Thesoldiers exchanged glances as their hands gripped the hilts of their weapons.Itightened my hold onPallasuntilIfelt her wheeze;Itried not to enjoy it. “Wewant safe passage back to the ship.”Imoved to the side.
Theleader’s eyes followed me, and he stepped away from the others, who kept their eyes onAvlyn. “Youthink you are getting off this beach alive?” he chuckled.
Iglared at him. "Wecan make this easy or very, very messy.Yourcall."
Hewalked towards me again until we were only a sword’s distance apart.Pallaswas my only shield from his blade.Helaughed again, and all the soldiers drew their weapons.Wewere outnumbered, so we had to play dirty.
Pallasslammed her elbow into my gut much harder thanIthought she could.Ireleased my grip, and she ran. “Helpme!Saveme!”Thegroup all turned to track her, and it was just enough.Iclosed the distance between the enemyand me, cracking my fist against his bare cheek.Hestaggered, andItried to wrestle the sword from his grip.
“Now,Jun!”Iscreamed.
Asingle, clear note rang out over the beach, echoing off the cove’s walls.Everyonewas caught in his song except for me.Ipulled the sword from the leader’s hand.Jun’svoice broke, and with it, the spell was lifted.Withmy next breath,Isliced the fae’s neck before he could recover.Ihad counted on more time.Avlynwas outnumbered.
Juncoughed inAvlyn’sarms as the soldiers ran at them.Pallasthrew herself onto the back of one, pulling him down.Itwas stupid, butIdidn’t have time to worry about her or be grateful.Therewas shouting coming from the boat.AvlynthrewJunaside and blocked a strike as best they could with the small dagger.Iclosed the distance between us, striking the nearest soldier right at the seam of his armor at the back of the knee.Itwas not a lethal hit, but it was enough to incapacitate.
Weengaged the three standing men as best we could.Avlynstill had armor, so they used their body to block me, butIheard them grunt as the enemies’ blades found their mark.
ThesoldierPallastackled hit her, andIcringed as she fell.Shecaught herself like someone trained in combat.Orsomeone trained in pain,the thought ran through my mind.
Hittingthe ground running, she dashed towards the ocean’s edge with the soldier giving chase.Therewas no escape, and she stumbled on the wet sand.Pallas’ legs were kicked out from under her, and she crumpled.Iwas too far away;Iwouldn’t make it in time.Thesoldier raised his sword.Hereyes widened.Ihad seen that look before, the fear laced with acceptance that there was no way out.Sheclosed her eyes, but a great wave suddenly crashed over the man, knocking him to the ground.Beforehe could get his bearings and rise back up,Avlynclosed the distance and skewered him.
Idanced through the soldiers, landing strikes whereIcould on any exposed portion of their bodies.Igrabbed the sword of the man whose kneeIhad struck and tossed it atAvlynwith my bad arm; pain radiated throughout my muscles.Thesword flew too far to the left.
Avlynscrambled for the weapon, and a soldier raised a blade overhead.Iran into his body at full speed, knocking both of us over in a mess of limbs and swords.Herolled onto me, his armor cutting into my very unprotected body, and slammed his fist into my face untilItasted blood, scrambling for my sword, and grabbed it from the sandy beach.
Istruck the side of the soldier’s helmet with the pommel.Itshocked him enough to free myself and avoid another swing.Avlynstruck the man’s back, and he went still.Avlynhelped me up, andIhad just a second to see that we were very fucked.Threeinjured soldiers remained, but each drew their sword and took a fighting stance.Threemore small boats were being lowered from the main ship, all full of reinforcements.
Avlynstepped in front of me, their sword at the ready. “Ihave these fuckers.HelpJun.Withouthim, we won’t stand a chance.”
Idashed to my brother’s side asAvlyn’sswords clashed with their opponents.Pallashad her hand on his back as he continued to cough.
“Tori,I’msorry.Ican’t.It’slike he still has me.Thepain…” he coughed again; this time, it came out more ragged.
Iplaced my hand over his heart and stared into his dark slate eyes.Itwas like looking in a mirror. “It’salways been you and me against the world.Wedo this together,Jun.”
Ireached into the earth with my mind.Themagic was waiting for me.Butan even stronger pull came to me from the sea.Themagic there was deep, primordial, and much more vicious.Ipulled at just a thread and felt itsink intoJun.Immediately, his coughing stopped.Ifelt the shadow that still lay over his throat and sent the magic there to wash away the ghost of his collar.Theocean’s power snapped it up in one great wave.
Butmore shadows remained.Ianalyzed his body with the magic, and whenIreached his heart, pain laced through my soul at whatIfound.Shadowswere etched into every nook.Withevery beat, his heart strained against their control.Theyhad made themselves at home.Thiswas not somethingIcould wash away without destroyingJun.Ididn’t think any magic could.
Ipulled the ocean’s magic back, trying to turn it from a vicious thing into a soft caress.Itwas impossible.Thesea didn’t want to be contained.So,Ilet it go, and instead reached for that same feeling inside my own heart.Ipulled a small amount of my own life out, just a thread, but it left me weak.Iwrapped it gently aroundJun’sheart.Itdidn’t remove the shadows or even touch them, butIhoped it would make them easier to bear.
Heopened his mouth, and a pure note escaped.EvenIwas entranced by its beauty.Thesoldiers on the beach fell to their knees, awe plastered on their faces.Wehad unlocked something, andAvlyn,Pallas, andIwere still free.Avlyn, ever the soldier, didn’t hesitate to end our enemies.
Ifinally took a breath, but it was stolen almost immediately.Thesoldiers on the boats still approached, unfazed.
“Theyplugged their ears;Iwatched them do it,”Pallassaid.
“Andthat would work?Thisis magic we’re talking about.”Avlynwas panting, but they still held their fighting stance.
“Itseems so,”Iresponded, gently releasingJun.Hisface was pale as he stopped singing.
“Whatdo we do now?”Pallasasked in a strained voice.Atiny smile crossed her lips. “Don’ttell meIchose the losing side.”
“Notthe most appropriate time to reveal a sense of humor,Pallas.”
“Seemslike it might be the last chanceIhave.”
Iplaced a hand onAvlyn’sshoulder. “Whatabout your magic?Theyare still on the water.”
