Page 51 of Of Kings and Thieves

Having vaulted over several piles of timber, I had successfully drawn him away from Scarlet. At last, I sprang onto a toppled landing that teetered under my weight, but it provided the necessary distance from the orc, preserving my life for a few more moments. Unfazed, the orc pursued me, using his size to his advantage and driving me backward. My only option was to block and parry, each move more desperate than the last.

I was hemmed in by the surrounding debris. The certainty of being crushed against the wall loomed, and I knew that if he managed to pin me, my fate would be sealed.

I didn’t know what to do, but then Col’s voice floated through my head. Don’t get dead.

Instead of sidestepping the orc’s next swing, I dove straight under it, thrusting my sword upward. The blade slid through his leather armor with a direct hit, eliciting a piercing scream from the orc.

Col, Killian, and Magnus were yelling, and I registered that they were all still alive, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off the opponent in front of me. I shoved the sword in to the hilt, but the orc kept coming, driving me backward. His momentum took us toward the edge of the platform, where splintered timbers jutted up like spears.

I rolled, and he twisted to reach me. My blade snapped, the orc fell, and then there was a terrible crunch. The orc struggled feebly, his body impaled on the wooden timbers. He wasn’t dead, yet, but he wasn’t going anywhere, either. His dagger had fallen at my feet, and I picked it up.

Breathing hard and trying not to think about what had just happened, I hurried back to Scarlet. It was growing dark, and everything looked dim within the tower.

A figure was clambering over the wooden pile toward Scarlet, a short, stocky orc who wore less armor than the first. One minute, the orc was preparing to jump on the injured woman, and the next he was falling back with a scream, my borrowed dagger through his neck.

At first I thought Scarlet had passed out again, but she was fighting it, biting back on what must have been agony. Blood was still leaking out of her mouth and wounds, but I knew better than to try to remove the arrows, having seen people bleed out from just such a scenario.

“A sword…” she repeated, opening her hand feebly.

“You look like a pincushion. I don’t think you need to be fighting anybody.”

I gripped the hilt of my broken sword in my hand, ready to use it on anything else that came over the wood pile.

Magnus and Killian were fighting two big orcs that dwarfed the men in size, even Magnus, and the orc mage was dead by the door. But I couldn’t find Col. His presence thrummed through the bond, but until I saw him uninjured, I couldn’t rest. I crawled over the first layers of debris to get a better view, but sprang back when another small orc surprised me.

He leaped up in front of me, and without thinking, I stabbed him through the bare chest with my broken blade. He hadn’t been paying attention, and when the blade went through, he gave a grunt of surprise before he stumbled back. I tried to pull my sword away, but it caught on bone and was yanked out of my hand as the orc fell.

“Col!” I called. Then I heard shouts, and through the dim doorway saw him come through, as if his fight had taken him outside. He ran toward the largest orc, which Magnus and Killian were now fighting, and between the three of them, they brought it down.

No other orcs were coming through now, but the men turned around, looking for more enemies. There were none, save for the corpses now covering the floor.

We had won.

Magnus climbed over the debris toward Scarlet. Col followed and hugged me. His heart was beating fast, and I felt just as relieved at seeing him alive as I think he did me.

“We have to remove those arrows,” Killian said from where he leaned over Scarlet, “and quickly. She’s fading.”

Magnus assisted Killian, leaving no room for anyone else. I stepped into the doorway to get some fresh air. Behind me, Scarlet screamed, and I cringed. The next time they pulled out an arrow she fainted, and I felt guilty at the relief of not having to listen to any more of those cries of anguish.

“You were amazing, Samara,” Col said, coming up beside me and pulling me into him again. I savored the feeling of his body against mine, his familiar scent, his gentle kisses on my forehead. We were both covered in blood, but we were alive.

“What’ll happen to the orc bodies?” I asked.

“We leave them. They should be burned, but we can’t risk the fire or smoke. We’ll find another part of the castle to rest in tonight.” Then he put his hands on my face and lifted my chin to him. How are you?

I wasn’t sure yet, but I didn’t want to worry him. I smiled. I’ll be all right.

Col took my hands and raised them to scrutinize my palms. You’re injured.

I hadn’t noticed the cuts on my hands, didn’t even feel them or know how they had got there.

“Once Killian is done with Scarlet, I’ll have him tend to you.”

I shrugged. “I can take care of it.”

“I know you can. But let someone else take care of you this time. You are exhausted.”

I pulled out of his arms. “No more exhausted than any of you. Don’t treat me like I’m some pretty maiden who’s been pampered all her life.”

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