advantage, but it’s
very
slight. And if they make it to the yard before us, or if there are more out there already…
The corridor feels much longer than it appeared on the map. I start to think we’re in a maze, doomed to wander in circles
until we run into Juni’s troops and are mowed down. I consider using magic to guide us out. But that would be a waste of energy.
I have to hold it back. Use it only when the situation is truly desperate. Which probably won’t be long.
Timas bursts through a door and sunlight streams in. Finding an extra burst of speed, we hurry through, out into the yard
where we fought with the first group of guards. It’s deserted except for James and Marian in the Farrier Harrier. As soon
as they see us, James fires the engines up to full, readying the helicopter for a swift getaway.
We race for the chopper. I picture myself clambering to safety along with everybody else. We lift off, zip out over the water,
laughing at our narrow escape, leaving Juni behind to curse and rant. But in my heart I know it won’t be that easy. And sure
enough, before we’ve taken six strides, Juni’s troops hit the scene and the gunfire starts.
Pip LeMat is ahead of everyone, having overtaken Timas, so she should have been the safest. But she’s the first to catch a
spray of bullets. She hits the ground hard and doesn’t move, blood already seeping from beneath her still form.
Shark and the others spin 180 degrees, even as Pip is falling, and open up with their own weapons. “Run!” Shark yells at Meera
and me. “Get out of here. We’ll cover you.”
I start to protest, but Meera pushes me forward. “Don’t argue!” she shouts.
“We can’t just leave them,” I cry as half of Terry’s head disappears. He remains standing a moment, then slumps forward. Leo
takes a hit to the shoulder. He roars with pain, but continues to return fire. Prae Athim grabs Terry’s gun and pitches in
with the others, screaming manically.
“You heard what Juni said,” Meera snarls. “You’re the only one who matters. If she gets her hands on you, we’re done for.”
“Like we’re not already!” I shriek.
“All the rest of us have to worry about is death,” Meera says. “From what Juni said, that’s only the start for you. If the
Shadow gets your piece of the Kah-Gash…”
I stare at her helplessly. I know she’s right, but these soldiers have become our friends. We can’t simply abandon them.
“A barrier,” I wheeze. “We can construct a shield and —”
Meera slaps me hard. “Get in that helicopter or they’ll have died for nothing.”
I stare at her numbly, then lurch forward. Bullets rip up the ground close by my feet, but I don’t flinch. My eyes are filling
with tears. I don’t want to escape if the cost is losing Shark and his team, but Meera’s right. We have no choice. The Kah-Gash
mustn’t fall into the Shadow’s hands.
I’m about halfway to the Farrier Harrier when a horn blares, overriding the noise of the helicopter and guns. I shouldn’t
stop, but I can’t help myself. Pausing, I glance back
worried of us all.
“I can’t believe you trusted that charlatan,” Prae Athim pants, glancing over her shoulder at me.
“He told us you stole the werewolves,” I growl. “Based on your previous threat to kidnap Bill-E and me, why wouldn’t we believe
him?”
“Anyway, he worked for
you,
” Meera chips in. “Why didn’t you see this coming?”
“Enough!” Shark huffs as Prae bristles. “If they catch us before we make it outside, it doesn’t matter who’s to blame — we’ll
all be crapping bullets.”
We push on in silence. I’m finding it difficult to keep up. Although I’m fit, I’m used to operating on magic. It’s been a
long time since I worked up a sweat. I’m out of practice.
I can hear Juni’s guards, their cries to one another. They’re keeping pace with us but can’t break through. We have a slight
advantage, but it’s
very
slight. And if they make it to the yard before us, or if there are more out there already…
The corridor feels much longer than it appeared on the map. I start to think we’re in a maze, doomed to wander in circles
until we run into Juni’s troops and are mowed down. I consider using magic to guide us out. But that would be a waste of energy.
I have to hold it back. Use it only when the situation is truly desperate. Which probably won’t be long.
Timas bursts through a door and sunlight streams in. Finding an extra burst of speed, we hurry through, out into the yard
where we fought with the first group of guards. It’s deserted except for James and Marian in the Farrier Harrier. As soon
as they see us, James fires the engines up to full, readying the helicopter for a swift getaway.
We race for the chopper. I picture myself clambering to safety along with everybody else. We lift off, zip out over the water,
laughing at our narrow escape, leaving Juni behind to curse and rant. But in my heart I know it won’t be that easy. And sure
enough, before we’ve taken six strides, Juni’s troops hit the scene and the gunfire starts.
Pip LeMat is ahead of everyone, having overtaken Timas, so she should have been the safest. But she’s the first to catch a
spray of bullets. She hits the ground hard and doesn’t move, blood already seeping from beneath her still form.
Shark and the others spin 180 degrees, even as Pip is falling, and open up with their own weapons. “Run!” Shark yells at Meera
and me. “Get out of here. We’ll cover you.”
I start to protest, but Meera pushes me forward. “Don’t argue!” she shouts.
“We can’t just leave them,” I cry as half of Terry’s head disappears. He remains standing a moment, then slumps forward. Leo
takes a hit to the shoulder. He roars with pain, but continues to return fire. Prae Athim grabs Terry’s gun and pitches in
with the others, screaming manically.
“You heard what Juni said,” Meera snarls. “You’re the only one who matters. If she gets her hands on you, we’re done for.”
“Like we’re not already!” I shriek.
“All the rest of us have to worry about is death,” Meera says. “From what Juni said, that’s only the start for you. If the
Shadow gets your piece of the Kah-Gash…”
I stare at her helplessly. I know she’s right, but these soldiers have become our friends. We can’t simply abandon them.
“A barrier,” I wheeze. “We can construct a shield and —”
Meera slaps me hard. “Get in that helicopter or they’ll have died for nothing.”
I stare at her numbly, then lurch forward. Bullets rip up the ground close by my feet, but I don’t flinch. My eyes are filling
with tears. I don’t want to escape if the cost is losing Shark and his team, but Meera’s right. We have no choice. The Kah-Gash
mustn’t fall into the Shadow’s hands.
I’m about halfway to the Farrier Harrier when a horn blares, overriding the noise of the helicopter and guns. I shouldn’t
stop, but I can’t help myself. Pausing, I glance back
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