“We’d better make this quick.” Mahrai glanced back toward the sound of approaching demons.
Suddenly, there was a burst of sand and a commotion near the back of the guards. Someone shouted in alarm, and most of the group looked around.
There was another burst of sand near the front of the group, and Tahlis erupted from the ground. His spear darted back and forth, and three guards fell. By the time the others turned to face him, the guildmaster had disappeared back into a Hidden Burrow.
A moment later, Tahlis popped up again, this time in the center of the guards. He knocked one of them out with a blow from the butt of his spear, then raised his hand. The air swirled, and a Sandstorm sprayed from him, scattering the guards. The sand billowed all around, filling the air, and I lost sight of the gate.
The ground in front of me burst open, and Tahlis sprung out.
“I thought you’d be here hours ago,” he said. “So slow, Swordslinger. But now that I’ve given us cover, we should get out of here.”
I didn’t need telling twice. Together with Mahrai, I followed Tahlis through the Sandstorm into the shadows beneath the gateway. The lizardman flung back the bar that kept the gates closed and swung one of them open. We dashed through and headed out along the mountain path while the gate thudded shut behind us.
We jogged along the path, our way illuminated by the moon and stars. The road was dusty and uneven compared with those in the city, and I had to dodge dozens of potholes, but I was still glad to be beyond the walls.
“Were those demons back there?” Tahlis asked.
“Lesser demons,” I said, almost surprised at how casually I’d just spoken about supernatural creatures from hell.
“Worrying. I’ve tangled with those creatures before, and they’re seriously tough customers.”
“You’re not exactly soft yourself,” Mahrai said. “Thank you for saving us.”
“I have to ask: why are you here with us, instead of siding with the demons? Have you chosen the light?”
Mahrai glanced at me with a smile. “Some kind of light, I guess.”
I looked back the way we had come. They city was well behind us now, its gates firmly shut against the wilderness and the night. Though the howling of the demons could still be heard, it was growing more distant.
“We can slow down,” I said as I reduced my pace to a swift walk. “They’re not following us out of the city.”
“Not yet,” Tahlis said.
We followed the path up the mountainside. The fortress loomed ahead of us, its windows black gaps amid dark walls, the moonlight catching the curves of domed tower tops.
At the gates to the fortress, we were met by our side’s guards, a collection of volunteers from among the Pathless. They were wearing pieces of armor that had been dug out of the fortress’ supplies, mostly metal plates linked together with sections of chainmail, and they carried a selection of spears and other polearms.
The guards waved as we approached, then froze when they spotted Mahrai. Their hands tightened around their weapons, and they watched her from beneath lowered brows. They backed together and raised trembling weapons to block her way.
“What’s she doing here?” a Pathless guard asked, voice wavering.
“She’s on our side now,” I said.
“No,” another Pathless snapped. “She’s one of them. One of the ones who threatened us and imprisoned us.”
“That was the past. Things have changed.”
“Not her. I don’t believe it.”
I glanced at Mahrai. This was going to get tricky.
“Send someone to fetch Ganyir,” I said. “He’s the lord of this province, so he should decide what happens here.”
One of the Pathless disappeared into the interior of the fortress. The rest of us stood stiffly outside the gates, watching each other, no one saying a word. Any time Mahrai moved, the Pathless jumped in alarm, as if the stone golem might appear at any moment.
After a few minutes, Ganyir emerged. He was wearing robes instead of armor, and his hair was flattened on one side. It was the first time I’d seen him without his battle equipment, but he still struck an imposing figure.
He rubbed the sleep from his eyes, then stared at Mahrai. “I wasn’t expecting this.”
I walked up to Ganyir, taking Mahrai with me. He shifted his feet, ready in case of trouble, but his expression of wary interest didn’t change.
“Mahrai has agreed to abandon Saruqin and join our side,” I said.
“And why should we let her?” Ganyir asked. “She was one of his most important lieutenants, keeping innocent people in terror through the threat of her magic.”
“That terror can work to our advantage now. Saruqin has more than guards and Augmenters; he has demons on his side. They swarmed the city and forced us to flee. Against all that, we’ve got a handful of rebels and the hope that people will rise up to join us. We need all the help we can get.”
“The Swordslinger is right,” Tahlis said. “Mahrai has some powerful Augmentations, and she’s a skilled fighter. We need to make the most of that. I know that anger is guiding you right now, but we need to think in practicalities.”
Ganyir stared at Mahrai, his arms crossed across his body, one finger tapping against his arm. At last, he nodded.
“Fine. She can come in. But she’s your responsibility, Swordslinger.”
The Pathless stepped well back, weapons still raised, and watched warily as we walked through the gates and into the fortress.
“The others may still be awake,” Ganyir said. “I left them in the dining hall when I went to rest. We have new considerations now.” He glared at Mahrai, and I assured myself that I would be ready to kill her if she
