Chapters (92)
His smile fell away and his eyes hardened. “Not to sound like an overprotective father, but Jem-Kruk is slime. You shouldn’t be spending time with a worm like that. I did you a favor.”
“I suppose I ought to return the favor,” I said, and I charged up the stairs at him.
Indu didn’t hesitate to swing at me, and I caught the blade with my arm guard. “We don’t need to fight. You can join me.”
“You opened a portal to hell, and you think you can tempt me with an invitation into the fire?” I sneered at him.
We crossed swords. He held his with both hands as I backed him up, but I wielded mine with only my right. My left hand twisted behind my back to lift the dagger from my belt. The ornate handle of ivory felt hot against the palm of my hand. They were beautiful daggers, but most importantly, they had long sharp blades of silver.
I blocked his strike, but he pushed hard, his blade hovering mere inches from my face. With my left hand, I swung wide and drove my dagger deep into the side of his neck.
His eyes widened in surprise, and he made a gurgling sound as blood filled his mouth. I pulled the knife from his neck, and he fell back onto the steps. His sword fell to the ground, and I used my foot to kick him, and he rolled off the stairs.
Indu tumbled to the ground two stories below, his body landing a few feet from Jem’s.
68
Venom
Wendy
Rikky had taken charge of the triage, quickly giving out orders to any available hands, and that included me, but honestly, it was a relief. This wasn’t my usual role when the Trylle went to war. Acts of diplomacy often kept me from the front lines.
But this was too important. All five kingdoms had united for this because the enemy was so fierce. They had followed me here, and I couldn’t stand back and do nothing. My captains with their military expertise were leading the troops, but my talents lay elsewhere.
Right now, following Rikky’s orders seemed like the best way to be useful. Minnie had overcome her initial shock, and she had snapped into action beside me. We applied a tourniquet on the calf of someone who’d had their foot ripped off by some kind of monstrous animal. Our main goal was to stop the bleeding until a healer or medic got to them.
But I had no idea when that would be. Rikky had her hands busy with a trio of violently convulsing patients infected with a powerful venom. The medical tent itself—despite its large size—was already filling up.