another soldier
crashed into him. I heard the sinking gurgle of his breath as Lady Dela, her skin pasty with effort, swung his body around and pushed his weight against the wall. She pressed into him again, the hilt of a bloodied knife in her hand.
'Go,' she ground out, propping the dying man up with her uninjured shoulder. 'I'm right behind you.'
'Make for the grate,' Ryko said, then grabbed my hand and pulled me through the archway, all pretence of captor gone.
I looked over my shoulder. Ido was well past the pagoda, his men clearing an efficient pathway through the disorganised ranks. Ryko's drag on my arm jerked me into a flat run that strained my hip. We barged past the overwhelmed sentries, joining a straggling exodus of soldiers from the garden. I focused on the dark mouth of the alley across the square. Our escape. My breath snagged in my throat, my chest squeezing into airless agony. I forced more strength into my legs and snatched another glance back. Lady Dela had broken out of the archway and was following in a stumbling trot. She faltered and doubled over, coming to the end of her endurance.
I pulled on Ryko's hand. 'Lady Dela. She's not going to make it.'
For a moment, I didn't think he would stop. Then I felt him slow our momentum, pulling me up into an abrupt, panting standstill. He let go of me and drew the sword from his left scabbard, shoving it into my hand. As soon as the moonstone hilt touched my skin, a flame of ancient rage seared through me.
'Open the grate and hide,' Ryko ordered then turned around.
A soldier had stopped behind us, his body poised for attack. Ryko pushed me towards the alley then charged at him.
'Run,' Ryko yelled, and elbowed the man in the face.
I ran.
Through me, a rhythm pounded. Heartbeat and breath and the drum of another presence in my ears. I dodged a swordsman, his face a blur of flattened features and missing teeth, his fingernails raking my arm. Only a few lengths to go. I looked back. The swordsman was following me, his pace outstripping mine. Beyond him, Ryko had reached Lady Dela. I lowered my head and flung myself into the dark entrance of the alley, swinging around to see the soldier draw up a few paces into the passage.
'It's a dead end, girlie,' he said, grinning.
I raised my blade.
He cross-drew his two swords, holding them in the ready position. 'I don't want to hurt you, so put it down.'
1 backed up a few steps. Two swords against one. I needed another blade. A few more steps brought me level with the first row of bales. He followed, matching his pace to mine. All I had to do was hold him off until Ryko and Lady Dela arrived. I edged towards the second stack of bales, where Ryko had hidden the dead soldier's sword.
'Come on now' The soldier smiled encouragingly
I was alongside the narrow corridor made by the first and second stacks. I snatched a look.
The end was blocked by the bale that Ryko had pushed down. Small pieces of ripped pale silk littered the ground. No sword. Was it behind the bale? If I went down there, I would be well and truly trapped. But the alley was a dead end, anyway. And I would have no chance of holding him off and getting the grate open at the same time. I was trapped either way I plunged between the two rows, slipping on the dark patch of Lady Dela's blood and scrambling across the stone to the fallen bale. Behind me, I heard the soldier grunt. A fist of hessian helped me steady myself as I frantically groped between bale and wall. My fingers hit the leather of the grip. I pulled the sword out.
'Got you now,' the soldier said, advancing down the narrow space.
I swung around and spun both blades up into starting position, Kinra's sword held above my head, my left hand aiming the point of the other blade at his throat.
'Oh ho,' the soldier laughed, immediately Jingling his weapons. 'Who showed you that?'
I watched his eyes, wailing for the sign of attack It was a small huff of breath, a flicker of his eyelids us he lunged. My body was already moving into a block, Kinra's sword took the down thrust of his blade, my body singing with my ancestor's knowledge. With her rage. I swept the other blade around and connected with his hurriedly lowered sword. The impact jarred through my arm, but he was off balance and I pushed forwards. I had to get out of the confined space between the bales.
Tiger cuffs and claws.
This time I trusted the instinct that shifted my muscles and sinews into the form, riding the ancient skill that sent both blades working in quick punishing hits that the soldier barely blocked. One tip caught his arm and drew blood. His eyes widened, his breath quickening.
Slowly, my volley of blows forced him back into the alley.
'I can beat you,' I said levelly I did not want to hurt this man; I just wanted to get to the grate.
'I don't think so, little girl.' His face tightened as he put all his strength behind a vicious blow.
I just managed to deflect it, the impact bending my wrist back into sharp agony He sliced his other blade in a tight arc, the wicked move aimed at my throat. I swung into a block, his blade sliding up into the hilt of Kinra's sword. My muscles tensed, knowing that his next move was a lethal swing at my head.
Rat drops to ground.
I pulled free. My body fell back, landing heavily on the stone paving, all my breath punched out of my lungs. Above me, I saw the soldier's surprise as his sword swung through air, making him stagger. There was no time to think. Gasping, I pushed myself up at him and drove Kinra's sword into his thigh. The tip sliced through flesh and hit bone, opening his leg in a slash that pulsed with blood. He screamed and jerked away pulling himself off my blade. One sword dropped with a clang as he clutched at the spurtng wound. For a second we were both still with shock, then he staggered towards me, fuelled by rage and pain, his other sword raised for the killing stroke.
Dragon whips tail.
For a second, I was back fighting Ranne on the ceremony sands. But this time, there was no doubt, no hesitation. I spun over onto my hands and knees and kicked backwards, connecting with the soldier's down stroke. His sword hit the stone in a ringing toll as I twisted around on my knees and plunged Kinra's sword up into his body, her ancient knowledge guiding the thrust into his vital pathway of Hua. I pulled it free, severing his life force in a gush of blood.
His agonised cry was lost in the clicking rasp of a last breath. He collapsed onto the ground beside me, the sour release of urine mixing with the coppery stink of fresh blood. The smell of death.
I scrabbled back against a crate. The spirit had already gone from his eyes, but their flat stare held me pinned against the rough wood. My swords dropped from my hands. I had done this to him; stopped the flow of precious Hua. I groped for reason: he was trying to kill me. I was defending myself. I had survived. Relief surged into fierce exhilaration then just as quickly drained into shivering horror. He was so still. Death was so silent. So indifferent. It was only made to matter in the hearts and minds of men.
And women.
I looked away from the sightless stare. This man's death would matter to me forever.
The sound of running steps brought me onto my knees. I grabbed Kinra's sword as Ryko rounded the corner of the alley with his arm around Lady Dela's waist, dragging her in a half run.
'Get to the grate,' he yelled, 'They're coming.'
I struggled to my feet.
'Don't kill the girl!' It was Ido's voice.
CHAPTER 24
Ryko hauled Lady Dela past the first stack. Her body was slumped against his tight hold, her face ominously pale.
'Take her,' Ryko said.
I caught her weight, barely managing to swing her around and rest her against the crate. There was fresh
