Page 170 of The Fae Girl 1

I parried his attack. His sword was longer than mine but the weight of it meant he’d tire easily. The sounds of metal crashing into metal filled my ears. I saw from the corner of my eye as a few of my soldiers fell. But around us more traitors were lying dead.

“You can’t fight forever Fain.” Hezak spat.

“Wanna bet on that?” I replied.

“Sooner or later Uther will fall. His rule is crumbling, even you’re not stupid enough to believe he can win this war.”

I snarled smashing into his sword with mine, letting my anger take over in a moment of stupidity that I paid for as he caught the side of my face with the tip of his blade, no doubt earning me another scar.

I stumbled back and he took the advantage, aiming for my ribs. I missed the blow by bare millimetres but it was a good lesson to learn.

“Ready to give in yet?” I taunted. I could see the sweat on his brow. I was sweating too. But I was also in far better condition than him. Far fitter. I half wondered if the prick might have a heart attack and that would end it.

“Fuck you.” He cried raising his sword coming at me again. I stuck my leg out just as I swerved away. He stepped right into it, tripping up and landed on his knees.

“It’s over.” I said as I held my sword against his throat. “Surrender and you’ll live.”

“I’d rather die.”

“If that’s what you’d prefer.” I muttered dragging it across in one quick movement seeing as his blood spurting out.

When he stopped jerking I kicked his body away and took stock of the battle. Most of the bodies were theirs. A few melees were still continuing but mostly the fight was over.

“Secure the castle.” I said. “Kill anyone who doesn’t surrender.”

That got their attention. The arseholes still fighting. A few stopped, dropping their swords. A few fought all the harder.

In the end neither option mattered because we’d won. At least this part.

As I turned to face the door behind my stomach clenched. I pushed open the door.

My heart slamming in my chest at what I might find but as the light poured in from the hall I saw no signs of struggle. No signs of a fight.

I stepped in seeing the huddled up form in the bed. Had he been smothered? Had they strangled him as he slept?

I crossed the room yanking the covers off.

Hal yelped as he woke up. His hair a mass of black unruly curls. Hair he’d inherited from my brother, and his father before him.

“You’re okay.” I said half disbelieving it.

He screwed his face up blinking against the bright light. “Uncle Fain?”

I let out an exhale sweeping him into my arms. Gods I’d never been happier to see him than in this moment.

Ridley rushed into the room then stopped as he saw us.

“He’s unharmed?”

I nodded. Somehow he’d slept through all the fighting, even when it was right outside his bedroom door.

“What’s going on?” Hal asked.

I looked down at him. At his face that bore the wrinkles of where he’d been snuggled up against a pillow only minutes ago.

“We have to leave Hal.” I said. “This castle is no longer secure.” Maybe I should have lied. Maybe I should have made some bullshit excuse about Uther sending me for him as a surprise but he was old enough to understand. And besides, I didn’t like treating him like a baby, I didn’t like coddling him the way the rest of court seemed incessant on doing.

He gulped looking across at Ridley then back at me. “Are they coming for me? Is someone going to kill me?” I could feel him trembling in my arms now.

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