Demon Slave (Shadow Quest Book 2) (33 page)

“
Why didn’t you tell me about your gift?”

Nadua hesitated. “Well, at first I wasn’t sure that what I was seeing was part of my gift. I had never seen anyone’s past before, only useless bits of their futures. Actually, I feared I was losing my gift altogether until you came along. I hadn’t had a vision in years.”

“
Why do you think that is?”

“
I can only imagine that it has something to do with our physical closeness. Before you, Ava was the last person I had real contact with. She would cry for me to carry her around when she was very little. I always made sure I was covered, but one time she reached for my face, and her finger grazed my cheek. I didn’t realize the connection then, but I had a vision of her that same night. It was one of the last.”

His fingers trailed up and down her spine. “What did you see?”

“
I saw her grown, sitting on her father’s throne, her people bowing. She looked beautiful and determined. A few months later her father died, and left me in charge. I wanted to make sure Ava had that future. I never told her about it though. Just because I see it, doesn’t mean it will happen. Everything is changeable.”

Outside the door, a few loud steps hurried past, followed by muffled voices that quickly died away.

Marik hated to ask the next question, but his curiosity was too much. “What about Cyrus?”

“
What about him?”

“
Did you see his future after you...touched?”

“
Oh. Yeah, I did.” Her brow furrowed. “I remember it was too fuzzy to make out. I thought it must have been of something in his distant future, but when he
died
I forgot all about it.”

More voices came from outside. Marik recognized a note of distress.

Nadua sat up to listen. “Something’s happening.”

Another rush of footsteps marched past the door.

They were out of bed and already half-dressed when someone pounded on the door. Through it came Rex’s voice. “There’s a battle outside! The other tribe is attacking!”

In a flurry, Nadua was out the door, her gown still loose.

“
Nadua! Wait!” Marik called, frantically searching for his other boot.

Rex poked his head in. “Do we fight?”

* * *

Bursting into her room, Nadua rushed to switch her gown for the new furs. She stuffed her feet into the tall boots, pulling them up to her thigh and yanking the straps close. Then she threw on the snug cloak before bolting into the hall.

Cyrus was downstairs, dressed for war and directing his soldiers one way, and women and children the other.

Nadua approached him. “Cyrus, what’s happening?”

“
The rebels are here. They’ve never attacked like this before.”

“
Have they made it inside?”

“
No, we’ve pushed them back on the hill. But they have a Kaiylemi with them.”

Nadua cursed. “I need a sword, a bow, and a dagger.”

Cyrus pointed to an already half-emptied shallow storage room. “Check in there.”

Marik was behind her as she picked though the weapons. “What do you think you’re doing? You’re not going out there.”

“
Of course I am,” she said, checking the balance of a sword that looked to be just her size.

“
My job is to keep you safe, not let you run out into battle to get yourself killed.”

“
Despite what you think, I’m not helpless.”

Marik sighed. “I know you’re not helpless, but you don’t need to fight. These aren’t your people.”

She strapped a quiver on her back and pulled out a decent looking bow. “After so long, the Cyrellians are more my people than the Faieara. Ava is family, and Cyrus is my dearest friend. Those rebels would hurt them both if they could.” Rummaging through the rows of blades, she mumbled under her breath, “Dagger, dagger.”

Marik held something out in front of her. She plucked the holster from him and pulled the knife out to study it. Sharp. Good hold. The sheath included straps to wrap around her thigh.

“
Perfect.” She gazed up at him in apprehension.

“
Stay near me and only use the bow if possible.” Marik snatched two heavy broadswords.

“
Fine, let’s go.”

The great hall was nearly empty now. Rex was waiting for them by the exit. “Cyrus went on ahead.”

Marching down the hall, Marik handed him a sword and muttered, “Don’t let anyone near her.”

* * *

Marik’s nerves were like sandpaper against stone. His instincts were screaming to drag Nadua in the opposite direction. But the people she considered important were in danger and he didn’t want her leaving here with the kind of guilt that plagued him.

As they traveled toward the exit, guards allowed them to pass, shutting and re-barring heavy gates behind them. They traveled through three such barriers before reaching the mouth of the cave. He hadn’t noticed the cave was so fortified before.

Beyond the exit was a roaring frenzy of bodies and steel.

Rex grunted. “They all look the same to me. How can we tell them apart?”

Marik squinted through the melee, searching for a familiar face, but he hadn’t exactly spent a lot of time getting to know any of them.

“
It’s easy.” Nadua elbowed her way past them. “Whoever comes after me is our enemy.” Then she loaded her bow and let her arrow fly. One less rebel.

Magnificent.

* * *

Between the hundreds of azure bodies and endless white hills wove strips of red, increasing by the second. Battle cries mixed in the air alongside screams of agony.

Eye on her next target, Nadua sent another arrow into the fray. Then three more, all perfect shots.

Next to her, Marik cheered, “That’s my girl.”

A corner of her mouth turned up.

Five men were climbing the hill toward them. Two wielded axes, and the other three gripped the hilts of their swords. The scowls on their faces were aimed at her, but they continued to give threatening glances at the demons beside her. The intelligence in their eyes showed they realized they would need to get past the demons before they could touch her.

Marik unsheathed his sword and rushed to meet them, calling back at Rex, “Stay with her in case they get by me.”

Rex had his steel ready.

Marik launched himself at the closest foe, slicing a red stripe across his chest. The next was on his heels, swinging his ax overhead. With unmitigated power, he knocked the weapon out of the way and the tip of his blade slipped through the thick flesh of the Cyrellian’s throat.

Nadua would have loved to watch him rip the group of rebels apart, but a second group came at them from the side. Rex engaged the two in front, their blades clanging with heavy grunts.

Another slipped past, wildly swinging his sword. Nadua ducked and dodged, giving herself time to drop the bow and unsheathe her sword. Their metal clashed. The Cyrellian rebel had power in his swing, but she could tell he wasn’t the greatest swordsman. She easily danced away from his every attempt.

Down the slope, sounds of battle grew thunderous. More rebels poured out from behind the trees. She was sure her group was outnumbered.

Finding her opening in the man’s poor fighting style, Nadua dodged again and then sliced cleanly through his neck. His head flopped to the side and he fell to the snow.

Rex was down to one foe. The others lay motionless on the ground. As the Cyrellian whirled his blade forward, Rex’s arm whipped out to stop it in midair, then drove his broadsword up through the man’s stomach. Bloody metal punched through his back. A gurgling sound left the man before he dropped. Rex kicked the lifeless body away before returning to Nadua.

She turned toward Marik who was marching to rejoin them, five bodies piled at his back. Nadua gave him a relieved smile that faded as the ground began to rumble.

For a fraction of a second, all fighting stopped in silent wonder. With a terrible screeching sound, thick shafts of ice sprouted from beneath the field. Nadua stepped forward, scanning for the Kaiylemi.

Without warning, the ground at her feet shifted, throwing her off balance. Falling to her hands and knees, she tried to right herself, as a solid circle of land began to lift her in the air. Nadua snatched her bow before it fell off the newly created edge.

Soon she was looking over the entire battlefield, on an unsteady pillar. Marik’s angry bellow grew dimmer the higher she went.

Nadua pulled to her feet. Using her arrow as her line of sight and rolling her gaze over the onslaught, she sneered under her breath, “Where are you, you bastard?”

A Kaiylemi had to be close enough to see everything—that was the only way he could work his magic—and they were always guarded. Following the edge of the forest, she noticed a small assembly of stationary soldiers, watching but not participating.

The pillar started to sway to one side. It was still growing. She stowed her bow and arrow and reached for her dagger. Leaning over the edge, a thick gulp stuck in her throat.

* * *

Marik and Rex struggled to keep the swarm of Cyrellians away from the shaft of ice that held Nadua.

The horde was relentless, and worked as if they were of one mind. They aimed to hack at its base and bring her down. The fall would kill her.

Marik felt the Edge overtake him, and invited the surge of strength it brought.

Their Cyrellian allies rushed to help, slaughtering rebels as they went. Marik spotted Cyrus fighting to hold the enemy back. His technique was masterful and, for the first time, Marik was glad Cyrus cared so much for his mate.

When the pillar tilted, Marik let out a pained cry as fear spiked through him. Then he saw Nadua edge to the sloping side, and his heart nearly stopped. She was going to try to slide down.

She stabbed her dagger into the ice, and proceeded to make a swift and purposeful descent. Her feet, one in front of the other, led the way as the small blade cut a line down the face.

Marik yelled to Rex and Cyrus, “Make room!”

Their jaws dropped when they spotted her. Then they came together to push back the crowd and open a space for her.

“
Marik!” she called, landing with a soft thud. Her bow was at the ready and she dispatched two rebels in seconds. She turned to him and pointed in the distance. “The Kaiylemi is there, beyond the trees. We need him taken out if we are to win this.”

Marik looked over the carnage. Spikes of ice were sprouting up, taking out Cyrus’ people.”

“
All this is done by only one?”

She nodded. “I believe so.”

“
Rex, stay with Nadua.”

“
No, take Rex with you. You’ll be crossing the entire battlefield.” Her voice was high with panic.

“
He stays with you.”

“
I’ll be fine without him.”

“
I’ll go with Marik,” Cyrus offered.

Nadua glanced between the two of them. Swallowing hard, she nodded. But before letting them go, she threw her arms around Marik and brought him down for a fierce kiss. “Don’t die, okay?”

Marik grunted. “You, either.” He shot Rex a look that promised pain if he let anything happen to her. Then he and Cyrus started down the hill at a brisk pace, carving their way through the melee.

The fallen bodies were so many that Marik couldn’t keep from stepping on them. As for the ones that were still moving, Marik was unable to differentiate between Cyrus’ people and the rebels, so whoever was bold enough to make a move at him died. There seemed no steel left on his sword, only deep red liquid that dripped a trail beside him.

Cyrus was gathering a following. Some of his men must have deduced they were trying to cross and were helping to make a path. Ice shards sprang up around them, but there was a detectable grinding sound before they sprouted and Marik was able to dodge out of the way.

An ax wielder ran for him, swinging brazenly. Baring his fangs, Marik shoved his sword through the man’s right eye. The other eye rolled to the sky. Marik took his blade back, and continued on his way.

The soldiers at the edge of the forest noticed their approach and braced for battle. In an instant, all ice manipulation ceased. Two hefty Cyrellians came forward to block them, while the others moved deeper into the forest.

Escaping.

With his men holding their backs, Cyrus lunged for the soldier on the right. Marik took the one on the left. Sparks flared as metal bit into metal. Marik ducked a wide swing and, going to his knee, countered with a thrust into the man’s shin. His assailant screamed but didn’t falter, and brought his blade down on Marik. A loud clang sounded as Marik blocked it just before the sharp edge became intimate with his skull.

* * *

Nadua cried out. Marik was on one knee, with a rebel trying to drive his sword into him. But she had her own problems to worry about. A large group of rebels were fighting their way toward them, and she was running low on arrows. Rex was amazing at keeping them from her, but he couldn’t go on forever.