Siege (The Warrior Chronicles, #5) - K.F. Breene Page 0,32

man in a wrinkled black uniform with a single slash at the breast turned the corner up ahead. Two more joined him of the same rank. Shanti hefted a knife and threw, sticking it in his chest. Another appeared in the man beside him, dropping the Graygual to his knees. Rohnan reached the third with his staff and cut through the vulnerable neck. The man had barely struck out with his sword before he was sinking into a puddle of death.

“I see no signs of a large host,” Kallon said above the din. A man ran at him from a side alley. He turned and thrust his sword through the Graygual’s gut with quick economy. The man issued a high-pitched scream and fell away.

“No. They must be here to keep the city occupied.” Shanti struck someone running to meet them. A shrill scream echoed against the walls.

More screams erupted behind them, a group of Graygual trying to run at their backs, but the Shumas didn’t even turn to take them out.

Shanti felt Cayan’s frustration and Sanders’ boredom. They worked toward the northwest, the largest populated area.

Shanti turned a corner. A black back was running away from them, his sword nowhere to be seen. His back arched as he screamed before tumbling to the ground.

“Their minds are weak,” Kallon said.

“They don’t have the Gift. How would they block you?” Shanti turned left, confused by the strange layout of streets within the city. She felt minds running toward them, and some running in Cayan’s direction, all originating from the same area. Shanti and Cayan’s target area.

She turned left again then slowed to a stop, scowling at a house that closed off the street. “Were they drunk when they laid out this town?” She went back in the other direction and attempted to work her way around.

“Where townspeople?” Sayas asked from behind them.

“Those that survived the attack on Cayan’s city obviously didn’t survive the Graygual attack. Or they left.” Shanti tried a left turn again, sighing in relief when the street was mostly straight, leading to a large, square building. In front of double doors stood a line of Graygual with straight backs and sloppy poses.

She shook her head. “These aren’t army. What’s the point of them?”

Kallon sheathed his sword and unslung his bow from his back. “They are a good thing to toss at the enemy in order to see what he does.” He yanked an arrow from his back and nocked it in a smooth movement. A moment later the arrow struck a Graygual in the chest. Another arrow flew, Sayas following suit. Mela was right after. Bodies fell, leaving gaping holes in front of the building.

“Stop!” Cayan’s horse clattered through the grimy street, followed closely by Sonson.

The line in front of the building started to wobble. Graygual huddled close together, and then drifted apart again, the desire to run so strong a few had dropped their swords in anticipation. But there was nowhere for them to go.

“Where do you hail from?” Cayan asked, holding his palm up to the archers.

The lead Graygual stared up at Cayan with wide, terrified eyes. “Further north, sir.”

“What happened to the Mugdock that occupied this land?”

The Graygual shook his head a fraction and glanced to the side. The next man shrugged while the others continued to stare with blank looks. Their minds were equally as empty. Xandre wasn’t risking any sharp army men in this endeavor.

“How long have you been here?” Shanti tried, stepped closer.

The lead man’s fearful gaze swung her way. “J-just a couple months. Oh—you’re the violet-eyed girl!”

A flash of opportunity flared from the man on the end. His sword swung upward as he lunged forward. Shanti threw up her weapon to block. The blow never landed. A blast of power so ferocious that Shanti staggered backward crashed into the man. He barely had time to shriek before his limp body tumbled to the ground. Next to him, caught in the line of fire, the others screamed and clutched at their chests before sinking to their knees.

“Cayan! You have to choose who you affect with the power—you can’t just blast everyone in the way!” Shanti shook herself out, and then smiled as Kallon bent to rest his hands on his knees. She pounded him on the back. “And just think, you have yet to carry out the challenge.”

“He would benefit from some training,” Sayas said with a white face.

Shanti started forward as Cayan jumped down from his horse. She stepped around the fallen