Hierarchy (Book Four of the Torrent Skies Saga)

Chapter Thirty-Two: Courage, Pt 2

Kryrial was surprised with the speed that the glaive came for him. Three quick jabs in the blink of an eye. He sidestepped the first two and ducked the third, as his attacker tried to disable his arm. He gripped Kieneltra tighter and ripped her away from the window.

"C-corbin," she sobbed as Kryrial held her to the side.

He could not use Kieneltra as a shield. Kryrial kicked the table between him and Corbin, and the armored man evaded it with ease, darting to the side, and kicking out to stop the table as it tumbled.

The older man in the doorway motioned to the dwarf, and she snarled, but left the hall.

"As soon as you can, grab her, and flee," Corbin yelled to the people in the doorway and he jumped over the table, swinging his weapon overhead, to strike at Kryrial's shoulder. The first blow went wide as Kryrial ducked, and the second one forced him to push Kieneltra away as it flitted between them. He was stunned that a member of his own infantry had the gall to attack him. The man was an idiot, and a deserter. Scum, in every sense of the word.

Kieneltra cried out as he shoved her aside into a book shelf.

Corbin's glaive whistled as it whipped expertly for Kryrial's nose.

He jerked his head back and snapped a hand up, grasping the weapon behind the blade. With a snarl, he wrenched on the weapon. But to his surprise, Corbin let go of the weapon and rolled forward.

His palm struck Kryrial between his ribs, but the metal gauntlet did little. Then he cried out, recoiling as his own weapon darted for his chin.

As he did, the others rushed in to stand before Kieneltra like a shield. The old man helped her to her feet and shoved her towards the door.

"Don't you dare!" Kryrial roared, and he thrust the glaive forward, into the old man's back. It stuck with a terrible thump before Kryrial yanked it free. He snarled at them, wishing for more blood, momentarily distracted from his goal by their insolence.

Kieneltra looked between Zino and Kryrial, shaking, mouth open in an of fear.

"Run!" Corbin was back on his feet, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. The tone of command in his tone spurred Kineneltra out of view, as he faced Kryrial, fists upraised.

Kryrial brandished the glaive again, and Corbin dodged, as if barely avoiding death. He could smell so much fear it was almost intoxicating. He felt like laughing. "You will leave with me, Kieneltra!"

"She won't be going anywhere with scum like you," Corbin bared bloody teeth, and kicked out, striking Kryrial in the ankle.

It stung, and almost threw him off balance.

Dropping the weapon, Kryrial stalked toward the hall, arm upraised to the man in his way. Before he could complete what he knew would be a killing blow, he felt a prick of pain, and his arm dropped to his side.

Corbin panted, the hilt of a dagger still quivering in Kryrial's shoulder. Corbin blocked the door, as the last of Kieneltra's echoing footsteps sounded down the hall.

Kryrial let out a shuddering growl as hatred tinted his vision. She could not escape him. Not anymore. They could not twist her out of his grasp any further. "Vermin!" He swung his arm wide, and Corbin dodged by a fraction, dropping into a controlled crouch.

The dagger wound burned as Kryrial attacked, but he paid it no heed. Another blow, and he tore Corbin's armor asunder, leaving blood to well along the young man's shoulder.

Fear was overtaking Corbin's eyes, and so Kryrial helped it along with a smile, showing inhuman fangs. He could still hear Kieneltra, her steps the faintest whisper in his ears.