Page 107 of Onyx Cage: Volume II

I cursed under my breath, dragging my blade across the throat of one of the rebels attacking Davin, before turning back to meet another oncoming assault.

“I had him,” Davin called. “Don’t be greedy.”

A low laugh hissed past my lips. Despite his teasing tone, he was already flagging and we weren’t anywhere close to being done. His tonic must have been wearing off a bit.

“He was in my way,” I lied. It wasn’t in my nature to banter during battle, but it seemed to bolster Davin a little.

“As long as it doesn’t happen again,” he grunted, sliding his dagger out from the throat of one man before bringing it down across the groin of another.

The serrated edge of my dirk caught onto my enemy’s sword just long enough for me to twist it away and ram another arrow up through the man’s chin with so much force it broke the shaft down by the crest.

He sputtered, his eyes going dark as I shoved him into the soldier behind him.

Three men charged toward me this time in a flurry of furious movements and chaotic speed. I dipped low, slicing my dirk through one of their calves while scooping up a sword from thenearest corpse. I’d barely rolled away as a massive broadsword came down overhead, landing with a thunk in the mud right where I’d been.

As I stood, however, another streak of silver came down like lightning. I twisted away, but not quite soon enough. Fire raced from my collarbone down my chest, burning right where there was a slice in my tunic.

Der’mo. There wasn’t time to see how deep the wound was, not when we still had so many rebels left.

Swapping weapons, I held the lighter blade with my injured side, still warding off the blows raining down on me. My shirt was growing wetter by the minute, each block, each strike tearing open the gash a little more.

A bead of sweat formed at my temple. I made another quick assessment of the soldiers left to fight when a battle cry sounded from our left.

The man in front of me had the sense to look panicked, and I took advantage of the surprise to shove my dirk through the middle of his belly, twisting before ripping it away again.

“And just when I was hoping we could claim this victory for ourselves,” Davin said, the relief coursing off him belying his words.

He rammed his sword into the spleen of one of his attackers, before kicking him away. “But my family has never been one to resist a good fight.”

He’d barely finished his last word when Finn came charging in, cleaving a group of six men in two. His movements were like water; smooth, unrestrained and powerful as he crashed into the rebels like a wave of vengeance.

Gallagher and Oliver joined him, easily taking on several at a time.

And then there was the king.

Before I could even raise my sword again, he let out another roar and barreled into the remaining wall of men surrounding us like a battering ram.

My people had been right to be afraid of him. His reputation was well-earned, and each of his blows struck fear into the hearts of the rebels.

It was over within minutes.

While Davin and Oliver stepped aside to begin searching the bodies, I ripped the sleeve of my tunic to use it as a makeshift bandage.

“That’s a lot o’ blood, lad.” King Logan’s concerned tone caught Gallagher’s attention.

He raced over, digging into the satchel at his waist for fresh bandages and tinctures. “I can help,” he said, trying to examine the injury.

Finn interrupted before I could tell him that wouldn’t be necessary.

“I think that will need to wait until we’re back at the castle,” he said sternly.

He focused on the hills in the distance, his brows furrowing in concern. From this vantage point, I couldn’t see whatever it was that had him worried, but in my experience, parties like this one rarely traveled alone.

The king nodded.

“Aye, let’s go,” he said, before studying me again. “You’re good to ride?”

I dipped my chin once. I’d fought with worse injuries than this. An hour’s ride wouldn’t kill me now. Still, I took the roll of fresh bandages from Gallagher, staunching the blood flow before wrapping my chest and neck as we made our way back to our horses.