Page 10 of Thorns & Fire
Though the man’s face wasn’t visible, Torj heard the smile in his voice, noted the satisfaction radiating from his stance.‘Innocent?Hardly, Warsword.And poison?What flows through her veins is far more...interestingthan mere poison.You will see.’
Behind him, the queen’s laboured breathing suddenly seemed more ominous.
‘We won’t let you take her,’ Wilder said fiercely.
‘Take her?’Silas’s laugh held genuine amusement.‘Why would I want to do that?She’s exactly where she needs to be.’
Torj took a step forward, hammer raised.‘If you think—’
‘I don’t think, Warsword.Iknow.’Silas reached into his cloak.‘Time will prove me right.’
Torj took another step forward.He had no intention of allowing the bastard to leave—
The masked alchemist laughed again, the sound chilling.‘Consider this a parting gift.’
With a flick of his wrist, he threw a small box, which opened in mid-air.An array of darts exploded from its confines.Torj threw himself not at Silas but at Queen Reyna, using his body to shield her.He felt the sting of tiny, sharp pinpricks at his back, but a strangled cry from the queen snatched his attention.
Scanning her quickly, he realized she wasn’t hurt, but was watching in terror as Silas’s men moved with practised efficiency, one smashing a vial beneath his boot.Blue-grey smoke billowed out, rapidly expanding to engulf the entire area.Through the haze, Torj heard the enemy’s voice again.
‘Healing is such a fascinating branch of alchemy.’Silas’s words drifted back to them, the vapour parting to reveal him and his boats already moving out to sea.
Torj stared after the leader, mind racing.Around him, the smoke dissipated too quickly to be natural, leaving him alive, armed and with a sinking realization: they weren’t just witnesses to an attack.There was a much bigger game at play here, and they had all just become pawns in whatever came next.
‘Check the queen,’ Wilder coughed from nearby, kicking shattered glass away.
With a stiff nod, Torj turned back to the ruler still in his grasp.‘Your Majesty, are you hurt?’he asked softly, as he sliced through her bonds with a quick flick of his dagger.
Queen Reyna’s eyes were unfocused, her movements sluggish.‘Bear Slayer?’
‘Yes, it’s me, Your Majesty,’ he soothed, checking her over for any wounds.Why would the rebels leave her – or any of them – alive?He forced down the worst of his thoughts and tried to help Reyna up.
The queen reached out, her fingers brushing Torj’s hair softly.‘Gold...’she muttered.‘Gold will turn to silver.’
A knot of unease tightened in Torj’s stomach, and he exchanged a worried glance with Wilder.Whatever drug the rebels had given her was strong.
‘Yes,’ he murmured.‘My hair changed during the shadow war, Your Majesty.You’ve seen me like this before.It’s alright.You’re alright.We’ll get you cleaned up.’
‘Speaking of,’ Wilder said warily, sheathing his swords as he approached Torj and reached for his back.Three sharp stings followed.
‘What the fuck?’Torj turned in time to see Wilder casting a handful of darts aside.
His friend’s brow furrowed.‘You alright?’
‘I’m fine,’ Torj replied, the sting already gone.
Wilder looked like he wanted to say more, but he gave a stiff nod instead.‘Let’s get out of here.There could be more forces on the way...Or we could be standing in some sort of trap...’
‘Agreed,’ Torj nodded, helping the queen to her feet.‘And let’s flood the dock on the way out.Leave no trace of them here.’
Beside him, the queen swayed and blinked up at him, mesmerized.She reached for his hair again.‘Gold will turn to silver in a blaze of iron and embers, giving rise to ancient power long forgotten...’
A breath shuddered out of Torj, his skin prickling.‘What did you say?’
But the queen fainted in his arms.
CHAPTER 4
Wren
