“Torvald,” I said. “He’s mad. Don’t listen to him. Find Kalea. She needs you.”
The king nodded distractedly and staggered toward the archway.
Tatsuo gritted his teeth. “Twice the man?” He charged at my handmaiden.
I hurled my dagger. It sank into Tatsuo’s back but he hardly seemed to notice. Dagmar shot an arrow at Tatsuo’s chest, but he twisted out of the way at the last moment. Her eyes widened. She reeled back, fumbling for the quiver.
Tatsuo grabbed Lennart’s fallen sword with an ugly growl. I dashed after him and leapt onto his back. He swung his body, whipping me to the side before I could get a good enough grip around his neck. I flew off of him and hit the wall, then scuttled to my feet in time to see Tatsuo run his sword through my handmaiden’s chest.
“Dagmar!” I yanked the poker and shovel from their hooks by the fireplace, and sprinted to Tatsuo.
He drew his sword out of my handmaiden’s body and spun to face me. I watched her collapse, anger and grief building around my throat.
“You heartless beast,” Torvald shouted.
“Don’t,” I barked over my shoulder. “Get out of here—now!”
Tatsuo advanced and struck. I blocked his jab with the poker and hit him across the face with the shovel. He snarled curses and thrust faster. I skirted back to avoid the blade’s swipe at my chest, ducked before it could slice my throat, and swung my arm out of the way before it could pierce my shoulder.
He screamed, making my ears ring and my head ache, as he charged and thrust his sword over his head. I stood my ground and threw my weapons out to meet his, forming an X over my head. The sword hit the dull metal with an awful clang. I winced as the sound vibrated through my skull and set my teeth on edge. Tatsuo pressed down on his sword with all his strength, mismatched eyes bulging in rage. Despite my own impossible strength, I struggled to keep him away. My shoes weren’t equipped for battling on the polished wood floor; as he leaned in, I slowly began sliding back. Sweat poured down my face and accumulated along my spine. My arms trembled.
The general grinned. “Will you do me a favor, you worthless little rat? Will you stand down and let me kill you?”
“Will you do me a favor?” I grunted. “Shut up.”
Instead of trying to fight his weight bearing down on me, I used it. I dropped onto my bottom, slid between his widely-spread legs, popped up, and spun around to face him. I swept the room with my gaze. Torvald was gone. I let out a relieved breath. He was safe for now.
Tatsuo straightened, giving me a clear view of the dagger still sticking out of his back, then he pivoted to face me. “Why did I think you would be useful? You had one task: obey!”
“I answer to no one now,” I said as I advanced. “You’ve lost.”
“I can still remedy this,” Tatsuo growled. “I can still kill you, kill the royal couple, and send men after your precious friends. I can still blame it all on you!”
I thrust the poker at his face but it was parried; I used the shovel to smack his side. Tatsuo grunted and stepped back. I wouldn’t relent. I swung, anticipating his dodge, and clipped his head with my foot. He stumbled, but shook his head hard and plunged back into the fight.
When I finally managed to knock the sword out of his hands, I thought it would end there. I thrust the poker toward his abdomen, but he dodged at the last moment and grabbed my wrist. Before he could crush it in his meaty fist, I spat in his face. He didn’t let go, but his fingers loosened as he swiped at my saliva with his free hand. I twisted out of his grip and whacked his shoulder with both metal rods.
He fell against the table but had a kick ready when I approached. Stars burst before my eyes and pain erupted across my brow. Blood oozed down my nose. I drew an arm down my face, lightning quick, ready for any surprise blows.
Then I heard it; the sound of a bell being furiously rung somewhere up above. Tatsuo’s crazed eyes narrowed up at the ceiling. He rolled his shoulders and reached behind him to wrench the dagger from his back. It came back bloody, all the way to the hilt.
“What is that?” he growled, tossing the dagger aside.
“That would be the bell that was built into the balcony connected to the king’s room.” I grinned at him. “You have mere moments before every guard on this hill comes running to rescue the king and queen.”
“I will be long gone before then,” Tatsuo said.
“We’ll see.” I jumped to the table, kicked off the edge, and swung both arms down as I descended.
Tatsuo swiped the silver platter off the floor and flung it at me. I deflected it as I landed and he used the distraction to cuff me across the face. I reeled back, blinking furiously. He tugged the shovel out of my grasp and swung it at my head. I rolled, wiping more blood out of my eyes when I was upright again. The general turned sluggishly. I caught sight of the enormous bloodstain on the back of his white uniform.
Hope surged within me. I must have punctured something vital.
Tatsuo loped over to the table and lifted it above his head, muscles bulging under his uniform. With a shout, he hurled it at me.
I threw myself under the table and rolled, coming to a stop on my feet. The table hit the servants’ entrance with a sickening crunch.
“Asta!” Viggo shouted from somewhere behind the former king.
I took my eyes off Tatsuo for a moment and glanced at the archway. Something heavy hit the side of my head. The world went dark.
When my eyes opened again, my surroundings were spinning. I blinked hard to clear my vision but it didn’t help much. All sound was cut off except for a high-pitched ringing in my ears. My shoulder and jaw ached from my fall.
Viggo knelt beside me, shaking me. “Asta! Are you all right?”
I looked around, slightly groggy. Tatsuo was nowhere to be seen. That helped my head clear instantly. “He’s gone!”
“Where? Which way did he run?”
I stood unsteadily. “I-I don’t know.”
Viggo rose, drawing the sword from the sheath at his belt. “I’ll check the front. You check the back. We’ll corner him and end this.”
We ran. I scooped up the ceremonial sword Tatsuo had left behind and sprinted to the servants’ entrance of the dining room. I soared over the table blocking my path with a single bound and almost landed on Dagmar’s body. I paused for a moment to look at her still, peaceful face before I gritted my teeth and fled down the servants’ corridor. I burst into the kitchen and through the side door, catching a glimpse of the former king’s retreating form across the ward. I took a moment to clear my eyes of blood and tears before I chased after him.
He took my family, he took Dagmar, he almost took Bryn.
He won’t escape me! It will end here. Now.
Servants scattered at the sight of me. Royal family members gawked and pointed after Tatsuo. I flew past them, sword at my side. I would take off his head! I would plunge the sword through his heart. He couldn’t run forever.
“Asta!” I heard Viggo call.
I didn’t bother turning. This was my moment.
Tatsuo skidded to a halt at the top of the stone steps separating the upper ward from the lower. I continued with caution, sword at the ready.
Master Philo stood at the foot of the steps, staring grimly up at the former king. Behind him was every guard that had been off duty. I could tell because they weren’t in uniform, but they had their weapons ready. Some hadn’t even bothered with shoes or shirts. The king had called, so they had come.