This caught him off guard and he stumbled in the mud—and as he went past, Kyra swung around and smashed him in the face with her staff, knocking him down, face-first in the mud. He tried to get up, and she brought her staff down on his back, knocking him out.

Kyra stood there, breathing hard, taking stock of the bodies all around her, lying in the mud, and as she stood there, taking in the scene, she momentarily let her guard down and forgot—the final soldier. Kyra noticed, too late, movement out of the corner of her eye and she watched in horror as he brought his sword down for the back of her neck. She had been careless, and now there was no time to react.

A snarling noise tore through the air as Leo leapt into the air and landed on the soldier’s chest, sinking his fangs into his throat right before he could kill Kyra. The man shrieked as Leo pinned him to the ground and tore him to pieces.

Kyra stood there, realizing how much she owed her life Leo, and so grateful he was at her side.

Kyra heard a commotion and looked across the clearing and saw Dierdre reaching up with the soldier’s sword and slashing at the chains to the carriage. It broke in a shower of sparks and a dozen girls rushed out, overjoyed, thrilled to be free. Dierdre then slashed the chains on the second carriage, and more girls rushed out. Some of them kicked the lifeless soldiers, venting their anger on them, while others cried and hugged each other. The sight of these girls’ freedom made it all worth it to Kyra. She knew she had done the right thing. She could hardly believe she had survived, had defeated all these men.

Kyra joined Dierdre as they embraced the girls, all running over to them, eyes filled with tears and gratitude. She saw the look of trauma in their eyes, and she understood it too well.

“Thank you,” one girl after another gushed.

“I don’t know how to repay you!”

“You already have,” Dierdre replied, and Kyra could see how cathartic this was for her.

“Where will you go now?” Kyra asked, realizing they were all still here, in the middle of nowhere. “It is unsafe for you here.”

The girls looked at each other, all clearly stumped.

“Our homes are far from here,” one said.

“And if we return, our families may send us back.”

Dierdre stepped forward.

“You shall come with me,” she said proudly, determined. “I am going to the city of Ur. You shall find safe harbor there. My family will take you in. I will take you in.”

As she spoke the words, Kyra could see a new life begin to blossom within Dierdre, one of purpose, of fearlessness, as if her old self had a reason to live again. The girls, too, brightened at the idea.