He was a Solheart—and I’d seen him once before. This man had met with Quinn just before Tsuyan had been attacked.
His green-gold eyes gleamed in the night. Alistair—that had been his name.
"You should thank the prince," he said. "He saved your life."
"Why are you working with the guard?" I demanded. "I thought you wanted me to have Siotha."
"Quinn did," Alistair hissed. "We wanted Siotha—not you. I thought I'd give you a chance—see who won. You, or them." He leaned forward, blade grinding against mine. “Nazumi's commander thinks you’re working for us. Isn’t that fucking hilarious?”
We broke apart. A radiant blade came whirling toward my back. I darted out of its path, but it managed to catch me across the arm.
Hissing in pain, I stepped back, watching the magicked blade hover around Alistair as he thrust his steel sword forward and marched toward me.
Blood streamed down my arm where he'd cut me. My heart thundered against my ribs as he charged.
I blocked his strike with only one dagger, keeping the other free to intercept the radiant blade. It took everything I had to keep him at bay. With each assault, he drove me back.
"Quinn knew his choice would get you killed," Alistair yelled, swinging his sword at my side. I winced as I twisted my arm to block it. "Forlaith has made the rules to keep themselves in power. They won't let anyone step out of line. Because if they do?"
His radiant blade whirled around me, driving toward my lungs. I managed to swat it aside with my left dagger, but he swung toward my other side with his steel sword.
The flat of his blade slammed into my wrist, throwing me off balance. My back struck the roof tiles, and my right dagger flew from my grip.
Alistair stood above me, radiant sword floating at his side. "Their god, their superiority? It falls apart. And then they have to face how small they truly are." He raised his blade. "Sorry, kid. I'll make it quick."
I lifted my last dagger, but with the radiant sword singing in harmony with his blade, I wouldn't be able to block them both.
The emerald dragon soared over me, slamming into Alistair and throwing him back. A crevasse tore through the roof behind it, seeking the Solheart. A pillar of earth erupted from it and whipped toward Alistair, tip sharpening into a spear.
Alistair leaped away, and the stone spear struck the roof. Dust, smoke, and lightning filled the air, blocking my view.
Someone grabbed my shoulders. Their voice was far away.
"Diar?" Ferris pulled me up, and the world snapped back into clarity. "Are you okay?"
Agendra rushed past me, maul clutched in his hands. Coughing, I grabbed at Ferris and pulled myself up.
Blood streamed from his side and trickled from the corner of his mouth.
Doubling over, Ferris coughed. He covered his mouth with his hand. Blood coated his palm when he pulled it away.
Agendra marched across the roof, eyes searching the area. “Can you stand?" He asked.
“Yes.” I pressed my hand to my bleeding arm, and finally got a good look at Ferris’ wound.
A spear had punctured his side, just below his ribs. It tore an angry red line up to his shoulder. If he was coughing up blood, his attacker had struck something vital. He was bleeding inside, too.
“He needs a doctor,” I gasped.
Agendra grabbed Ferris’ arm and pulled him to his feet. “Come on, kid.” He turned to me. “The Solhearts’ still out there—stick close.”
I did, at first. I followed them back to the window and froze.
Alistair was still out there. But I’d learned something about him from that fight.
He was not the assassin in the smoke, the man who’d taken my brother’s life.
I’d let Quinn escape, and he’d stolen away with his secrets intact.
