The lone standing soldier turns and runs. Neither Kera nor I bother to chase him.
I go to Kera and look her up and down for any injuries. “Are you okay?”
She wipes her blade on her pants as if she’s doing nothing more than polishing it. “Yes. You?”
“I’m cool.” I follow the damage she did, and for the first time, I see her with clear eyes. My girlfriend is seriously badass. I had no idea.
While Baun stands there, a suit of armor replaces the rags he’s wearing. It’s futuristic and medieval at the same time. “Can we go now?” He adjusts his helmet. “Your friends are near the Weeping Gate. I trust you know the way?”
“How do you know that?”
“It’s a gift I acquired years ago. One of my favorites.”
Acquired as in killed for it?
I notice he doesn’t tell me how that particular all-seeing gift works. He’s not stupid.
He holds out his hand and a long metal staff appears. He runs a finger along the dusty surface, presses a button, and spikes appear at the ends. He presses the button again and they disappear.
A weapon within a weapon. That sums up Baun. When you think you understand him, he shows you something you don’t expect. The faster we get this over with, the faster I can hand him over to Hadrain. Let Kera’s dad deal with the crazy—and now free—Lost King, since it’s his fault he’s out.
I hear Blaze call and look up to see him and his friend circling the area. If he can read my mind, which I think he can, he’ll know where we’re going and follow us. Kera goes to Baun and guides him around the mess we made.
“Nice armor,” I say. I’m actually a little jealous my powers don’t extend to dressing myself with just my thoughts.
“It’s something I created long ago and never had the chance to wear. A leader should look the part.”
Baun’s what I call a suit-and-tie guy. I’ve never liked them much. “More importantly,” I say, “a leader should act the part.”
“By all means,” he sweeps his arm out, “lead the way, Dylan.”
Just like in the game, the streets move, causing a whole block to change direction and the player to get turned around if he’s not careful. It’s why I hate that particular game. It makes no sense. Thankfully, the Weeping Gate isn’t far, but when we get there, the fighting is brutal.
Pushing Baun into a sheltered area, I tell him to stay until it’s safe. I then turn to ask Kera to protect him, but she’s gone. I’m slowly getting used to that aspect of her personality, but I still don’t like it. I dive into the action, searching for her as I fight off the enemy. They’re pretty easy to spot. While Hadrain’s men are in muted greens and browns and golds, Jason has outfitted his men in armor more elaborate than Baun’s. As I move through the street, I use everything I have. My sword, fire, and speed, and magically using the things around me to beat back the enemy.
I bump into Wyatt when I dive behind a cart for protection. In the game, there aren’t many places to take cover, and it’s tempting to stay too long, thinking you’re safe. But you never truly are.
Wyatt smiles, and says between breaths, “Nice of you to join us.”
We’re both blood-spattered and panting. I dig the tip of my sword into the ground, fire sparking off the cobblestones, and rest my head against the side of the cart. “What’s the plan?”
“Surviving. If you can do that and push the enemy back past that waterwheel,” he says, pointing to a large mill in the middle of the square, “I’ll see you then.”
We both stand, and out of nowhere, an amazingly beautiful woman with long blond hair shoves me away and nearly takes off my head before Wyatt stops her. “He’s with us, sweetheart. Pass it on to your sisters.”
She kisses Wyatt full on the mouth and runs off. I point after her. “Who’s that?”
“One of the seven sisters. They’re Lucinda’s friends. You can’t miss them. Gorgeous, every last one of them.” He then dives back into the fight.
Something rolls under the cart. I sprint away, but I’m not fast enough and it explodes. I catch air and land in the dust a few feet away. I shake my head, trying to clear my ears. Someone shiny stands over me, and I shield my eyes as the helmet is yanked off and tossed to the ground.
Square jaw. Thick neck. Jason.
“Damn. When will people learn? Everyone gets killed when they hide behind the cart.”
His sword rises. I roll to the side, but the blow never comes. When I roll back, I see Baun wielding his metal staff, whirling it around his head and body, keeping Jason at a distance from me.
Jason grabs hold of his side and winces in pain. Baun’s weapon must have connected with Jason’s ribs. My former friend points at me and laughs. “You’re a lucky bastard.” He backs away, holding his arms wide. “Like what I’ve done with the place? Meet you at the hall.”
A loud whistle blows and Jason’s men retreat. I roll to my feet and rub my head. I’ve got to pay more attention to my surroundings. Baun leans against a stone pillar that appears to have no use other than to get in the way of a gamer’s hand-to-hand combat skills. I search the area, but I still don’t see Kera.
When the dust settles, Wyatt comes up to me and slams his sword into its sheath. “Figures the little shit is into this and not Call of Duty.”
“Did you see Kera?”
He takes out a bandanna and wipes his face. “She’s over by Reece. He got himself hurt again. I think he head-butted a guy wearing a helmet.”
“What about Leo?”
He squints over at me. “He’s not here.”
That doesn’t sound like Leo, and I frown. “When I left, he was waiting for you. Where is he?”
“I don’t know. He wasn’t around when we got there.”
I suddenly feel sick. “What about Bodog?”
“Haven’t seen him, either.”
“Lucinda?”
He snaps his fingers and points at me. “That I know. She took two of the sisters and left right after she talked to Bodog. I guess I did see him. But I haven’t since then.”
“Where’d they go?”
His lips curl in a wry smile. “You’re seriously asking me that? Like she’s going to tell me.”
An unbelievably beautiful brunette strolls up to Wyatt, all hips and jiggle. I can smell her sweat. It’s like strawberries and cream. She flings her arms around his neck and kisses him on the cheek. “Did I do well?”
He grabs her around the waist and gives her a squeeze. “You did fine, sweetheart.”
She squeals and gives him a huge kiss on the lips, wrapping one leg around his waist. PDA is not her problem.
I clear my throat, breaking them apart. She blinks her long, dark lashes at me, and I get the feeling she isn’t impressed with what she sees. I don’t care. I’ve got Kera. “Do you know where your sisters and Lucinda went?”
She looks askance at Wyatt and he nods. “If you know, I’d be grateful if you told him.”
“How grateful?”
He nuzzles her neck. “Very.”
She turns to me, all smiles and giggles. “She said she had to go collect a man.”