my back. Enemy forces surged toward me, and I cut them down, ignoring the rising bile in my throat as more blood spilled. Blessed by magic of their own, the Sentinels chased after me with breakneck speed. For the first time since they’d been assigned to my guard, panic flickered through their barely visible gazes. Their movements were jerky, their kills sloppy and reeking of unease. Just how dangerous was this mage?
As if in answer, the glowing orb between her fingers finally reached its pinnacle. She thrust it from her hands directly toward me. Her cry rose above the trumpeting horns and beating drums, and I swerved my horse to the side. The snarling mass of energy streaked by, searing the left side of my armor. Heat cooked my skin, and I cried out even as my mare let out a frightened squeal and reared onto her hind legs. Fumbling to grip the reins in time, I lost my balance and smacked into the earth, reddish muck squelching through the slits in my armor and coating my skin. Black dots danced across my vision as the cattails swam in and out of focus. A dull ringing reverberated in my skull.
Somewhere behind me, the Sentinels shouted. We’d separated ourselves from the majority of our forces, and a barrage of enemy foot soldiers converged to take advantage. Rolling to the side, I avoided the deadly arc of a sword and swept the feet out from a jade warrior. He responded with a swift punch to my jaw. Pinning me beneath his weight, he brought his sword down fast. I countered with my blade and grimaced as the lingering burn from the magic transformed into a bone-deep blaze of pain down my arm. Grunting, I forced all my strength into my hands and pushed. He fell onto his back, and my blade met his jugular. A wet gurgle spewed from his lips, and then he went limp. Dead. I scrambled to my feet and stumbled forward a short distance until a familiar swell of static electricity clouded the air.
From a few feet away, the mage smiled. “And now this war will finally end.”
I had no time to dodge her attack. My strength was already waning, and while her first attempt had missed, this one wouldn’t. The last thing I’d see was the slash of her grin across blood-stained skin. Gritting my teeth, I crossed my arms in front of me in a futile, last-ditch attempt to protect my heart.
And then a blade so black it must have been carved from the night itself exploded through her ribs. Her magic died in an instant, and she sputtered, wild hands flailing against an attack neither of us saw coming. She took one look at me, blood staining her lips, and crashed to her knees, then to the ground.
Gone.
With a slow blink, I glanced at the space behind her. A man clad in sable clothes stood without moving, his gloved hand holding a black blade dipped in red. Confusion dulled the threat of battle, and I took a careful step forward. He wore the attire of a Wilheimian noble, with filigree patterns and brocades etched in fine stitching along his vest. His shoes were somehow remarkably clean, his clothes only showing the faintest signs of dirt and blood. Helmetless, his styled pompadour was on display, and not a single hair dared to jut out of place, despite the wind.
With a belabored sigh, he righted his silver-rimmed spectacles. “Thank you for distracting her, Prince Aleksander.”
“It’s you I should be thanking.” I did a quick glance behind me and saw my guard had taken care of our nearby enemies and were waiting, gauging the distance between me and this mystery assassin. Threat or no? He wore no affiliating emblem. No colors from either army. Still, he had saved my life. As a show of faith, I sheathed my sword. “Why kill the mage? Are you Lendrian?”
“Lendrian?” The man raised a careful brow. “I suppose by geographical terms, the answer is yes.”
Geographical terms? My brow furrowed. “I see. Then you should return to camp with me. I’d like to reward you for your courage.”
“There’s no need.” With a flourish of his hand, the blade disappeared. Into a hidden sheath? I couldn’t tell. It was as black as his clothing, so perhaps. The man ran his hands over his vest until they came across a stray piece of lint. He flicked it away. “It seems as though this victory is