Page 241 of The Call of Crimson
“It was smart thinking,” I reassure her, turning back to her mother. “Where’s your eldest son?”
Her face darkens. “He enlisted in the army shortly after you left Rimor. We have not heard from him in several months.”
Pain lances through me for her, for the possibility of another child lost.
“Let’s get you to safety,” Darian says, taking inventory of who we have to protect.
“Can any of you fight?” I ask.
Nameah’s other brother nods along with two others in the group. I craft shadow blades and hand them out, willing them to stay solid in their grip.
We pass out daggers to the rest as I explain, “Those with swords stay on the outside of the group. If any of you see crimson eyes, stab first, think second. If you hesitate, you die.”
“If any of you possess offensive Gifts, use them,” Darian pants. His normal mask of cold indifference has slipped, revealing the sweat-drenched brow and heaving chest of a truly exhausted male.
Our group begins the trek out of the forest, my shadows swirling around us, Ryder’s wind howling as we head for the city gate. It’s a slower trip back than it was out here, but we maintain a jog to get us across the field.
It takes all of two minutes inside the city for us to encounter our first attack. Thankfully, it’s only a group of three, and we’re able to dispatch them with no casualties to our group.
It’s when we reach the halfway mark that all hell breaks loose.
I turn a corner, and the rest of the group follows me into a narrow alley. My feet come to a halt, the breath leaving my lungs.
What appears to be their entire force stands less than three hundred feet away. Their weapons are pointed straight at me, eyes glowing as they stare us down.
“Queen of Shadows, how lovely to finally make your acquaintance,” the one in front bellows, and my gods is his voice melodic. I’m nearly brought to my knees listening to him speak.
I turn back down the alley, facing the group as dread rises in me.
In a hushed voice, I say, “You are going to turn around and take the long way back to the stronghold. Once you get out of this alley, you are going to run like hell and not stop. Don’t look back, don’t cry out, just run. Ryder, Zion, Darian, and I will hold them off as long as we’re able.”
Nameah’s mother shakes her head, trying to refuse my command.
“There is no time for arguing. I may not have been able to save Nameah, but I will not let her family suffer the same fate. You must live,” I command.
Tears fill her eyes as she nods, turning the group around. My shadows follow them; their protection should last until they reach the stronghold, but they’ll weaken the further they get from me.
“Why don’t you tell your friends to join us?” the Fae male, their General, I assume, yells.
“Breyla, this is suicide,” Darian argues, fear flashing in his navy-blue eyes.
“It’s our only option, and you know it,” I reply. “Something tells me they want me alive.”
“And something tells me you shouldn’t be listening to whatever voice is telling you that.”
I ignore him, turning to Ryder and Zion. “You’ve been with me from the very start. Thank you.”
“We’re with you,” Ryder says.
“From our first breath,” Zion adds.
“Until our very last,” I finish, pulling them into a tight hug.
I step back into the street, facing the General and the army behind him.
Darian and I stand center, flanked by Ryder and Zion, as I call out, “What are your demands?”
The front line stands with arrows notched and aimed directly at us, awaiting his command.
