He means Kiran. Where is he? It’s hard to spot him since he’s dressed like the rest of us, but finally I see him on the steep slope below the trail. He’s fighting back-to-back with his two bodyguards, surrounded by attackers. As I watch, one of his bodyguards falls to the ground. Arxa’s trying to make his way down to the prince, but two rebels cut him off. Farther up the hill, Walgash is exchanging blows with a wickedly fast swordsman.

I run toward Walgash, though he dispatches his opponent before I reach him. We look at each other, and then both of us sprint toward the heir, running, sliding, and jumping down the mountainside. The thought crosses my mind that I’ll tumble a long way if I lose my footing. Kiran’s other bodyguard has fallen now, and the prince is backed up against a bush, fending off two men. I run one through from behind as Walgash gets the other. The heir looks at us with recognition, and then we both turn at the sound of someone running toward us. It’s Arxa, with several Shidadi in pursuit.

The commander points toward a spot where two giant boulders form a crevice. “Over there!”

We converge in front of the rock, and Arxa pushes Kiran into the crevice as Walgash and I turn to face our attackers. We’re shoulder to shoulder, two sides of a triangle. I’m aware of the clash of his weapon next to me as my world shrinks to the simple acts of blocking and striking. The ring of steel echoes in my ears, and my arms move of their own accord. One man falls at my blade, and then another.

“Ampara!” Naudar’s battle cry drifts down.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Naudar inching his way down the hill. He’s locked in combat against a muscular Shidadi woman. She’s shorter than him, and much older, but she drives him farther and farther back. I don’t dare take more than a few passing glimpses in his direction—I have my own enemies to fight. But I do see when the woman snakes her blade past Naudar’s guard and into his chest. I see the spray of blood, and I see Naudar stumble and fall onto one knee.

A roaring sound fills my ears. “Naudar!”

The Shidadi woman straightens and looks right at me.

A rebel tries to strike me down while I’m distracted, but I parry and run him through. No one steps into his place, and Walgash and I look around, panting. The closest rebel is the Shidadi woman who’d been fighting Naudar. She’s still watching me, and my vision clouds over with rage.

“Rebel scum!” I charge up the hill, forgetting my orders to protect the prince, forgetting everything but revenge.

“Dineas!” Walgash shouts behind me. “Dineas, fall back!”