the attack is set to occur in the town square at the south entrance of the tunnel. If we’ve timed it right, we should be able to sneak out of the den, hide behind the tree line, and support the group of Night soldiers from there.
Or …
If things go badly, join them.
When we reach the ladder that will take us up to the trapdoor, I check my hourglass: it’s still an hour until vesper bells, which means the sun is still out. I’ll be visible, but we all will.
Dorian and I share a look.
“Hood—” he says, pulling his own over his head.
I do the same.
Imi pulls out her blade.
Xavier loads an arrow.
I grip one of my knives.
From the top of the ladder, Dorian unlocks the den door and shoves it open a crack when an explosion goes off directly above us, sending dirt to rain down on top of us. We’re all shaken off balance, and Dorian loses his footing, falling off the ladder and onto the ground.
Once we regain our composure, I spot Dorian and Imi exchanging a look. One that has to do with some previously decided-on plan. One that, no doubt, has to do with me. And instead of waiting around for one or both of them to hold me back because the Lunalette must be protected, I quickly scale the ladder.
Shove the den door open the rest of the way.
Dorian swears.
I come up onto the island.
Xavier’s right at my side. “Eh! I promised him if there was danger, I’d back you up.”
Did Dorian make deals with everyone on our team?
But I nod because not too far away arrows are flying and explosions are sounding and if anyone has my back, I feel certain, based on his reputation, it’s Xavier.
The two of us run and duck behind a group of boulders just as Dorian and Imi emerge from the den. They jump in the opposite direction, take cover behind the trees.
Daring a peek up over the largest boulder, I spot the group of Night soldiers. Then another. And one more in the distance. They’re spread out. A bit confused but holding their ground. With only the cover of the piazza fountain and a small wall, they’ll be left out in the open once the smoke from the main explosion clears.
Imperi forces huddle just out of the Night’s line of sight: From what I can see Xavier’s contact was correct and we outnumber them by quite a bit, but they definitely have the advantage of position and cover. The Imperi stand in lines on the other side of the square behind the trees opposite us.
Even worse, they spot Xavier and me right away.
I duck, look at Xavier, his dark eyes dead serious.
“This is not great,” he whispers, seeing what I’m seeing. “But we’ve got the numbers.”
We watch as the Night soldiers search for cover. “We have to help get them out of there before the smoke clears and the Imperi strike.”
Instead of trying to talk me out of it, Xavier nods confidently. Finally, someone who’s on board with me fighting.
On a silent count of three, we run from one clump of rocks to another. Then to a group of trees. Slowly, we make our way closer until we’re at the final line of trees before the open town square.
That’s when everything goes terribly wrong.
The first surge of Imperi soldiers hits without warning and with the crash of a hundred angry waves. Knocks the breath clean out of me when I’m forced to jump belly first behind a clump of tree stumps.
Smoke and shouting, yelps of pain fill the air all around me.
I’ve no idea where Xavier, Dorian, and Imi are.
I glance to my right, then to my left. Over my shoulder. But they’re nowhere to be seen. I’m suddenly alone, and they could be alone too.
Or worse. I force the wave of panic constricting my chest and making quick work up into my throat back down. Quell it for now because I can’t allow fear to take over.
With a deep breath, I peek up over the stumps to try to spot them again but instead watch as a Night soldier throws an explosive where the group of Imperi soldiers are hiding.
There’s a flash, then an explosion, and I duck back behind the tree stumps. When I risk another look, the same Night soldier who threw the explosive receives an arrow to the chest and drops to the ground. A second Night soldier runs to his aid when she