Page 107 of Poisoned Empire

“What?” Charis asked, shocked. “But you’ve never trained!”

Mina’s grin was a touch mad.

“You really thought I’d remain the weak girl you rejected? I command the darkness with as much competence as my brothers.”

“But why? You were always so afraid…”

Mina gazed at Charis with a wickedness that sent a frisson of fear down Selene’s spine. Charis, however, seemed rapt.

“Your griffin spilled all the secrets you confided in him while you thought him a pet. All it took was a few trips through the void to convince him. I know you still love me.” Topaz’s amber eyes glimmered with delight. “I guess I never let go of my girlish fantasy that I would steal you away on your wedding night. Once I learned that you need me as much as I need you, I knew I’d have taken you from the prince himself if he’d chosen you.”

Selene watched as Charis blushed scarlet, ready to throw herself at Mina. Before she could, Emerald cleared her throat, interrupting the two lovers.

“So, what about the teleportation mage?”

Selene thought on it. After one of those mages had attacked Marduk, she’d learned from Iliana that they couldn’t teleport with more than one person unless they were really talented, and not at all if they were in significant enough pain.

“I guess we link arms and hope one of us lands a blow? I don’t know. Three out of four is going to have to do. Hopefully he’s a spineless coward like his father,” Selene replied. She feared if they delayed any longer, Mercurius would be able to use their imprisonment against the magistri, and more importantly, Belisarius.

“I can vouch for that,” Topaz huffed.

“So, are we ready?” Selene asked, adrenaline pulling her from her lethargy. Three determined sets of eyes met her own. “Then let’s commit some murder.”

Peering around the corner, Iliana could see a group of five men wearing the colours of Magister Diamond standing guard at the entrance of the dungeons. She twirled back to avoid being seen and whispered to Marduk.

“Five men belonging to Diamond, all armed. I can’t be certain, but their swords don’t seem to be any better than the regular army’s.”

“Diamond’s men? This should be quick,” Marduk grinned.

Iliana watched as he gripped his mace and shield, readying himself. Fear overtook her. What if he got himself killed? Despite her skills, she’d never trained herself for combat. She didn’t know if she’d be able to help him in the thick of it.

“Wait! Not yet.”

When he gazed down at her, it was with understanding. He leaned down and kissed her.

“You’ve never seen me in action. I’m not the strategos for nothing.”

“At least let me enchant your steel.”

“If you can be quick,” he allowed.

Iliana felt the great shield he carried and allowed the metal to tell her what it was capable of. Like a conversation with a friend, she pushed her magic into it, making it the best at deflecting blows as she could without undermining its strength. Next, she touched the mace he held, a wicked-looking object made larger than normal to accommodate its giant of an owner. This she enchanted to shatter whatever its owner saw as a threat on contact. She still couldn’t believe she was going to send him out there to face enemy steel.

“Don’t come out until I call. If anything happens-”

“Go to the praetor, I know.”

His grin turned almost cruel.

“Don’t watch if you’re squeamish.”

He raced down the hall at an unbelievable speed for a man his size. The Diamond guards formed ranks immediately. One launched a streamer of fire at Marduk, only to have him duck behind his shield, still advancing, and bash the fire mage with the shield, sending him flying down the hallway. Another slashed with his sword. Marduk parried with a swing of his mace, shattering the sword and the face of the mage wielding it as it arced out. Another of the five fled, leaving just two trying to outflank him. Marduk shielded himself, barely breaking a sweat. One of the men took the offensive, raining blows without pause, pinning Marduk down while the other sent himself flying over the beast mage with a blast of wind. He landed lightly, his sword at the ready to run Marduk through.

Iliana cried out. Marduk tossed his heavy shield at the mage in front while ducking and twirling, landing a vicious, lethal blow to the wind mage’s side. The man now at his back tossed the shield aside and leapt at Marduk, sword poised to take off his head. Marduk deflected the blow with his mace and grabbed the man’s wrist, crushing it as his momentum shot him forward. The sword dropped from his grip, clattering on the floor. Iliana heard the wet, crunching blow of Marduk’s mace as it caved in the last man’s head.

“Gods below,” Iliana whispered to herself.

Marduk stood calmly amidst the carnage and collected his shield. When he noticed her stare, his expression turned sheepish.

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