THUMP!

The blunt arrowhead slammed into Van Lagos' ribs mid-swing. He stumbled back, grimacing with a feline hiss.

Over my shoulder, the mist cleared, revealing Took and what remained of the archers.

"Again!" He said.

The archers notched and loosed their arrows as fast as they could draw them. I didn't wait for them to connect. I jumped to my feet and continued my dash to the other side of the battlefield. Arrows whistled in the air, followed by a roar of fire and the screams of men.

I froze mid-step, imagining skin blackening to a brittle crisp and tongues bubbling in gaping mouths.

Don't look back. Don't look back.

I looked back.

Charred bodies lay heaped where the archers once stood. The smoke rising from the steaming corpses mixed with the thick fog surrounding us.

Was Took dead?

Before I could consider that question, Van Lagos charged through the mist!

CLINK!

I blocked his scimitar's sideways slash with my short sword. He spun away, exposing his back. I jumped, not taking the bait as a fiery scimitar ignited in his left hand. The scimitar sizzled through the empty air in front of me.

Van Lagos fixed me with a feral grin.

"Huh, that usually works."

I matched his grin with my own.

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"I got lucky."

Van Lagos laughed.

"I'm going to enjoy killing you."

He stepped forward, lashing out with his steel scimitar in a probing stab. I stepped backwards, continuing my retreat to the left. He pulled back his scimitar, pressed both weapons side by side and whipped them over his head for a diagonal slash across my chest. I raised my short sword to block it and realized my mistake in an instant.

Where my short sword blocked his metal scimitar, his second scimitar passed through the blade. A fiery line ignited across my chest. I winced, letting the first scimitar scrape across my blade before throwing myself on the ground.

The muddy earth rose up to meet me. I landed with a squelch, smothering the flames. Something cold wrapped my wrists, and in the next moment, my body was sliding through the mist. The icy hands dragged me out of the fog into an alley on the other side of the battlefield.

I spit mud out of my mouth, grimacing from the metallic aftertaste. This had to be Isla's work. I was right. She was close. I got to my feet, leaning against the white plaster wall of another ruined home. Overhead, motes of orange fire danced in the night sky, out of the fog's reach.

I was safe… for now, but where were the others?

I walked further down the alley and frowned. There was no crunch of gravel under my feet. No whisper from my arm brushing against the wall.

"..."

Lira! She was here—somewhere.

I flashed a bitter smile.

Why was I surprised?

If I could guess Isla's location, why not her? Or was Lira after someone else?

Was she after me?!

I spun around and pressed my back against the wall, raising my short sword and slashing at the space around me.

Nothing…

I sighed, the sound silenced by her ability. A fresh trickle of sweat beaded on my skin, mixing with the mud and grease.

I had to keep moving. If I couldn't find her, that was the best way out of this.

On my right, a shadow charged through the mist. I whirled around, pointed my short sword at the figure heaving for breath.

Took lifted his head, his one eye wide with shock. His lips curled into a snarl, and he mouthed a string of curses that was mute to our deaf ears.

His face shifted from anger to fear. He clutched at his throat with his injured left arm, screaming into the void.

I banged the side of my short sword against the wall to get his attention.

His one eye narrowed at the lack of sound as metal slapped against clay. He stiffened and raised his long knife in a challenge.

Did he think I did this?

I shook my head, lowering my short sword to the side.

Took frowned, raised his long knife and threw it in my direction.

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