Page 100 of A Warrior's Heart

He released an arrow just as I shot at him.

“Re!” Shar dove forward, protecting Nereus with his own body. He jerked as the arrow pierced the center of his back.

A fatal hit.

“No!” Nereus caught Shar as he fell against him. Tears welled in his eyes and a sob tore from his throat. “Why did you do that, you stupid man?”

The cloth had slipped down from the assassin’s face, showing his sharp jawline and lips that were curved into a soft smile as he lifted a hand to Nereus’ cheek. “Be…cause. I l-love you.”

“Save him!” Nereus cried, looking at Eva with tears falling from his brown eyes. “Please!”

Eva knelt beside Shar and placed a hand over his chest where the tip of the arrow protruded. “I can’t take out the arrow or you’ll bleed out,” she told him. A golden glow came from her palm as she rested it over the wound. She then shook her head at Nereus. “I’ve slowed the bleeding, but I can’t do much more without a very strong healing potion. And even then, he may not survive. The arrow pierced his heart.”

Nereus pressed his face into Shar’s blond hair and released another gut-wrenching sob. The sight made my own eyes water.

“We have to go!” Reif shouted.

“Someone help me carry him!” Nereus looped Shar’s arm around his shoulders and tried to lift him.

“I’ll slow y-you down,” Shar said. “L-Leave me.”

“No,” Nereus growled before kissing him. His tears fell on Shar’s cheek. “I love you, you ass. I’m not leaving you to die.”

Ervin helped Nereus pick up Shar and carry him as we continued forward. Thorn bushes snagged at my arms and legs as we moved through the underbrush. We didn’t go far. We came to a stop as we reached the bottom of a steep cliff. It rose so high it looked like it touched the clouds.

“We can’t climb it,” Malik said before cursing. Fear shone in his eyes as he looked at me. “We’re trapped.”

“No, we’re not,” Ervin said, his fatigue showing as he shifted to get a better grip on Shar. “Listen. There’s water nearby.”

“When we arrived, I noticed a stream that ran off into the sea,” Reif said, flipping around to face the sound of the rushing water. “If we can reach it, it should lead us right to the ship.”

“They went this way!” one of the men shouted from nearby.

As quickly as possible, we ran toward the left. The sound of the water grew louder. But as we turned the corner, several enemy soldiers came into view.

“Get back!” Malik told us.

We ducked out of sight and went back around the corner, pressing our backs against the rock wall. In order to reach the river, we would have to pass the soldiers. King James had planned for us to run, and he’d stationed men all throughout the area.

“They were archers,” I said, trying to catch my breath. “Even if we managed to outrun them and reach the water, we can’t outrun their arrows.”

“What about a diversion?” Nereus asked. “I can run out, get their attention, and lead them the other way while you—”

“No,” Shar snapped before wincing. “You w-will do no such thing.”

“They’re after the prince.” Malik shook his head. “They would put an arrow in your back and still find us.”

“Let me down,” Lorcan said. Malik obeyed, and my friend swayed on his feet before steadying himself. “If I’m the one they want, they can have me.”

“Are you mad?” Alek hissed, grabbing his lover’s arm.

“What would you have me do?” Lorcan tore his arm free from Alek’s hold. “Let all of you die in my place?” He looked at the trident. “This is what they want. And they won’t stop until they get it.”

“Can you use its power again?” Reif asked.

“No.” Lorcan slumped against the wall. “I can barely lift it let alone find the strength to wield it. But I can lure them away while all of you escape.”

“Don’t be a fool,” Malik said. “What would your sacrifice accomplish? You would spare our lives here, but what about when Ezra takes possession of the trident? He will use it to kill your father and take over Avalontis. We would die trying to stop him. So your sacrifice would be for naught.”