Page 59 of The Eyes of Tamburah
“Don’t come any closer or Mojag gets a pretty red necklace,” she said.
They stopped. But the big brute in the center said, “She’s bluffing.”
“Mojag, do you want to explain or should I?” she asked.
“She’s serious guys!” His voice cracked.
“What now, Sun-kissed?” big brute asked.
“Mojag and I are going to take a walk. Once we’re in public, I’ll—” A force slammed into her from behind. She fell atop Mojag. The knife hit the ground with a clang and skittered out of reach.
Sandwiched between Mojag and the man on top of her, Shyla’s range of motion was limited. Since she’d lost her hostage, the others joined the fray. Soon her arms were pinned behind her. She was yanked to her feet and immobilized between two goons. An attempt to break their hold left her winded. Gasping for air, she didn’t even have enough energy to panic.
The others stood, brushing sand from their pants. At the bottom of the pile was Mojag and…Jayden. That explained who knocked into her.
“Son of a sand demon, that blow was supposed to keep you off your feet for a while,” she said.
He gave her a lopsided grin. “My mother says I’ve a hard head.”
“It’s not a compliment.” At least the beginnings of a nasty bump marked his temple. Small comfort. “I’m just trying to help.”
“Yeah. Help yourself. We know,” Jayden said. “Mojag, go keep watch so we’re not disturbed.”
The boy hurried off. Jayden rubbed his forehead, studying her. “Did you tell the guards the location of Orla’s commune?”
An utterly ridiculous question. It deserved an equally silly answer. “Yes. In fact, I had tea with a very nice lieutenant during all that free time I had between being sold to the deacons and finding the black river. I told him everything.”
Jayden wasn’t amused. “Are you done?”
“You don’t want to know how the Water Prince and I schemed to discover all your hideouts? Because sending a sun-kissed to infiltrate your network was a stroke of genius. I blended right in.”
“Cute. You—
“Aye-up!” Mojag called from the darkness.
Everyone froze.
Mojag rushed toward them. “Guards coming.”
Jayden cursed.
“What do we do with her?” the goon asked. “She’ll slow us down.”
“Or yell for the guards,” goon two added.
Thanks for the idea. Shyla drew a breath but froze when Jayden pulled a knife.
“Sorry.” He charged.
Energy suddenly sizzled through her muscles. Shyla wrenched sideways as the blade stabbed forward, slicing the skin just under her breasts. She plopped to the floor as Jayden’s forward momentum caused him to trip over her legs. Hells! He’d been aiming for her heart!
The thudding of boots echoed as the violet glow of multiple druks appeared.
“Guards,” Mojag said. His voice cracked with panic.
“Go!” Jayden ordered.
And just like that, they split up and disappeared into the darkness. Shocked by the turn of events, Shyla remained frozen in place. The son of a sand demon was going to kill her! As if responding to her thoughts, the wound flared to painful life. She explored the cut with her fingertips seeking its depth and agitating it in the process. The cut was not too deep, but blood coated her hand and saturated the ripped edges of her tunic. Not hers, but a vagrant’s. And…the son of a sand demon was going to kill her!If she encountered Jayden again, she would…none of the options that formed in her mind seemed a fitting response. At least she’d knock him upside his hard head.
