A Girl From Nowhere (The Firewall Trilogy #1) - James Maxwell Page 0,100

than that.”

Selena thought about Blixen and his warriors, dispersed throughout the Rift Valley. What chance did they have? The city guard rode wyverns. Galen and his men could shoot arrows from the sky, picking off enemies below until there was no one to stand against them. She finally understood Rei-kika’s words: Have you not realized that everyone in this canyon is in hiding?

What, then, was Blixen’s plan? He must be biding his time, waiting until he had the numbers to rush the city. But with Galen hunting down every bax in the Rift Valley, Blixen’s army would break up and flee.

Arren’s next words filled her with dread. “Come, Selena. Find us some more.”

When Selena found a group of six bax hunters, the city guard flew out to make the kill. The two mystics made her travel to the mountains, and, when she came across some skalen, Galen rode forth with his men.

Arren and Merin forced Selena to watch as Galen butchered mantoreans in the foothills. The city guard toyed with some bax infants, carrying them into the air on their wyverns before dropping them from a height to the rocks below. The two mystics controlled Selena’s casting for hour after hour, and sometimes the city guard brought home prisoners for the arena.

Galen never showed any emotion. The cold-faced commander butchered every non-human he and his men came across.

Blood flowed in the Rift Valley and beyond.

Selena was given a bigger room, with an oval window that at least let in some fresh air. The Protector even provided fresh clothing and a bone comb. He gave her water to wash the dirt from her hair and face.

She often saw Ruth, cleaning, carrying linen, or serving tea. Ruth was in the tower at all times of day and Selena guessed that, like her, she must have quarters inside. But every time Selena tried to catch her eye, Ruth’s mouth tightened and she gave a barely noticeable shake of her head. Once, when Arren and Merin were talking in the corridor, Selena tried to take the opportunity to speak with her, but Ruth looked panicked and rushed away.

Meanwhile, the things Selena had seen and done gave her nightmares. She knew that there were many more bax in the Rift Valley and hoped that they had the sense to flee.

The Protector was pleased. He made no secret of his hope that Blixen himself would soon fall under the commander’s sword.

28

Taimin glanced at the slim man seated across from him at the long wooden table. There hadn’t been much conversation over the midday meal. Usually Vance was talkative, making expansive gestures while he told stories from his time as a weapons trader in the city. But today his face was pale and he had barely opened his mouth to speak or eat. As the other prisoners finished and left the table, Vance stayed where he was, staring down at his untouched plate.

As soon as he and Vance were alone at their section, Taimin leaned forward. “It’s just you and me. Out with it.”

Vance looked up at him, and Taimin saw more than worry in the man’s eyes. His jaw was tight. He could barely hide his fear. “The guards told me I’m going to be fighting a wyvern.” He let out a breath. “I knew my luck couldn’t last forever.”

Taimin knew there must be more to it. “You’ve survived this long.”

Vance shook his head. “It’s got blood madness. One scratch and I’ll have blood madness too. You’ll have to put me down like an animal while I try to gouge out your eyes.”

Taimin became truly concerned. Fear was the greatest enemy of all. It was a heavy weight to bear and dragged at the limbs, causing hesitation when decisiveness was needed. He realized that it wasn’t just death that Vance feared; it was the manner of his passing. Vance needed to face down his fear or he would die.

He met Vance’s gaze and spoke firmly. “You’re not going to go mad. I know about these things. Humans can get blood madness from a firehound’s bite, but not from a wyvern.”

Vance raised his gaze. “Really?” He frowned, puzzled. “Why not?”

“I don’t know, but it’s something Abigail told me.”

“I can’t catch it?”

Taimin hesitated for the briefest instant. “No.”

Some of the tightness left Vance’s face.

“Like you said to me, just focus on the fight,” Taimin said. “You’ll still have to work hard. Even with clipped wings a wyvern can still bite and scratch. It’ll be angry, without doubt. I