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Letting out a breath, I said one last prayer to the Three Kings and braced myself.
The wraiths were only a few lengths away now, and I yelled as loud as I could and charged. Before I could reach the group, a silver wolf leaped on the wraith's back, his movement strangely graceful as he tore the monster's limbs from its body in a series of efficient movements.
Another body mage joined him while the others attacked the other wraiths. In moments, the wraiths were nothing but lifeless shreds.
Kings above …
My eyes narrowed at the body mage pack, and I gripped my ax more tightly.
All the wraiths. Gone. In seconds.
These people were nothing like the body mages I hunted. I had no doubt these were practiced killers, and I stood no chance against them.
I would not be making it out of this cove alive.
I braced for their attack.
Glory to the kings. Someone else would have to stop the witch.
The silver wolf let out a long howl, and the Forsaken howled back as they ran up the path and into the forest.
All but one.
Kings' blessings! They were too confident. This one stood no chance alone.
The silver wolf shifted back to his human form, then patted down his white hair before stepping forward, hand outstretched, a wide smile on his lips. His deep brown eyes were bracketed with smile lines in such a familiar way it made me freeze.
What kind of game was this? And why did he look so … human?
Had I made another grievous assumption?
I'd thought they would be more twisted on the Isle. But these mages were no different from the mages I hunted in the Empire, though perhaps better at pretending sanity.
They could be dealt with just as easily, though.
Dropping into a fighting stance, I lifted my blade, preparing to strike while his guard was down.
"Calm yourself, friend," he chuckled, voice low and oddly calming. "We won't hurt you. I swear I'll explain everything at the stronghold."
Ha. I shook my head. He and his people were Forsaken — cursed by the gods. Their hearts corrupted and poisonous to all around them.
Of course they would hurt me!
"Truly, friend," he said again. "You can lower your weapon. You are safe."
I looked the white-haired man up and down. His pack wasn't trying to kill me for the moment, and I was alone on this Isle with no information beyond knowing the witch was here somewhere.
Perhaps it would behoove me to play along with whatever game this was? At least for now.
Maybe the Forsaken would even reveal something that could help me find the witch sooner …
Letting out a breath, I lowered my ax. It didn't seem as though it would do much good against him anyway.
The white-haired Forsaken looked over my shoulder, eyes going wide. "Japhire, wait!"
A sharp pain split my skull, and everything went dark.
Chapter 38
