Ox lunges out, his sword flashing. He cuts the first human across the chest. The second starts to shout, but a swing of my axe cuts him short. The two fall, their deaths swift. Ox ducks around the back of the car while the others climb out. To our right, more humans have come looking for the first two, and they start shouting when they see us.

“Go, go!” Io says. “Get to the Cliffs. Get to the prince!”

I break into a sprint. The human dies with surprise on his face without having put up a fight. Scanning for the black-clad uniforms of General Marchess’s soldiers, I follow Io, who’s taken the lead, as she dodges around the far side of the mines, retreating slightly back down in the direction of the train tracks. I follow up the side of a pile of broken rubble, my feet sliding on the loose stones.

Then, finding purchase, I leap up and onto the natural curve of the land above the mined area when the first bullet whizzes past my head. I duck, crouching before jumping up and diving behind a thicket. More shots ring out, but not just at me. Taking the chance, I lunge toward better cover behind a discarded pallet of crates.

The pop of the gunfire continues. Looking up and around the crates, my heart seizes as I catch a glimpse of Rowan and Ox, cornered between what looks like a common area for the workers and the entrance to the mines.

Snapping forward, I catch my breath and try to decide what to do next. Ahead of me, Io and Sethran are also biding their time, trying to judge their best move. Just one of us needs to make it. The thought comes to me unbidden, but it’s true.

If I can cause enough of a distraction, it will buy everyone time.

Sweat trickles down my forehead as I turn and take in the crates I’m sheltering behind. The ground beneath me is still loose.

Without time to think of anything better, I shove the top crate with both hands. To my surprise, it still is full of something, because it’s heavier than I expect, but it still topples to the ground, sliding on the stones until it’s in a free fall down to the opening of the mines below. I do the same for the other boxes, shouts of humans and the crashing cacophony of the splintering wood following behind it.

Then I run farther up to the top of the mines, away from Io and Sethran. Praying my armor is strong enough, I tuck onto my back as best I can and slide down the opposite side, leaving clouds of dust in my wake. When my momentum stops, I look up and behind me to see if any humans have followed.