Page 206 of Pixie Problems

A hunter turned, stepping into my path like he had all the time in the world. I didn't slow. With my free hand, I thrust shadows at him, but my steel sword was the real threat. Dropping my shoulder, I put my weight behind the hardest swing I'd ever made.

The blade sank deep.

The hunter screamed in a way no voice should manage.

I didn't dare slow down.

"Hit her!" Wilder yelled.

Warmth smashed into my back, feeling like Summer magic, and it allowed me to send a volley of shadow-spikes at the next hunter. He dodged just enough that only one hit him. The damned thing bounced off harmlessly, but it was enough. The hunter gestured, pointing at us in some near-military gesture, and the rest of the hunt turned.

"Run!" Nevaeh screamed.

The girl was on her knees. A hunter had his hand in her hair. Two guys were beside her. One had been pushed face down into the dirt. The other was standing, both of his hands up, but turning just enough to keep a hunter from grabbing him.

"The ground!" Poppy screamed.

White and green shot past me. On one side, the ground turned to ice. On the other, it became wet, slippery mud. The first hunter turned, lost his balance, and hit a knee. Another grabbed at his horse, using it to get him across the mess, almost like a tug-boat.

So I flung shadows at the beast. In truth, I didn't know if these were real horses, and I only knew one thing about livestock. They could stampede. So when the shadow was close enough, I made it burst in front of the horse's nose.

The thing reared, spun, and bolted, proving me right. A few other animals skittered, looking like they wanted to run with it. The hunters moved, giving the faeling on his feet enough room that he ran, aiming right for us.

And then I hit their line.

My sword clashed with a flat grey blade. Tendrils of mist - both black and grey - wafted up with each collision, but I wasn't winning. I swung, he blocked, so I swung again. As long as I kept this fucker on the defense, I had the advantage, right? Weeks and weeks of practice had my feet moving, but real combat was nothing like sparring.

My breath ran out too fast. My arms were burning with exertion. I knew I was failing, but I refused to give up. Unfortunately, the hunter saw it too. Pulling back, he added force to his swings, battering me hard.

Then a spear slammed into his side. Hawke pushed in, shoved his foot against the silent hunter, and then kicked the asshole off his weapon.

"Stab him, Rain. The iron does more than anything else."

I didn't give myself the chance to think. I just impaled the fallen body and looked for Keir. There! Unable to even speak, I pointed, so Hawke grabbed my arm and pulled me that way.

"Wilder!" Hawke yelled.

A rush of power hit me, removing half the exhaustion. In truth, it was more like a hit of adrenaline than anything else, but I'd take it. Right about now, I'd take anything I could get, because Nevaeh was on her feet. She was helping the other guy, and darkness was pulling the hunters, tugging at them like a dog with a toy - and about as useless, if I was honest.

"Nevaeh!" I screamed. "Over here!"

She was almost carrying the other guy, dragging him along at something barely even a jog, but I could tell he was trying. Yet just as they made it past one man, another turned.

And that was when I heard my name. "Rain!"

A wall of power slammed into me, making me feel invincible. My pocket was shining like a beacon, making the eyes of the hunters turn to me. All of it was enough to convince the guy to move as fast as he could, so Hawke and I charged in, hoping to hold off the hell we were in.

"Go, go, go, go," Hawke said, helping to propel Nevaeh and her friend behind us.

I turned, getting my sword up in time to block a hit, but we were now the center of attention. Maybe it was the light? Possibly it was the fae man beside me. Yet when another hunter charged towards us, I wasn't sure how the fuck we could handle it.

Then Keir hit my side, blocking a blow I hadn't seen coming. I slashed at the hunter's leg, hitting hard enough to part the grey cloth he wore. The clack of Hawke blocking someone else's weapon sounded behind me, so I pushed, I pulled. I tried anything and everything to make my Wild magic actually useful out here.

Then my name rang out again. "Rain!" And this time, I recognized the voice.

That was my zez. A smile claimed my lips, and I hit harder, faster, and aimed even better.

"You just pissed off my dad," I told the hunter before me. Then I swung again.