Page 98 of Rising

“I know, it’s not that,” she said definitively. “My memories here, they’re best kept in the past. No point in focusing on something I can’t do nothin’ about.”

The sound of galloping hooves clacked against the pavement outside. Seth and Alexiares were at the window next to me within moments, taking in the small group of men now gathered outside the inn. Searching for someone. Searching forus.

How did they find us?

I glanced back at the table, our two pistols, a single pack of ammo, a few knives, Reina’s bow and arrow, and Wrath. “There’s not a chance in hell we’ll be able to outshoot them.”

“There’s magic,” Reina offered from behind us, peering over my head.

Alexiares considered it before leveling, “Nah, we won’t be able to get a clear shot on them without making ourselves an open target.”

He was right, a man now stood near the horses a few feet from the door. The rest of the men spread out, starting at the ends of the lodge making their way towards us, thuds rang out around us as doors were kicked in.

I looked to Reina. “How much magic you got locked and loaded?”

“Enough,” she said, grinning.

“Good, I need you to target your magic directly at them, I want them to feel like they just ate three Thanksgiving turkeys with extra dressing.” I directed, falling into General mode. “Stay tucked in this corner and don’t move.” She’d need to focus on them through the window to target them efficiently, careful to avoid it from putting us at risk.

Reina moved behind her brother, shrugging him out the way. “Got it.”

“Moe”—her head swiveled to face me, eyes determined—”behind the door. Make them feel your Wrath.”

She grabbed Wrath off the table, unsheathing the katana, aura of an assassin encasing her.

Seth stood at attention but his gaze kept flickering towards the movement outside, I snapped my fingers, drawing his attention back towards me. “Hey! I need you on it right now. Behind Moe. Grab whoever comes in next, knock ‘em the hell out. Don’t care how, just do it. The quieter we are, the more time we’ll have to take ‘em out one-on-one.”

“This is a stupid plan,” he grumbled, his words made everyone pause, waiting to see if my orders would change.

I stepped to him, what would be chest to chest if he didn’t hover a foot and a half over me. “And why is that?”

“We’re not just outgunned, we’re out-manned. We’re hungry, we’re tired, we’re barely healed.” He moved his fingers, counting bullet points. “We can just make somethin’ up, get us all out of here and not risk any of the bullshit.”

My eyes narrowed in response, everyone would get out of here, I’d make sure of that. “I don’t know if you missed everything that happened less than a week ago Seth, but you see how ill-received treaty violators are. And we are, in fact, treaty violators.”

“I’m not going down without a fight.” Moe said, opposing her partner, no hint of remorse for doing so in her posture.

“Me neither,” Reina’s singsong voice was firm, sure, though she wouldn’t be engaging in any hand-to-hand.

Alexiares watched me, a lazy smile on his face, waiting for me to give him a command.

“Looks like you’re overruled. Again.” The voice of a commander grasped onto my tone, ignoring the protest and continuing on. “Alexiares and I will stand center bait, draw them into the room and take out whoever makes it past you two.”

“We can always say our first messenger didn’t make it, that our next one is a week away. It’s partly true, it’ll be an easy sell,” he pushed, taking another approach to convince me.

I turned my back to him, not interested in hearing more. “Do you really think men would come here, heavily armed and kicking in doors if they were interested in any of us walking out of here? Let’s not be dense.”

My point drove home as he huffed, walking behind Moe, careful to keep distance and avoid the reach of her swing.

The second we got into position, chaos erupted as two armed men rushed into the room. Moe swung her katana down wildly, the first unfortunate head falling to the floor with a wet thump.

Reina pushed herself further in the corner near the window, doing her best to keep each armed prick at bay. The heightened emotions and fear around the room started to wear her down. Her magic wasn’t accustomed to taking on so many emotions at once.There’s only one way to make it easier on her then, I grinned to myself, waiting for the next victim to cross under the threshold.

Seth took on a man of similar stature, finally meeting his match. He flipped him, pulling him into a chokehold, Seth’s icy eyes bulging under the pressure. I had to focus, he could hold his own. I trusted that. For now I had to keep my eye on the door, not allowing too many souls to pass at once.

Finally, it was my chance. Two men rushed in, both twice my size as I rushed towards them, leaping. My legs locked around one of their necks as I slammed him into the ground, using him to trip the other.

My fists flew, not stopping until he could no longer be recognized as a man. The magic in me pulling the sheets from the bed to wrap around the neck of the other, air squeezing from his throat.

---