Chapter 16: Queasiness (1)

Chapter 16: Queasiness (1)

As he was dragged forward, Gandash plowed into the line of soldiers from Squad Three, knocking one of them flat on his back, and sending another stumbling to the side.

Seeing Gandash being pulled across the stone, Xerxes lunged forward and wrapped his free arm around his friends leg. That stopped Gandashs momentum for a moment, but then both of them inched toward the woman as she slowly but surely dragged them toward her.

Arrows flew, smacking into the Abhorrent. Xerxes barely made out spears being thrust in her direction.

She snarled, released Gandash, and used her whipping fingers to engage with the soldiers harrying her.

Get up, Xerxes said, helping his friend to stand. Before Gandash was all the way up, Xerxes grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back. And get back.

He stepped around his friend, keeping his burning hand clenched into a fist.

Im not leaving you alone, Gandash said.

Gan, get back here, Bel said from further behind.

The Abhorrent woman threw a dead soldier off the bridge, then ripped a spear from the hands of another, spun, and hurled it at the mages.

Xerxes reacted on instinct, and his Asgagu-enhanced hand knocked the weapon out of the air, partially melting the spearhead in the process. You dont have enough melam to cast, Gandy. Get out of here!

His friend backed away.

Glaring at the monster, Xerxes shouted, You want a mage? You got one!

Trying to stoke his anger hot enough to banish the fear that lurked in every corner of his body, he kept his hands up to protect his head and inched forward. On either side of him, Squad Three soldiers stepped up to include him in their line. Behind the Abhorrent, Sergeant Tamharu had his shield up and sword extended as he tried to sneak closer.

The Abhorrent woman stumbled away from him.

That was when Xerxes felt himself being tugged across the bridge. He rolled his eyes up to see Gandash pulling him.

I got you, Xerk, he said.

Gandy, what are you doing? Youre supposed to be

Youre bleeding! BEL!

Gandash dragged him a bit further down the bridge. On his back, Xerxes couldnt see the fighting, but he could hear it. Ligish and Tamharu were coordinating to try to take down the monster.

Bel leaned over him and cast a spell. When she touched his chest, melam swirled into him. He gasped at the heat, and the odd sensation of flesh and muscle reconnecting. In a matter of seconds, he was whole again.

He sat up. Wheres my sword?

Ligish and Tamharu had the Abhorrent pinned down, but he wasnt going to assume they could deal with the creature alone.

Here, Seer Xerxes, Captain Ishki said. She handed him his weapon. I want you and the other mages to get out of here.

Were not going to leave you, Captain, Gandash said.

Dammit, Seer Gand she said, but a scream cut her off.

They all looked over to see that Ligish had been stabbed in the side.