Horsemen's War (The Rebellion Chronicles #3) - Steve McHugh Page 0,44

sword is meant to represent. Some days I think I do a good job, and some days I think I’ll never reach that ideal. But I try. And I’m here because I want to make sure we all have a chance to stand up as one and say to Arthur, no. To tell him that we will not become his minions; we will not be subjugated; we will not be afraid. We will do what’s right, and we will make sure that future generations look back on these moments and see something good happen in a sea of darkness. I hope you help us; I really do. Thank you for your time.”

Mordred stepped off the dais as Hel and the rest of his team moved over to him, and with Nanshe, they left the amphitheater.

“That was good,” Nanshe said. “I think you swayed a few.”

“Let’s just hope it’s enough,” Mordred said. “I’m pretty sure the others in Washington are already having a less-than-ideal time; I’d quite like to give them some good news.”

Chapter Ten

LAYLA CASSIDY

Washington, DC, United States, Earth Realm

“That is a lot of very angry psychopaths,” Judgement said from the roof of the apartment building as more and more people could be seen heading their way.

The horde of pro-Avalon forces was two blocks away. Layla could hear their shouts and the screams of war that accompanied them, see the flames leaping from the buildings they torched. There were a few thousand of them, and more and more people had fled their homes and taken temporary residence inside the three residential buildings that Layla and her team had sworn to protect.

“How long before reinforcements arrive?” Layla asked Jinayca in her ear comm.

“Not long,” she said, sounding rattled.

“Not long isn’t quick enough,” Layla said.

She looked over the edge of the roof. The APC had been moved to sit at the far edge of the walkway between two of the buildings. As the three buildings formed a horseshoe, it was imperative that they funneled everyone down between them. The APC’s positioning was designed to help do just that, putting the incoming horde into a kill zone they couldn’t escape from.

At least, that was the plan.

Chloe lay on the rooftop beside Judgement with a scoped rifle, aiming at the group heading their way. It was their only rifle—while the APC was chock full of weaponry, no one had seen the need to be sniping people from hundreds of meters away.

“How are things your end?” Layla asked Piper.

“We’re keeping the residents as calm as possible,” Piper said. “Tarron is doing most of it. He has a way with people. The driver and passenger of the APC have helped arm anyone who has shooting experience and a few who just wanted to help. Tego has growled at anyone who steps out of line. Turns out people don’t like that.”

“You used Tego as a way to keep people in line?” Chloe asked, and Layla knew she was smirking.

“I am shocked and appalled,” Layla said with a slight smile. She looked over the edge again at the members of her team who were on the other roofs. Piper waved.

“Where’d you put the residents who can’t help?” Layla asked.

“They’re in their homes,” she said. “There were a few off-duty cops who live here, so we’ve let them keep people from doing anything stupid. Also, you know, we told them that Tego would be about.”

“Layla, you need to see this,” Chloe said.

She looked over at the approaching horde, but they were still a few hundred meters up the road. There was an explosion in the distance as another set of apartments was set aflame. Layla wanted to do something to help, but doing so would leave the now hundreds of people inside the apartment blocks with even less protection.

Chloe passed Layla a pair of binoculars without getting up, and Layla knelt down beside her and used them to watch the rabble as they marched ever closer. They stopped periodically to slaughter anyone in their path, leaving their bodies on the sidewalk before continuing on. They were in the middle of torching cars when someone inside an apartment four floors up crashed through a window and landed on the railings below to the cheers of the horde.

A man poked his head out of the broken window and raised his arm in victory, receiving more cheers.

“Do it,” Layla said.

Chloe pulled the trigger, and Layla watched as the bullet smashed into the man’s skull. He toppled out of the apartment block onto