Wings of Fate

16. Internal Rending

Kalian cleaved Asar through a bandit's arm. The limb hit the dirt with a wet thump. The shrieking man didn't bother to defend himself as Kalian shoved the blade through his chest. He pried Asar free and kept running towards Samson.

The medic was quickly being overrun by bandits. Lir was already sprinting to his aid, and Bellamy tackled another assailant to the ground. "Bellamy!" Samson huffed in warning, slamming his fist into a masked face. The bandit crumpled.

"I'm being careful," Bellamy ground out before flipping on top of his victim. He ripped a dagger through the bandit's throat and blood sprayed.

"What the hell happened?" Lir demanded, skidding to a halt beside them. Kalian leaped over a body and gave a small flap of his wings, carrying himself farther. He landed next to Lir, who paid him no mind. "We should've seen them earlier. There's no cover out here."

Kalian's mouth ran dry. "Witches," he said. "Witches can cast illusions more powerful than any Faerie glamour. They probably hid their forces from sight until they were within reach of the camp." And that meant the bodies around him might belong to Witches.

"Is there a way to break their illusions?" Lir asked.

Kalian hesitated, unwilling to reveal more of his kind's secrets. "I don't know."

"Fuck," the man growled. "Bellamy, Samson, gather the medics and start putting out those fires. Save everything and everyone you can." They nodded and darted off. Bellamy touched Kalian's shoulder as he passed, but said nothing. "You," Lir rounded on him. "Hold the line around the camp. I'll root out those who already made it inside."

Kalian nodded and they split up. He headed towards the nearest guard, who was being swarmed by bandits. Most of them wore masks, but a few had already lost theirs. Kalian slammed Asar into the first blade that rose to meet him. He kicked the female's inner ankle, spreading her legs apart and throwing off her balance. Kalian dropped low, sweeping her off her feet with a blow from his glamoured wings.

Kalian tensed, realizing what he'd done. He scanned his surroundings, but no one seemed to have noticed the move he'd pulled. Kalian righted himself and leaped over the woman, his sights already set on a bulky male who was beating his guard senseless. Kalian collided with the man, driving him backwards. The guard rolled onto his hands and knees and scrambled away.

Kalian tightened his fist around Asar and slipped his dagger into his free hand. The bandit drew a hefty ax from a sheath between his shoulder blades. Kalian narrowed his eyes. "Aren't you a work of art," the male sneered. "Let's add a few scars to that pretty face of yours."

"You think I'm pretty? I'm flattered." Kalian dodged his first swipe and nicked the male's leg with Asar. "But I already have plenty of scars."

The ax buried itself in the ground mere inches from where Kalian was standing. Kalian ducked behind the man and leaped into the air, landing a solid kick to the center of his back. The man stumbled, but didn't fall. Kalian crouched low, slicing Asar through the tendons in his ankles. The blade warmed in his hand as it skewered through flesh and bone.

The man screamed, crashing to his knees. His detached feet remained rooted to the ground. Kalian strode towards the bandit, dragging Asar's bloody tip through the dirt. Another tent burst into flames behind him, but Kalian ignored it. The male sobbed, attempting to haul himself farther away.

"I know who you are," he hissed between his teeth. "Fucking demon."

Kalian cocked his head, slate black hair falling over his raised eyebrows. "I've never heard that one before." He crouched, angling his blade against the male's throat. "But now I'm curious. Who do you think I am?"