A ball of fire would probably be safer than me and the giant bull’s-eye on my back.When the arrows started falling and women screamed, guilt tugged at me as I threw my arms over my head to protect myself from taking a bolt to the skull.
While I cared that the prisoners were taking blows meant for me, the guards didn’t as they unleashed another barrage of arrows.The field of unsuspecting innocents hadn’t done anything to deserve what was happening, yet many were falling beneath the arrows.
On my right side, two guards ran through the crowd with their swords drawn.Blood dripped from the blades they used to hack through the prisoners who weren’t fast enough to get out of their way.
When they were close enough to be a threat, I spun to face them.I braced my feet apart as something smashed into my back.
Staggered forward by the unexpected impact, I twisted to confront whatever hit me as a sharp pain cleaved through my side.Before I could see whoever was behind me, the tip of a blade burst out of my stomach.
CHAPTERSEVEN
Ellery
Scarlet swungher arms over the top of the guard’s head and cinched her chains around his neck.He staggered from her weight.
His free hand swung over his head as he tried to knock her off, but she dodged his blows as he spun in a circle.She clung like a burr as she pulled her hands closer together; his eyes bulged until they looked about to pop out of his head.
Desperate for air, he released his sword to claw at his neck.The chains had embedded themselves in his flesh.
When one of the other women lifted his sword, she turned it in her hands and held it away from her like it was the first time she’d ever touched such a weapon.It actually might have been.
Then she lifted her head and, with an angry shout, lunged forward and buried the blade in the guard’s belly.The man’s eyes rolled as spittle flew from his gaping mouth.
He forgot about the chains as he punched the woman in the face, knocking her back.The sword quivered in his belly.
I tugged against Ruby’s unrelenting hold, but she didn’t release me.Instead, she gave me the universal look of all mothers who were displeased with their child.
The one that made heads duck, shoulders come up, and children scamper to do as told.The one that halted me in my tracks as a kid.
Ruby wasn’t my mother; I’d lost mine at the earl’s ball and would forever bear the hole her passing had torn through my heart, but Ruby had helped raise me.She’d yelled at me when I was wrong, cuddled me when I was hurt, fed me, listened to me, and been ever-present throughout my life.
As I grew older, she became more of a friend than a mother figure, but beneath the ferocity of her stare, I felt every bit like a child again.
“You’re no good to anyone if you’re captured or dead,” she told me.
I understood that but hated standing here while others fought to freeme.They were all here because Ivan had been determined to get his hands onme.
They’d already suffered enough; I couldn’t let it continue.“I can help.”
“You’ll help more once those chains are off.”
The twang of numerous bowstrings and the loud whistle of arrows drew my attention as the guards released another volley at the crowd.Screams resonated throughout the day—a day that didn’t fit all this suffering.
The skies should be stormy and full of ominous black clouds.Instead, it was a clear, azure blue; the only clouds in it were two white puffs as threatening as a puppy.
Amsirah ran from the lethal arrows; they pushed and shoved against us.Elbows found their way into my ribs and dug into my back.Hands caught in my loosening braid as Ruby and I were pushed further away from Scarlet and Ryker.
We planted our feet, but that didn’t do much good against the masses fleeing the death hunting them.Unwilling to be separated, we held onto each other as we resisted the surge.
Crack!Many of those around me stopped pushing and shoving as they tried to ascertain what made that sound and which way they should go to avoid this new hazard.
A creaking sound followed the crack, and the stage shifted to the left.It hung there on the precipice of toppling.
Many of the guards on it scrambled toward the stairs while others grabbed poles.Gaius clung to one of those poles as the wood groaned before plunging from view.
The crowd gasped, and some of the men leapt off the stage to avoid riding it down.Dust and dirt billowed into the air as the stage collapsed.
The ground shook beneath my feet.A hush hung over the field for a second, and then a cheer started from somewhere within the massive group of women.
