A Most Dangerous Weapon

Chapter 69: One by One

"Interlock the shields!" Arlo orders as he continues to fight various attackers with Arrian at his side. Rowan, Loxley, Kilgorian and I waste no time as we tie our four shields together in a line. Loxley and Kilgorian then strap a dagger to each foot. Once they're ready, they each grab one of the outermost shields from the line and proceed towards the wall. They dig the blades from their feet into the wall and begin to climb with a third dagger in their free hand. They hold the shields over their heads for cover, both for themselves and for the rest of us as we follow. Rowan and I dig our daggers into the wall and begin to climb between Loxley and Kilgorian. Once Arlo and Arrian notice that we've cleared the danger from below, they abandon the fight and start climbing up after us.

Arrows and various blades rain down as the Galacians try to bypass our shield line. A body is even thrown at us, or perhaps it was just another climber who was thwarted before reaching their goal. The heavy soldier pummelled Kilgorian's side of the shield chain. With great effort he managed to push it away, but not before losing his grip on the dagger in his hand. With his feet still buried firmly in the wall, his upper body began to lean away from the wall under the weight. I swung my legs up to the right to kick him in the back with enough force to get him vertical again. He grabbed onto his dagger and steadied himself, then continued climbing in unison with Loxley.

Once they reached the top, the two of them used our shield chain to push back the soldiers who were crowding the landing to make space for the rest of us. Rowan and I pulled ourselves over the edge, and then Rowan immediately moved to stand behind Loxley with his two daggers in hand. I immediately tossed my two weapons at the soldiers that were giving Rowan and Loxley the most push back. They dropped the shield chain as the bodies fell and unsheathed their swords to fight. I followed their lead as we waited for Arlo and Arrian to clear the ledge.

Arlo, being the most level-headed and our battle strategy expert, gave impressive direction the moment he hit the landing. "Move left! I can see a pulley system that they must use to bring up supplies. We can use the ropes to climb down into the Capital!"

We moved as a unit easily as the five of us all wordlessly encircled Rowan, accepting the fact that he still wasn't ready to fight. I was more sure than ever that Loxley would have to kill Gaius in the end; despite his hatred and desire for revenge, Rowan was just not ready to kill. I couldn't be entirely disappointed by this though, for it only confirmed how different he was from his vile father. And I suppose it also made him a better person than me.

Our team fought our way to the ropes and began to descend one by one as the others provided cover from above and below. Loxley was last. Just as she was about to grab the ropes, a burly Galacian soldier came charging at Rowan below. He lifted his sword in defence, finally finding his courage. Their swords clashed violently. Rowan was fighting for his life, clearly unable to match the brute in strength and ability. The rest of us were too preoccupied with various other opponents to help, so Loxley abandoned her decent to aid The Lost Prince. She grabbed a bow and arrow from a dead soldier, aimed and shot precisely. The arrow pierced the Galacian's neck just as he was about to impale Rowan. The man stumbled back clutching his neck with wild eyes, and then fell in a heap to bleed out. Rowan exhaled in relief, then followed the arrow's flight path to find Loxley standing above with a similar expression on her face. He smiled at her warmly, grateful for the assist. She smiled back.

She was too caught up in Rowan's safety to regard her own, and that was ultimately her downfall.

A Galacian soldier came up behind her. Rowan's face fell as he watched the approach. He called out her name to warn her, but it was too late. The soldier's blade swept across her back. She jerked around from the force, exposing her back to my wandering gaze below. The cut was long and deep. Blood droplets splattered into the air and landed on the soldier's face, and then the wound began to ooze red down her back, staining her skin and clothing.