Page 3 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)
CHAPTER THREE
Ryker
Sparks flew and metal screeched as I used my blade to deflect their blows. The woman screamed and ducked as a guard hacked at her.
Blood spilled from the slice on her forearm as I deflected one sword before sinking my blade into the chest of the man who’d cut the woman. I pulled my weapon free and spun to bring it down across the guard’s arm, hacking through flesh and bone to leave only pieces of the appendage together.
The man fell back, but more rose to take his place. Gritting my teeth, I adjusted my hold on the woman and hauled her forward again.
I deflected a blow that would have carved into my neck and possibly severed my head. The guard bared his teeth in a malicious grin as he swung at me again; our swords clashed, and with only one free hand, it was difficult to keep him back.
Releasing the woman, I gripped my sword with both hands and held off the man. A lightning bolt flew past him and crashed into the ground only a few feet away.
When the guard’s eyes darted toward the smoking hole in the ground, it was the distraction I needed to place my boot in his stomach and shove him back. Off balance, the man’s arms wheeled as he tried to right himself.
I lunged forward to drive my sword into his heart. His eyes widened as he stared in horror at the blade in his chest. When I pulled my weapon free, his gaze fell to his chest, and his hands fumbled to keep the blood from spilling, but it was impossible.
Lowering my shoulder, I smashed into the guard, tossing him away. I turned to find the woman had crawled away; her fingers tore up the earth as she dragged herself through the battle.
Someone grabbed her arm. Given their slender build and how Callan defended them, I suspected it was Luna.
She helped the woman to her feet and rushed toward the waiting portal. Unable to defend themselves against the lightning, more guards fell back or fled.
I looked back at Ellery as she released more lightning on the land. It threw up rocks and debris when it crashed into the earth; the ground shook beneath my feet as smoke rose from the craters she’d created.
Bowstrings twanged as arrows flew at her, but the electricity surrounding her sent them spiraling into the shadows of the alleys. Ianto’s head poked up from the roofline, but he ducked down every time Ellery released a new bolt.
I couldn’t see his face, but I imagined the giant had damn near shit himself when Ellery started shooting lightning. If we weren’t fighting for our lives, and Ellery wasn’t up there, bared for all to see, I would have laughed at the giant’s head bobbing up and down like a buoy in a hurricane.
When another guard ran toward me, Ellery took out his legs. Drawn forth by the commotion, townspeople hovered in the shadows of the buildings, too terrified to come closer and too captivated to flee.
Most of the prisoners and Tucker’s men had either fled through his portal or one of their own. Tucker, Callan, Ellery, Ianto, and I were the only ones left.
“Go!” I bellowed at Ellery in a voice I dropped to a lower octave so as not to be recognized.
I wouldn’t leave here until I knew she was safely away from this place. When another guard charged me, I ducked the lethal arc of his blade and drove mine upward as he ran past. The sword sliced into his groin and cleaved upward before I freed my blade.
The man howled as he fell to the ground, gripping his balls and rolling like a dog trying to shake fleas. When my attention shifted back to Ellery, I saw the portal Ianto had most likely opened while she remained turned toward the battle.
When Ellery’s head turned to me, I shouted at her again, “ Go !”
She turned and ran toward the opening as I sprinted toward Tucker and the others. Callan fled into the portal.
Tucker waited until I was almost to him before following the young amsirah. The shouts of the guards followed me as I raced forward.