Page 121 (1/2)

Death

32

VALEK

Valek kept tight control of his e theht be able to break through toto Ari, Janco and Leif to forers standing shoulder to shoulder Must be friends

Just as he raised a hand to signal go, torches blazed to life, illu the area beyond their circle Moreoff their escape route Ah, hell

He htened So must have tipped Bruns off, and he’d been ready for the his iic, he never would have been a to his ribs, chest and back, and the blows to his head clouded his thoughts

The ring of soldiers parted, and Bruns strode into view He held a crossboith a bolt already loaded Pure fury radiated from every muscle of his body This wouldn’t be pretty

"I don’t kno you ed to disobeyhis weapon at her

Valek shifted his weight, preparing to push Yelena out of the bolt’s path He’d gladly be skewered in her place

"Loopholes," Yelena said with a calm voice

"What?" Bruns asked

"That’s how Loopholes in your orders gaveme this, I won’t kill you?"

"You need me You knoill double-cross you"

"No No e er and squeezed

Valek tackled Yelena as a sudden gust of wind blew through the garrison Bruns’s shot fleide and slaround with a cry of pain Yelena struggled to go to her friend, but Valek pinned her down, covering as much of her body as he could with his own

"Stay put," Valek said to her "Bruns is reloading"