Forged in Flame

Chapter 10

When Archon and Ward arrive, I'm standing alone, Archon's sword clasped in one hand, my dagger in the other.

They pull their horses to a stop, glancing around warily.

"Hello again," I say sweetly.

"Where's Silas?" Archon asks, and I'm thrilled to hear his voice is raspier than usual. I smirk.

"Please, I'm not stupid enough to go back to him. An idiot could have figured out you're working together."

Archon shakes his head and Ward smiles, the tiniest lift in the corners of his mouth. Nyx is no where to be seen, perhaps watching from above.

"We weren't working with him, we followed him here, you fool. And now-" they dismount from their horses smoothly, moving in perfect unison."You've lost your one ally."

Well, I guess that answers my question as to whether or not Silas really had betrayed me. They also seem to have no idea we are traveling with Tristan; another advantage.

"Could you speak up?" I call. "You seem to be losing you voice."

Archon scowls and his hand automatically goes it his throat, where a lovely purple bruise it starting to appear.

"Then again," I muse, bringing his sword up to rest it on my shoulder. "Doesn't look like that's the only thing you've lost."

His green eyes narrow into slits and I almost laugh. He's always been too easy to goad, letting his temper and pride get the best of him. Ward though, is the exact opposite, unflappable, untouchable. Calm and collected, cold as the bitterest of winter winds, right up until he stabs you in the gut.

The bushes rustle slightly to the left and a dagger comes whistling out, Ward barely leaning back in time for it to pass by him harmlessly, thudding into the trunk of a tree. He doesn't even look surprised, just bored.

A low curse comes from the bushes, followed by the sound of fleeing footsteps.

"I knew Silas would be hiding around here somewhere," Archon hisses triumphantly. He makes a sharp gesture at Ward who nods, then darts into the trees.

I see Tristan sneaking out of the bushes behind the horses, his footsteps silent, movement fluid.

That's my cue. I smile mockingly at Archon, then bolt.

His aggravated snarl follows me. Poor Archon's having a rough day, his prey keeps outrunning him. But this time, my objective isn't to flee, it's to lead.

I dart through the maze of trees, my path memorized. Crashing ahead alerts me of Silas's presence a second before he nearly barrels into me.

"They still behind us?" he asks and I spare a second to glance over my shoulder. The twins are close enough that I can see Archon's face twisted in a vicious scowl, Ward's full of steely determination.

"Not much farther," is all I say, immensely grateful for the fact.

I spy an opening up head and two large trees marked with a pale bluestrip of my tunic. I grab Silas's arm and pull him towards them.

We jump at the same time, leaping lightly over the rope stretched between the two trunks. I toss Silas my dagger, and he snatches it from the air, twisting fluidly to hack at a rope tied around a tree to his right.

There's a muffled thump behind us as the ropes catches the twins at the knees, sending them sprawling across the dirt. The rope Silas cuts slithers up in the trees quickly and several small bundles rain down from overhead. I close my eyes quickly but the bright flash as the packages explode on the ground in front of the twins, still leaves spots floating in front of my eyes.