Page 119 of The City of Zirdai
Yates paused. “Where’s the sun-kissed?” he roared.
“There!” one guard said, pointing.
She didn’t have enough power to reach them all. And with the knot of people blocking the entrance, she had nowhere to go. Bedlam ensued for a short—too short— time. Shyla ducked and dodged and fought those closest to her, using her magical commands at every opportunity, but eventually Yates caught her.
“Don’t try anything,” he said as the cold steel of his knife touched her throat.
Stop.
He applied a slight pressure. A line of fire crossed her neck.
“I’m not going to stop,” he said. “And you don’t need to be alive in order for us to remove your eyes.”
Damn thick-headed man.
The prince’s voice cut through the cries and everyone stilled, including Yates.
“What in the seven hells is going on?” he demanded. “While I’m glad you’ve arrived, why are you here?”
One of the guards straightened. “We brought you a prize, sire.” He gestured and the people near the door moved further inside—the throne room almost filled to capacity. But then, through the midst of them, a man was shoved forward to the middle of the room.
Rendor.
Eighteen
Beaten, bruised, and bloody, Rendor stood before the prince, who eyed him with mild surprise and amusement. Shyla sagged against Yates. Rendor had tried to rescue her and now…now they were both in trouble. Unless she could gather enough magic to freeze everyone.
“Where did you find him?” the prince asked.
“He’s been trying to recruit your guards to switch their loyalties to the sun-kissed, sire,” one of the guards said.
Really? Shyla strained to catch Rendor’s gaze, but his hard stare was aimed at Yates behind her.
“Did he have any success?” the prince asked.
Uneasy chuckling. “No, sire. We caught him before he could do any damage.”
“Good work, Lieutenant. Rendor, you should have left Zirdai when you had the chance. We’ll deal with you in a bit.” The prince turned to Yates. “Captain—”
“He’s not your captain,” Rendor said. “Not whileI’mstill alive.”
Yates tensed. And Shyla inwardly groaned at his bold statement. The big brute was going to get himself killed.
“We can settle this right now,” Yates said. He handed Shyla and his knife to the closest guard. “I’ll know if you try to influence me with your magic,” he said to her, then to the guard, “Watch me. If I signal you, slit her throat.”
“Yes, sir.”
From her point of view, her situation had improved. The man holding her was no Yates. His mind was easily influenced. She wondered if that had been Rendor’s plan all along.
Rendor was given a sword and Yates drew his. The guards cleared a space for the combatants, moving to the sides of the room. Rendor was in no condition to fight. This was suicide. She counted the people in the throne room. The prince, Yates, Timin, and fifteen guards—nineteen total. She’d influenced over twenty-five at one time, but then she hadn’t spent some of her energy. And they’d also have to escape this level afterwards. She suppressed those negative thoughts. Instead, she focused on the belief and faith that she could do it. Shyla had to gain control of this situation.
Except Rendor was holding his own. In fact, he looked rather nimble for someone who’d been beaten. The fight resembled the last one—brutal, intense, with minimal flourish. Yates also realized his opponent wasn’t as injured as he appeared. The captain changed his strategy, once again targeting Rendor’s old injuries.
Shyla drew in her strength. She had to stop everyone, then they’d find her parents, and she’d use thelook awaycommand to get them all free or she’d die trying.
Except Rendor grinned and countered Yates as if not bothered by the change in tactics. The momentum swung in Rendor’s favor. He snaked past Yates’ guard, side-stepped lunges, and was quicker overall. The number of cuts grew on Yates’ arms, torso, and thighs. And then Rendor increased the intensity of his attack. Within heartbeats he’d unarmed Yates and sent the captain to the ground with a massive blow to his temple. The crack reverberated in the dead silent room.
Shyla half expected the captain to get up. He had an extra thick skull after all, but the man remained unconscious on the floor.
