Conquering The Unbroken

Chapter 38

My body bows backward involuntarily, and the cold wind of a sword grazes inches past my face. Slamming against the stone stairs beneath me at the same time the sword slams into the stone wall, I have a brief second to scramble backward as my target comes around the corner.

I don't know if the illusion is still in place. I don't even know if Binx is still alive. I avoid thinking about either as I roll out of the way of the guard aiming directly for me. That answers at least one of my questions.

He blocks the bottom of the stairs and I stand, facing a blond-haired, blue-eyed boy with such revenge in his eyes that I wonder if I did something to hurt him. "I don't want to kill you," I pant, exposing my gloved palm in innocence.

No better than a wild animal, he growls and charges at me. I duck underneath his swiping blade, finding an opening to the bottom of the stairs, and leap for it. I'm slammed to the side, not by the guard I just escaped or the other standing in the hallway. Binx's body is what hits me and the wall of Silas's tower doesn't give way to my shoulder slamming against it.

Renit appears at the top of the stairs, cursing under his breath, and Binx groans. I push him off as the guard charges, and on my toes, leap out of the way. "Witch of deflection," Binx mutters with what breath he has left.

On my knees, I twist. It's enough to avoid a blade aimed directly for my heart, but it puts me out of the position to deliver a brutal attack of my own. Binx kicks the guard's leg out from underneath him but it's not enough. We'll have to kill him; it's our only chance.

Just as I'm about to do just that, his steel sword, perfectly cleaned and polished, comes for my head. These guards are aiming to kill, even if we're the greatest targets the king would rather have alive for torture. They don't care. Either that, or the king didn't think we'd get so far as to make it inside the castle in the first place.

He figured we'd kill Binx.

That's why we made it this far.

My sword in my hand, I lean back against every failed swipe. I've trained for this moment, avoiding weapons. Binx was always on the other end, but my body moved like that of a ribbon, carelessly frail in the wind. It's not until he swipes for my head that I duck down, my knee slamming against the stone, and thrust my sword forward.

The guards are wearing armor, but nothing stronger than leather. A blade cuts right through it. I crouch onto my shoes, shifting positions at the same time blood leaks through the gloves covering my hands. At least I believe that to be happening. The guard attempts to pry the blade free, gasping for air, and I kick out his knee.

Bone pops and he falls, sliding further onto my blade. I had no choice. I had to kill him.

I don't have the opportunity to apologize for killing someone that might've had a family, for a horn louder than one I've ever heard echoes through the hallway. I clamp both hands over my ears, the shrill clamor shaking my entire being. It stops abruptly and when I open my eyes, I find the guard's head pooling blood onto the stone floor. Renit stands above him, his hands clenched into fists.

"We need to go," he orders. "That's a warning call. Guards will be here at any moment."

The castle seems to shake with the thundering of their boots. They're coming here, each and every one of them. Like a herd of wolves chasing a wounded deer.

I run towards Binx and take his arm, hoisting him up. He stumbles, a result of hitting his head on the wall when he crashed into me, but he's able to walk by bracing his hand against the wall. Silas's body is still limp and unresponsive next to his chambers, his head hangs low and the dark strands of his hair hide his features.