Page 231 (1/2)

"Draw the spikes out," the Guardian said

Starling shook his head but obeyed He pulled the heavyhow they tapered to a point and had pierced holes through the witch’s feet They were crusted and flaked with blood and flesh Cade pivoted around to dry heave, but he heard not a single cry froain, Starling hadher first tentative steps out of her cell Cade extended his hand to help her, but she brushed hi, shaky, but her expression showed no pain With each step she grew steadier, and did Cade’s eyes deceive him, or did her wounds and mutilations look lessintense? She left footprints of blood behind her, but that was because she had stepped through the puddles of blood left by the dead guards

She paused and pressed her hand to one of the damp walls, then withdrew it and touched her lips Dabbed her palue Cade moved to her side "Would you like water? I ah water"

Cade did not knohat to ination or had the turbines changed rhyther see any stitchof her body shihed aith each moment that passed

Cade placed Silk’s pistol in his waistband and removed his jacket He draped it over the witch’s shoulders She nodded to him and drew it close

Just then, the lift arrived at the other end of the corridor

"Trouble," the Guardian said, his sword held at the ready

Starling laughed "Your son’t help you this tirasped his pistol and aimed it toward the lift How accurate was it? How many would be in the lift? He had only the two shots He licked his lips and watched as the doors opened

Four members of the Scarlet Guard filed into the corridor They did not co predicted They were probably here just to change shift with their fellows It did not take the, however, to assess what lay before the to the floor to their rear, taking cover in the antechamber of the cell behind so down the corridor, sword raised The man was a maniac, if man he truly was beneath aruards pulled their first shots Cade fired and ood

Before the Guardian could reach the eneain, there was a change in the air Cade’s ears plugged up from the pressure A sharp histled past hiuards backward They slauns

The witch wove air with her hands, the bloody darkened wounds fro bands

The Guardian halted his charge to plaster hiainst the hile the wind roared past hiuards, stripped thean to strip theain, Cade averted his gaze, and it was so died The witch just stood there, her ar a scene at which Cade dared not look Starling was right about what they had unleashed

The Guardian returned and said "We o and an, he would brave the mess at the other end of the corridor

Back in the antecha climbed to his feet Too late, Cade spotted the flash of un he’d retrieved from one of the bodies He fired The Guardian’s body jerked backward, but he did not fall Cade could not seeain This tiered