“Who dares interrupt my ritual?” a chilly voice broke through the stillness. It was coming from the center of the room.
All the Iceni heads turned to face their leader. I could see her more clearly now. She definitely looked female, and rather young for a queen. But she had died a tragic death, so maybe that had something to do with it.
I could have sworn her figure looked more defined and less shadowy than before. Was it just my imagination, or was the ritual strengthening her hold on her physical form?
“Me, Queen Bitchface!” I yelled. It was stupid of me, but no one had ever told me I was particularly smart.
Boudicca’s face turned in my direction, and I saw her eyes darken several shades. She let out a hiss and a wave of dark energy flew out of her mouth in my direction.
I let out a yelp and ducked just in time. The dark energy wave smacked into the attackers closest to me, but it missed me by several inches. I watched in equal parts shock and revulsion at what happened next.
The Iceni who’d been hit by the spell started to convulse. Their shaking got stronger and stronger until they fell to the ground, screaming and covering their heads with their hands. But it was too late. Their heads exploded a moment later, sending a wave of blood, bone, and brains flying through the air, coating everything for several feet in each direction.
“Huh,” I muttered. “Glad that didn’t hit me.”
Boudicca scowled and shouted something I didn’t understand. “Warriors!” she said next, in English. “Bring me this fool’s head!”
Well, just like that, playtime was over. And just when I’d gotten to the chorus of the song in my head, too.
One of the blokes on my left side lunged at me, brandishing his piece of misshapen steel. I turned my blade and made a wide swipe, severing his arm at the wrist.
The enclosed hand, still gripping the odd weapon, flew upward for a second. I snatched it out of the air with my free hand and used it to impale one of the women while fending off an attack from one of the mace guys at the same time.
It would have been really cool to look at, if I hadn’t been fighting for my very life.
The other guy with the misshapen weapon came at me then with a high swipe. I dodged to the side, but not quite in time, and his weapon grazed my head, leaving a nasty gash that dripped and burned.
I grabbed his free arm and pulled him to me, then headbutted him and sent him flying. My vision went dark for a half second, then I was fine again.
The other woman came at me then. She had more luck than the others, and her sword sliced into my side. I felt a wave of pain radiate from the wound and the hot blood oozing down my skin. I stumbled backward just a bit and batted her weapon away with my katana, then redoubled the assault.
I slid my blade down and forward, lunging for her midsection. My katana sliced through her belly with ease, and I turned the blade as I pulled it out to make the wound that much worse, sending guts flying everywhere.
Sword Chick fell to the ground clutching what was left of her stomach. Now it was just me and one more mace guy. And another eighty or so Iceni behind him, but who’s counting?
Mace Guy made a wicked swipe for my injured side, which I wasn’t able to dodge completely, since I was starting to fade. The blow hit me right in the kidney, and I doubled over in pain, unable to see or think for a few seconds.
Briefly, I wondered if this was finally it. I’d taken out at least twenty of them, but there were far too many left.
I raised my head as best I could and snarled at Mace Guy, who was holding his weapon above my head, poised to strike.
“Make it quick!” I spat. He just grinned at me and grunted.
I waited for the mace to fall and crush my skull, but the blow never came. Instead, I heard Mace Guy howl, and the smell of burning skin assaulted my nostrils as he burst into flames.
With a great shove, I pushed myself back up to my feet and looked around for my savior. Over near the doorway, I saw Sheila standing there, a small trickle of blood trailing down one finger and a fireball in her other hand.
She gave me a wink, then she was gone just as fast.
“Moron!” I shouted in her direction. “You were supposed to wait for the signal!” What was the world coming when you couldn’t even count on your friends to follow your orders? Even if those orders would have gotten you killed.
I flashed the spot where Sheila had been a moment before a quick grin, and then I tightened my grip on my katana. I still had a battle to finish.
Sweat mixed with blood was pouring down my face, and the corners of my vision were cloudy, but a fresh wave of attackers was waiting for me, looking completely new and full of vigor.
“All right, let’s all take five and come at this fresh,” I said to them.
Either they weren’t good listeners, or they didn’t like my suggestion, for only greedy, bloodthirsty glares greeted me in response. Oh well, it had been worth a shot.
“Fine.” I groaned. “We’ll do it your way. I’ll kill you all now.”
Three of the Iceni encroached on me, then, with even more pushing behind them, seemingly eager to spill my blood, too.
“Die!” I shouted. Then I swung my blade in a wide arc.
My katana sliced through one Iceni’s chest and buried itself in another. I wrenched the blade free with some effort and jammed it into another guy’s eye socket.
Something blunt smacked the side of
