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Back and forth didn’t free it, and Joe had no idea how to clear the old gun

Out on the wall, two o,” Joe said “We’re about to be flanked”

• • •

KURT CROSSED the dry , where he found a stairway He rushed up three flights and caoda As he stepped froh the ai

r toward his head He ducked at the last second and the blade cut a chunk out of the wall behind him

Surging toward the attacker and using the crossbow as a battering ra with Akiko He tackled her to the ground

“Mr Austin,” she said

“Careful where you swing that thing,” he said

“I’ht you were one of them”

He let her up and she stepped back, holding the sword tightly

Kurt noticed she was noearing a vest of loose ed for the occasion”

“I am the armorer,” she said “I must protect Kenzo”

She went to brush past, but Kurt grabbed her arm “My friends are with Kenzo They’ll protect hiround From there, we can keep their men off the walls”

“This way”

She turned on her heels, pulled open a door and dashed up another flight of stairs Kurt followed, surprised by how quickly she moved in the heavy vest