Page 106 of Song of the Heart Scale
They attacked.
One woman who'd dared to stand on a crate and demand answers was struck down with a single slash. Her body crumpled like paper. A collective gasp rippled through the crowd, swiftly followed by enraged chaos.
“Move!” I barked, dragging Maeve behind me.
People scattered and ran in all directions. Shouts echoed, children cried, and the sharp tang of blood filled the air. The scent hit me like a punch.
A man lunged at us, his eyes wild and sunken as he reached for the satchel slung across Maeve’s shoulder. “Food? Please, give ussomething!”
I instinctively shoved him away, slamming my elbow into his chest and stepping in front of her. “Back off!”
Snarling, he stumbled away and disappeared into the chaos.
“M-My lady!” Maeve stammered, clutching my arm.
I pulled her closer, my eyes darting across the square. We were boxed in, pushed toward the center as people clawed to escape. The imperial guards weren’t just pushing—they were cutting down anyone who resisted. It wasn’t control. It was punishment.
A soldier shoved a young boy to the ground and raised his sword. I didn’t think—I just moved.
I kicked the guard square in the back, sending him tumbling. The boy scrambled to his feet and ran. The guard turned, his eyes narrowing behind his helmet.
“You little—”
I was already swinging. I grabbed a broken stall beam and cracked it against his chest. He staggered, then lunged at me. “Maeve, run!” I shouted.
But she didn’t. She clung to my side, her face pale with fear.
Two more guards closed in, their blades flashing.
I fought like I’d been trained—no, like what enabled me to survive. My time in the army wasn’t for show. I ducked low, sweeping one guard off his feet, and brought the stall beam down on the other’s arm hard enough to hear bone crunch. But I wasn’t invincible.
Another guard tackled me from behind and slammed me to the cobblestones. My shoulder screamed in protest.
“My lady!” Maeve shrieked.
I rolled, kicked upward, and knocked him back. But more were coming. Too many. Even if I’d had weapons, even if I was fighting at full strength, I couldn’t take them all. Added to the fact that they were supernaturals and I was a mere human.
Maeve tried to pull me to my feet. We nearly made it.
“Halt!” one of the guards barked.
The butt of a spear slammed into my ribs. I gasped and folded over. Rough hands grabbed my arms, pinning me.
Maeve screamed as another soldier grabbed her.
“Don’t touch her!” I roared, struggling in their punishing grip.
They ignored me.
“Who are you to raise arms against the Imperial Guard?” one of them demanded coldly.
“A hungry woman trying to survive!” I spat.
They didn’t like that.
The flat of a sword struck me across the jaw and the world spun.
Maeve cried out, and that sound snapped something inside me.
