I follow as the two men lead the way, hugging close to the edge of the wall and navigating to the west side. As we move, I can see the watch towers in the distance. So close but rendered useless today, apparently.
“Stop!”
A voice. I recognise that voice.
I want to run ahead, but mybrotherjumps ahead and blocks my path, and his two accomplices turn to box me in.
“This wasn’t in the schedule,” he mutters.
Calix, Crimson and two other Warriors, the weapons and the black dress giving them away, approach from the direction we were travelling. What are they doing here? I look for Ten, but he’s not with them.
Calix takes point, and I watch as he looks over me before assessing the three men surrounding me. “You good, Ever?”
“Calix, he still has magic. Be careful. He killed Micah, and he—” One of the men smothers a hand over my mouth, stopping me from giving any further warnings.
“Oh, I think the odds look fairly even.” Calix shrugs, ignoring my warning. But I know what it felt like to have everything seize and stop. Even Calix won’t last two minutes.
“I was expecting the other one. But you’ll do.”
two
. . .
Ever
“Did you notice that it’s five against three?”
“I did. Now let her go,” Calix presses.
“I don’t think you understand. Don’t worry. You will.” Mybrotherturns to both my captors. “Hold her and don’t let her go under any circumstances.”
They both nod, increasing their grip on me. I feel nothing except for the pressure digging into my flesh, so I have to assume they’re Kirrian and are bound by the rules of Aslendrix’s magic—a small relief.
Calix and mybrotherstart to circle, with Crimson and the two Warriors heading straight for me. She pulls a blade and aims for the one on my left, with his hand still smothering my face.
But her strike never reaches her target. She stops, midway in her attack, a graceful and deadly statue.
Her eyes flare wide as realisation dawns on her. She looks right at me, and I try to wrangle myself free, but their hold on me doesn’t budge.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. I did warn you. But I’m willing to give you another chance. How about just you and me?” He taunts Calix and grins at the ruin he’s caused Crimson and her fellow Warriors, who are also still as statues.
In any other fight, Calix would have every advantage, but this isn’t a usual fight. He’s up against an unknown who still wields power when he is without his. That doesn’t seem to stop him.
“You have my attention.” Gone are the shrugs and his usual casual demeanour, and I think that’s the most worrying. I’ve never seen Calix so serious. His stance is still, tension radiating from every muscle, and all I can do is hope.
“If you still want Ever, you’ll have to take her from me. I’ll give you a fair fight.” Mybrothergestures towards me.
“I’m pretty fucking sure you don’t know the meaning of the word.” Calix doesn’t take his eyes from his opponent.
“Well, that’s your risk, not mine.”
I open my mouth and bite down on the man’s hand, which releases the hold he has over my face. “Don’t do it, Calix!” I shout, before my tongue is stilled for me.
The distraction is all Calix needs, and he charges for the man between him and me. He launches into an attack, landing a combination of punches that cause mybrotherto stumble back a step.
Calix doesn’t wait and follows up with a kick to mybrother’sleg, a move I’ve seen him do several times, before he drops low, swiping his own leg out in an arc, connecting and knocking him off balance.
For a moment, it looks like Calix has the upper hand, until he pulls at mybrother’sshirt to lift his head and go in for another punch, but mybrotherjabs with the heel of his hand, connecting to Calix’s jaw. The impact throws Calix back, and he looks dazed for a moment.
