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“Want to try again?” He shouted the words as he turned toward the source of the arrows, opened his arms wide and presented himself as a target.

The crowd quietened down, he could feel every eye on him.

Another arrow shot toward him, hit his stomach and snapped like kindling.

A scream sounded, audible in the stillness of the square, and then a body fell to the ground from the wall of the palace.

Deni had obviously found the queen’s assassin.

“Where is Ava?” He turned to the queen.

“She’ll be here soon. There is some delay.” The queen clasped and unclasped her hands. Her eyes looked jaundiced, and her clothes looked like they were too big for her, as if she had lost weight since they were fitted. “But it doesn’t matter. Not to you, because you will be dead. Kill him.” She took a few steps back and looked over at her general.

He had already unsheathed his sword when the first arrow flew and he swung it. Luc didn’t even try to move. He felt the blade go through the wool of his cloak and then vibrate as it connected with his side as if it had hit stone.

The general swore, swapped his sword into his other hand and shook his sword hand out.

“What is it?” There was fear in the queen’s voice.

“He’s wearing a steel plate under there. That’s why the arrows broke.”

“I don’t see a steel plate around his throat.” The queen’s voice was high.

“No.” The general moved again, looked over at the palace guards. “A little help?”

The guards had climbed the steps when the queen had ordered Luc killed, and had hesitated there, waiting for orders.

Before they could move, Luc leaped from the platform, scooped up his sword from where it had been left leaning against the steps, and drew it as he ran back up them.

Oscar was suddenly beside him, sword drawn as well, and they struck together.

Luc ran his blade underneath the palace guard’s arm, and kicked him off the platform into the crowd.

It was a large group of people, and it might occur to some of them to assist the queen. He had created worry and doubt he could be taken though, and that would hold most of them for a while. He would still need to move fast.

He left the second guard to Oscar and engaged with the general.

Luc recognized him. He’d visited the Chosen camps to observe the children’s progress many times.

He was wearing thick armor, far thicker than the palace guards.

Luc blocked his first blow, then spun low and cut the backs of the general’s legs, spun back as he straightened and then slashed the general’s throat with his knife.

He didn’t wait to watch the general fall. He ran straight at the other two palace guards.

One was standing in front of the queen, the other behind.

He shouted a battle cry as he leaped high, sword above his head, and with a cry of fear, the guard in front jumped to the side and rolled off the platform.

The guard left behind the queen stared at his partner in horror, and while he hesitated, Luc spun again and slashed at his arm.

He dropped his sword with a scream and grabbed hold of the wound, scuttling backward down the stairs.

Luc brought his bloody blade up to the queen’s throat. “Where is Ava?”

“I don’t know.” The queen’s words were clear over the hush that fell over the crowd when his sword touched her throat.

“You are lying.”