Bri couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, as a snarl sounded behind them, accompanied by the screams of their guards.

The masked attackers charged and the three of them quickly moved, placing their backs to each other, readying for the onslaught.

Lina connected with the first attacker, their leathers no protection against the heft of her axe. Bri sliced into the second, shifting as their trio sidestepped in a circle, whirling in a dance of steel and blood.

One leaned in too far, leading with his face as his sword swing brought his momentum forward. A careless mistake, Bri thought, as she plunged her dagger through the eye slit of his mask. His mouth opened on a voiceless scream as she kicked him back with her boot.

The yelp of the beast signaled the turning tide, just as the last assailant dropped like a stone as Carys stabbed him straight through the neck. The trio panted, staring down at the six bodies around their feet. Carys stooped and pulled one of the masks down. Lifeless eyes stared up to the canopy above.

“Do you recognize him?” She gulped deep breaths, looking up at Lina.

Her chest heaving, Lina shook her head. “No.”

They pulled the rest of the masks down but didn’t recognize any of the faces. The assailants weren’t from the palace. Bri wasn’t sure if that was a relief or not. She looked through the woods at the guards surrounding the furred heap. Only five still stood, others groaning and wounded on the ground.

“The witch hunter king must have tipped them off,” Carys said, wiping her bloodied hands down her trousers.

“Or they already knew we were traveling this way.” Bri sheathed her weapons. “We haven’t done the best job of keeping Lina’s movements quiet. All her guards knew she was coming out here today.”

Lina looked between the two of them. “The witch hunters didn’t know we were paying them a visit until we arrived, but the palace did.” She swiped the back of her hand across her sweaty brow. “Do we really think that sickly fae who calls himself king could have orchestrated this attack on such short notice?” She tipped her chin to the bodies around their feet. “None of them have the sores. If they worked for him, they’d be ailing as well.”

Bri eyed Lina and bobbed her head. This seemed to be a problem coming from within.

“We’re rounding up the horses, Your Highness,” a guard called through the trees. “We should be—”

His voice was cut off by a loud pop. The sky darkened and they craned their necks upward to see a dark purple cloud descending through the trees. Another round orb flew into the sky and an arrow shot it down directly above the guards. Purple smoke exploded, filtering down through the air.