Balanced On the Knife Edge

Chapter 13

"Tun-Na."

Nusha practically spat the name out. He had always been a thorn in her side. She had hoped that once they came of age, went their separate ways to complete their assignments for the Brotherhood, that they would at least be able to slip into mutual disinterest. But it seemed that Tun-Na insisted on hounding her, underscoring her failures and laughing at them every step of the way.

Nusha had known it was Tun-Na as soon as they saw the ogres. What appeared to Karme to be mindless slaughter was to Nusha a clear sign: watch out, I'm ready for you.

"Tell me," Tun-Na said, "did your prophecy foretell this?"

Nusha winced. Ever since the capture in the Imperial City, her belief in the prophecy had vanished entirely. She had once been insistent, vehement about its truth, but now she found her face flushing. Tun-Na had mocked her endlessly about it, and it seemed, along with his appraisal of her weakness, that he was right again.

"That doesn't matter Tun-Na. Wh—"

"Oh, but it does!"

Tun-Na spread his arms wide in a display of dominance.

"The Dark Brotherhood knows what you did: betraying your mission, lying to them. Colluding with this... creature." He gestured dismissively at Karme. "News of your adventure has gone all the way up to the Black Hand."

Nusha knew this, of course. It must have been them who sent Meeran to rescue her, though she was now sure that the plan had been to kill her. But Tun-Na's revelation filled her with shame nonetheless. Before, she had been an insignificant blip on the radar of the Brotherhood. Now she was a runaway, and those who turned their back on the Brotherhood always came to regret their decision.

"They've given me permission to disobey one of the tenets," Tun-Na said. "I am here to kill you."

Tun-Na waited for Nusha to respond, but Nusha simply shrugged. It was almost a liberating feeling, to be declared an enemy by those who had only grudgingly accepted you before. She no longer had to try and fit a mould that would never accommodate her. She was an enemy of the Brotherhood, so she had nothing more to lose. And there was no way she was going down to the likes of Tun-Na.

"Karme," Nusha muttered, taking off the chameleon ring and handing it to her. "Go ahead. Use the ring to get through the fort and get rid of the amulet. Find the Draconian Madstone. If you have to return without me, so be it."

"But Nusha—"

"Go!"

Karme nodded, gave Nusha a worried glance, and ran towards the fort. Tun-Na paid her no attention. He wasn't here for the amulet.

Karme disappeared into the courtyard and the heavy door that lead into the interior of the fort opened and swung shut behind her.

Tun-Na smiled, and walked away from Nusha. As he went, he removed his quiver and weapons, throwing them aside.

"Come, Nusha. Let's fight, hand to hand. Just like the old days."

Nusha walked up, threw her weapons onto the pile with Tun-Na's, and readied herself.

They had fought many times. At first, it was Tun-Na and his gang of friends teaming up on her, and she had no choice in the matter. Eventually she had to fight back, and for years the preceptors were breaking them apart, doling out equal punishment, even though Tun-Na was always the one to start it. When they entered the west wing of the priory, they were too old to get away with such childish games, but Nusha had never fully lost the thirst to beat Tun-Na to a pulp.

Nusha was weaker than Tun-Na. It was true back then, and it was true now. But she had other strengths. She had the advantage of speed, plus the pent up hatred from years of torment. Tun-Na's talents—climbing and archery—wouldn't save him here.