His eyes narrowed.‘I don’t believe you.’
I shrugged.‘What would be the point of lying?Like I said before, let us out, and I won’t hurt anyone else,’ I offered.
‘I opened the gate for you, what more do you want?’Merrick asked, waving a hand around.‘I guess I could even things up.You have what – four and a half people?’More laughter.
‘I have one hundred.’Merrick motioned to a robed man beside him to put down his bow and then nodded towards us.The man lifted the hem of his black robe and climbed onto the stone-block edge.Without hesitation, he stepped off the wall and plummeted to the ground, his body hitting the cobblestones with a sickening thud.
‘There!Now we only have ninety-nine.’No-one laughed this time.
The shocking disregard he had for the lives within his own brotherhood compelled me to bring an end to this farce.I brought Nightmare forward, looking down at the fallen man and then at every man whose eyes I could see.
‘This is who you follow?’I demanded angrily at the unyielding knights and robed men.‘A man who has no respect for the life of his people?You are nothing more than puppets he uses to spread his delusions!’How were they so blind to his evil?
‘Save your breath.’Merrick spat the words at me.‘These men know their souls belong to the light.The sacrifices they make in this life will be rewarded in the next.’
So, this is how he gained control and power over these men’s lives.If Merrick’s soul was light, then mine must truly be dark.
Merrick was safe for now, standing on the high wall glaring down at me.One day that would change, and I would gladly be the one to show him to the underworld instead.
‘I’m tired of you.It’s time to end this.’Merrick signalled his men with a raised hand, and they drew back their bowstrings.
Darkness clawed at my mind as I willingly opened the door for a second time tonight.And the shadows responded.
The first arrow halted a fraction away from piercing me between the eyes.Dozens of feathered arrows paused, hovering in the air before us.They quivered, fighting against the shadowy fingers that held them back.
I raised my hands in focus as I pictured the arrows turning.The arrows – ash-wood shafts and iron heads – resisted against my unnatural power.
A bead of sweat trickled down the side of my face despite the cold night.Thismustwork … or the deadly points would find those who waited behind me.The arrows shuddered, turning everso slowly.I thought about the lives in my hands, and my determination powered the Darkness.
The moment the first arrow completed its turn, the others followed.All arrows were now facing the path they had travelled from.
‘Who are you?!’Merrick roared.
‘The Cursed One!’I screamed, followed by a clap of my hands.The arrows flew back at the men who had released them.Chaos erupted as the arrows hit their targets, and men in black robes began tumbling off the wall.
‘Go!’I yelled and rode for the gate, drawing my sword and using it on anyone who got in my way.The few knights on the ground scattered, trying to avoid both my deadly swings and the bodies falling from above.The others rode close to me as we raced towards the open gate.While I hacked my way through, Tomas and Finn were shooting arrows at those I missed.
The glint of a helmet caught my attention as a knight raced on foot to release the wheel that would bring the gate down.He would reach the gate before us unless I stopped him.I only hoped I was close enough.It took some effort to summon the Darkness again, so I focused solely on the knight’s legs.
I thought it wasn’t working, that I wasn’t close enough.Then he halted an arm’s length away from the pulley securing the gate wheel.He looked down at his legs – his helmet hid his face, but it didn’t dull his scream as his legs turned to ash beneath him.
Nightmare leaped over what remained of the knight and the others followed me through the open gate.
‘Tomas!’
‘Got it!’He drew back his arm, shooting an arrow at the pulley.His aim was perfect, slicing the rope and sending the gate clattering down behind us as we rode frantically into the night.
CHAPTER 34
We didn’t stop until we were sure no-one was behind us.Thanks to Merrick’s overconfidence, no horsemen were ready to make chase, and it would take them time to raise the gate again.
‘Holy stars!We did it!Well, you did it … What exactly was that?’Finn was as euphoric as the rest of us.
I thought about the arrows.I didn’t know how I did the things I did.It was almost as if I’d done them before and the Darkness was just another limb to move, stretch and strengthen.
Our relief was short-lived.‘We need to keep riding and get as much distance as possible between us and them,’ Tomas said resolutely.
He was right.It wouldn’t be long before Merrick and the king regrouped and ordered soldiers to hunt us down.As we headed towards Danu, my mind went to Torgrin and Cillian.If our good fortune continued, Torgrin had succeeded, and they would be behind us soon.
