Lacuna - N.R. Walker Page 0,104

their attentions have been drawn elsewhere,” Crow replied. His thoughts turned to Soko, and Karasu and Kohaku. “We need to hurry.”

They made it to the archīvum undetected, but a few steps in, Tancho pulled Crow in behind some stacks, crouching low in the dark. Sure enough, a team of snuffling Ascii trampled through, heading back down to the old hall.

“We must be quick,” Tancho whispered. “Before more of them come. We don’t want to get caught on the stairs.”

They could go around, the way Elmwood and Samiel went, but it would take time they didn’t have. “We need to find our friends,” Crow replied, unable to keep the worry from his voice. “We’ve been gone long enough.”

Tancho took the lead and made it to the stairs first, not even pausing as he began the climb. The spiral staircase was tight and dizzying, and if Crow never climbed them again, it would be too soon. His legs burned; his lungs squeezed. He couldn’t remember when he’d eaten last or slept. This day had lasted forever and he could feel exhaustion wresting his bones.

But he didn’t dare stop.

Tancho got to the top landing and paused, then, to peer around the corner. His chest was heaving, but he gave Crow a nod that it was clear to keep going. They ran along the dark grey stone corridor, and as they neared the light outside, Crow could already see everything was a burnished bronze hue. As they made it to the small courtyard before the stables, Crow looked up at the sky.

It was . . . mesmerising, beautiful, and frightening.

Both moons were moments away from a total eclipse of the setting sun, and the huge yellow orb was almost blacked out but for a golden outer ring. But the light was refracting at every angle, sharp shards of golden light as though the sun had been skewered by a hundred cosmic swords.

In a few minutes, it would be complete, and it would be spectacular.

Tancho pulled on Crow’s arm. “We don’t have time.”

He ran, fast and light on his feet, and Crow had to push himself to keep up. They ran around the stables this time, not wanting to be surprised by any Ascii who might have gone back to finish off the horse carcasses.

As they made it to the huge entry door, Tancho finally stopped for a breath. Crow gasped back deep breaths of air, ignoring how heavy his legs felt. “Your heavy swords and armour wear you down,” Tancho whispered.

All Crow could do was roll his eyes.

Tancho opened the door a crack, peeked inside the foyer, and quickly pressed himself back against the wall. “Twenty, perhaps.”

“Fuck.”

Tancho smiled. “Later.” He pulled a smoke bomb from his belt, opened the door, and threw it inside with enough force to smash it.

A deafening raucous broke out, screeching, stomping, fighting, and then it faded out to eventual silence.

Tancho opened the door, wide and fast, and Crow had his sword at the ready. A group of Ascii creatures were piled up at the door, fast asleep.

Crow pulled the top creature by its foot and out the doorway, piercing his sword though its throat before he realised that Tancho had jumped up onto the pile and was already inside. But another screech from inside told Crow not all the creatures had succumbed to sleep, and for the love of all that was right in the world, Tancho was in there alone with them.

Desperate and close to panicking, Crow clambered over the bodies to get to Tancho. He landed on his feet to see Tancho being cornered by two Ascii beasts.

And without thinking, without any thought for his own safety, Crow swung at the first creature, his broadsword hacking into the creature’s knee, sending it screaming to the floor before he silenced it with another blow.

Tancho swung his katana at the other creature’s huge arm, sending a spray of green blood across the floor. But the blow didn’t maim it, only seemed to anger it, and it roared as it swung its blade-like claws at them, catching Crow’s chest plate and slicing four lines downward.

It was so close.

Too close.

Tancho roared in response, swiping his katana through the creature’s armpit, and Crow swung his sword at its neck, taking the creature’s head off. Green goop oozed from its open neck and it fell to the ground like a boulder.

Crow touched the claw marks down his chest armour. If he’d been an inch closer or if his armour had been any lighter,