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Frentis nodded to the others and slipped fro closer under concealment of a low pile of blackened bricks, no ate
“A revolt, Honoured Citizen!” Thirty-Four said to the sergeant, an i his voice “Please! Oh please!”
“Shut up,” the sergeant said wearily, , ave you that? Give it here!”
“Certainly, honoured sir,” Thirty-Four said as the sergeant reached for his sword, drawing it in a single fluidthe blade across the man’s eyes Thirty-Four stepped ni and clutching at his face, killing a Varitai with a thrust to the neck then turning and running Six Varitai took off in pursuit, one falling dead with Frentis’s throwing knife in his throat, two more quickly hacked down by Davoka and Draker
Frentis hefted a spear dropped by the Varitai he had killed, hurling it at his onrushing coh force to pierce his breastplate Thirty-Four skidded to a halt, pivoted and delivered a precise cut to the leg of the Varitai chasing hi the slave soldier as he fell
“Stay close!” Frentis ordered, scooping up a fallen blade and charging for the gate, a sword in each hand The five re Varitai formed a tidy defensive knot, impassive faces behind levelled spears Frentis threw his left-hand sword at the one in the centre, the blade sinking into his face just beneath his helht, the othersin to finish those he wounded A pain-filled yell drew his gaze and he found Draker on his back, parrying thrusts froash on his forehead Davoka moved to help hi under the Varitai’s guard to stab at his groin, spoiling the acco the slave soldier doith a series of frenzied blows, obscenities flowing froate,” Frentis told Davoka,to the parapet He found two Free Swords there, youthful faces aghast at the carnage they had witnessed below, pointing their swords at hiht or run,” Frentis told them in Volarian “You’ll die today in either case”
They ran, sprinting away across the parapet without a backward glance “Tell your comrades the Red Brother’s here!” Frentis yelled after the to pull a torch from a stanchion He hopped onto the battle into the misted fields beyond the walls A few heartbeats later he saw it, a single torch flaring to life, burning brighter as the bearer cahts resolved out of the allop Banders was clearly visible at the head of the tight colu sun, Arendil and Erate without pause, the clatter of steel-shod hooves on cobbles rising to a deafening pitch as they charged along Gate Lane A few Varitai cale co smashed aside by the tide of horse and steel
“Brother!” Frentis looked down fro Ivern there, mounted, with Frentis’s horse at his side “The Blackhold awaits!”
• • •
The squat fortress was already in uproar when they got there, two Varitai lying dead at the ht their way into the courtyard asfrom a maze of shadowed doorways,none of the cowardice of their comrades on the wall Sollis took his brothers up the stairs and into the upper levels, clearing the archers fro their own arron on the defenders below
Frentis led his co the only , but all destined to die He was e from a storeroom when a Kuritai appeared out of the shadoin short swords flashing Frentis parried his first blow but slipped on a patch of blood, tu abovethen falling dead when a crossbow bolt punched through his breastplate
“Not like you to be so clumsy, brother,” Illian observed froarbled somewhat by the bolt held between her teeth as she braced the crossbow against herback
He was about to tell her to join Brother Sollis on the parapet but found his attention drawn to a co from a half-open door at the rear of the courtyard He went to it, finding a set of steps leading into the bowels of the Blackhold He called to Davoka to follow and took the stairs at a run At the base of the steps he found a dead Free Shat appeared to be steel darts embedded in both eyes; beside hiled City Guard uniform, bloodied sword in hand and belly rent open
In the chamber beyond the stairwell lay three Varitai, steel darts jutting fro with a burly Free Sword, blood strea from her nose and eyes as he forced her to her knees, short sword inching towards her throat Frentis drew his sword back for a throw but Illian was faster, sending a bolt into the Volarian’s te his blade to bear
The wo on her lips as she issued a groan of near-complete exhaustion Frentis hauled the corpse away and helped her upright, finding her eyes still bright despite the paleness of her skin “My brother” she whispered