Page 81 of The Infernal Battalion

“Winter, are you—”

There was blood spattered all over her, Leti’s and Yath’s and who knew who else’s. “I’m fine,” Winter said. “Yath’s hurt badly. Take Abraham to her as fast as you can.” She described the dead tree.

“I can run,” Abraham said. “My legs are doing better—”

“I can go faster,” Alex said flatly.

“I know.” Abraham looked a little green, but he nodded. “Go ahead.”

Alex put one arm around his waist. She raised her other hand, and a beam of darkness shot out into the forest, anchoring to a distant tree with a crunch. She took a running start, jumped, and let the beam contract, carrying her and Abraham high above the forest floor in a long arc. Another beam snapped out, pulling them farther along, and then they were out of sight, moving much faster than a sprint.

They’ll save her, if she can be saved. Winter’s legs wobbled, and then she was sitting. She was still breathing hard, and her lungs still burned.

Vess pushed forward, past the sentry and the other Haeta.

“What happened?” she demanded. “Where’re Leti and the others?”

Winter hesitated. She might kill me. At that moment, she couldn’t have said she would have begrudged Vess that. I made the decision. I took Leti along. My fault. It rang in her ears. Not just Leti but all the others, Bobby and Jane and names she’d shamefully forgotten. My fault.

“Dead,” Winter said. “The Murnskai... attacked us. Yath and I escaped, but the others...”

She shook her head and closed her eyes, waiting for the scream, the bright pain of a knife at her throat. My fault.

*

“Winter?” Alex’s voice.

Winter opened her eyes. Overhead was the battered canvas of her tent. She lay on her bedroll, curled up on her side. When she tried to stretch out, her abused muscles protested, cramping hard. Alex leaned over, looking worried, as Winter slowly forced her legs to straighten.

“Should I get Abraham?” Alex said. “He’s worn out, but—”

“I’m okay,” Winter panted. “Just... never run quite that far.” She closed her eyes. “What about Yath?”

“She’ll be fine. We got there in time.” Alex hesitated. “There were soldiers out by the gate, dragging... people inside. You’re certain none of the others might have...?”

“Yes,” Winter said. “I made sure, or I wouldn’t have left them there.”

“Of course,” Alex said quickly. “I’m sorry. Leti was... She seemed kind.”

“She was.” Kind, and young, and stupid enough to put her trust in me. Just like you. “What is Vess doing?”

Alex looked away. “You should rest.”

“Alex. Tell me.”

“She’s planning to attack the fortress,” Alex said.

Winter sat up abruptly, then doubled over, clutching her stomach as more cramps seized her.

“That’s crazy,” she coughed out. “There’s got to be a hundred men in there, and they’ll be on guard. She and the Haeta will be killed.”

“I know!” Alex said. “That’s what I told her. But she’s not listening to me anymore.”

“I have to talk to her.” Winter groped around the bedroll for her coat, breathing hard. “I—”

Alex put a hand on her shoulder. “Wait. At least a little while.” She got to her feet. “It’s at least two hours before sunset. I’m going to get Abraham, and we’ll see if he can help with your pain.”

Winter nodded wearily. I’m not going to be able to talk sense into Vess if I can’t stand up. She lay back down, slowly and carefully, while Alex slipped out of the tent. Distantly, she could hear raised voices, arguments in the Haeta language. She recognized Vess’ voice, cold and hard.