me one of Navar’s commanders is preparing to break out of the Unknown, and with him every unspeakable evil created. At the moment, I have no interest in doing anything but saving my kingdom and its people. That I promise you.”
Kera places her hand on my arm. “He cannot lie.”
A grenade lands against the base of the tower in front of us. I warn Baun and then cover Kera with my body. Baun slams his hand on my back and an invisible shield surrounds the three of us just before the grenade explodes. When the dust settles, more than a few stones shake loose from the wall.
My dad lifts his hand, and I straighten. We hear the enemy demand that we show ourselves. Not likely.
Baun retreats to his huddled position and I try to read his face, but it’s blank. He’s saying all the right things, but I don’t trust him. “I want your word you won’t harm Kera.”
“Dylan,” Kera’s tone makes it sound like I’m being unreasonable. But this is the man who tried to exterminate humans and almost succeeded. How can she trust him?
He sighs. “I vow never to harm you or Kera. Now can we find your friend and end this?”
“Fine.” I peek around the corner. A zap of energy has me ducking out of sight, but not before I’ve counted two guys on the left and four on the right. The dead soldiers have a few weapons, some kind of explosive device, three knives, and a dented shield. I quickly form a plan and relate it to Baun and Kera. They want us to show ourselves? Then let’s do it. I move to a position opposite the two guys and wait for Baun’s signal.
Baun suddenly pops up, drawing everyone’s attention to him. Hiding behind the shield we borrowed from the dead guys, he throws the explosive and pops back down. By pure luck, the explosion hits the enemy. I vault over the wall and take out the two soldiers nearest me. Kera quickly throws each knife. The first pierces an enemy soldier’s throat, the next embeds between another soldier’s eyes, and the last sinks into a nearby soldier’s heart. The last soldier standing lets go of a long strip of leather. A big cat that looks like it belongs in the museum of things-that-became-extinct-a-long-time-ago leaps out and heads straight for Kera. She jumps over the wall, slides neatly beside the animal, and uses her
The lone standing soldier turns and runs. Neither Kera nor I bother to chase him.
I go to Kera and look her up and down for any injuries. “Are you okay?”
She wipes her blade on her pants as if she’s doing nothing more than polishing it. “Yes. You?”
“I’m cool.” I follow the damage she did, and for the first time, I see her with clear eyes. My girlfriend is seriously badass. I had no idea.
While Baun stands there, a suit of armor replaces the rags he’s wearing. It’s futuristic and medieval at the same time. “Can we go now?” He adjusts his helmet. “Your friends are near the Weeping Gate. I trust you know the way?”
“How do you know that?”
“It’s a gift I acquired years ago. One of my favorites.”
Acquired as in killed for it?
I notice he doesn’t tell me how that particular all-seeing gift works. He’s not stupid.
He holds out his hand and a long metal staff appears. He runs a finger along the dusty surface, presses a button, and spikes appear at the ends. He presses the button again and they disappear.
A weapon within a weapon. That sums up Baun. When you think you understand him, he shows you something you don’t expect. The faster we get this over with, the faster I can hand him over to Hadrain. Let Kera’s dad deal with the crazy—and now free—Lost King, since it’s his fault he’s out.
I hear Blaze call and look up to see him and his friend circling the area. If he can read my mind, which I think he can, he’ll know where we’re going and follow us. Kera goes to Baun and guides him around the mess we made.
“Nice armor,” I say. I’m actually a little jealous my powers don’t extend to dressing myself with just my thoughts.
“It’s something I created long ago and never had the chance to wear. A leader should look the part.”
Baun’s what I call a suit-and-tie guy. I’ve never liked them much. “More importantly,” I say, “a leader should act the part.”
“By all means,” he sweeps his arm out, “lead the way, Dylan.”
Just like in the game, the streets move, causing a whole block to change direction and the player to get turned around if he’s not careful. It’s why I hate that particular game. It makes no sense. Thankfully, the Weeping Gate isn’t far, but when we get there, the fighting is brutal.
Pushing Baun into a sheltered area, I tell him to stay until it’s safe. I then turn to ask Kera to protect him, but she’s gone. I’m slowly getting used to that aspect of her personality, but I still don’t like it. I dive into the action, searching for her as I fight off the enemy. They’re pretty easy to spot. While Hadrain’s men are in muted greens and browns and golds, Jason has outfitted his men in armor more elaborate than Baun’s. As I move through the street, I use everything I have. My sword, fire, and speed, and magically using the things around me to beat back the enemy.
I bump into Wyatt when I dive behind a cart for protection. In the game, there aren’t many places to take cover, and it’s tempting to stay too long, thinking you’re safe. But you never truly are.
Wyatt smiles, and says between breaths, “Nice of you to join us.”
We’re both blood-spattered and panting. I dig the tip of my sword into the ground, fire sparking off the cobblestones, and rest my head against the side of the cart. “What’s the plan?”
“Surviving. If you can do that and push the enemy back past that waterwheel,” he says, pointing to a large mill in the middle of the square, “I’ll see you then.”
We both stand, and out of nowhere, an amazingly beautiful woman with long blond hair shoves me away and nearly takes off my head before Wyatt stops her. “He’s with us, sweetheart. Pass it on to your sisters.”
She kisses Wyatt full on the mouth and runs off. I point after her. “Who’s that?”
“One of the seven sisters. They’re Lucinda’s friends. You can’t miss them. Gorgeous, every last one of them.” He then dives back into the fight.
Something rolls under the cart. I sprint away, but I’m not fast enough and it explodes. I catch air and land in the dust a few feet away. I shake my head, trying to clear my ears. Someone shiny stands over me, and I shield my eyes as the helmet is yanked off and tossed to the ground.
Square jaw. Thick neck. Jason.
“Damn. When will people learn? Everyone gets killed when they hide behind the cart.”
His sword rises. I roll to the side, but the blow never comes. When I roll back, I see Baun wielding his metal staff, whirling it around his head and body, keeping Jason at a distance from me.
Jason grabs hold of his side and winces in pain. Baun’s weapon must have connected with Jason’s ribs. My former friend points at me and laughs. “You’re a lucky bastard.” He backs away, holding his arms wide. “Like what I’ve done with the place? Meet you at the hall.”
A loud whistle blows and Jason’s men retreat. I roll to my feet and rub my head. I’ve got to pay more attention to my surroundings. Baun leans against a stone pillar that appears to have no use other than to get in the way of a gamer’s hand-to-hand combat skills. I search the area, but I still don’t see Kera.
When the dust settles, Wyatt comes up to me and slams his sword into its sheath. “Figures the little shit is into this and not
“Did you see Kera?”
He takes out a bandanna and wipes his face. “She’s over by Reece. He got himself hurt again. I think he head-butted a guy wearing a helmet.”
“What about Leo?”
He squints over at me. “He’s not here.”
That doesn’t sound like Leo, and I frown. “When I left, he was waiting for you. Where is he?”
“I don’t know. He wasn’t around when we got there.”
I suddenly feel sick. “What about Bodog?”
“Haven’t seen him, either.”
“Lucinda?”
He snaps his fingers and points at me. “That I know. She took two of the sisters and left right after she
