Siege (The Warrior Chronicles, #5) - K.F. Breene Page 0,43

ripped off her mind. The cunning mind of the Graygual in front of her sparked to life, cool and intent, but also curious. The Graygual behind was perplexed. Somewhere above her, Marc and Xavier were active, worried, and eager.

“Uh oh,” Shanti said with a grin, circling the Graygual. “Your trip to the afterlife has just been guaranteed.”

“It was always guaranteed. It will just come a little sooner. Will you hide behind your power, or will you fight?” The Graygual’s sword slashed out, fast and precise.

She blocked his thrust and countered with one of her own, hacking at him before backing off then using a smooth strike. He flicked her thrust away and countered, the same precise style in nearly the same thrust. He was trained to within an inch of his life, she had no doubt, but his style showed little variety.

She had learned during her travels. She’d become better.

She stepped forward, skipping inside his reach, and hacked again, fast and brutal. He moved to the side, and she moved with him, expecting the counter and then receiving it. She kicked out, connecting her foot to his side before slashing back down. He staggered but blocked before spinning around. His thrust was almost unexpected.

That was a new trick. She’d have to adopt that.

She stepped forward and thrust as a blade swiped the air behind the Graygual. It hooked in the back of his neck and raked across.

“No, Rohnan!” Shanti stabbed forward, getting her blade in his gut before the Graygual crumpled to the ground. “Blast it. He was mine.”

“He registered his defeat. He knew you would win.”

“So? I wanted the victory, you thief.”

“You would’ve played with him, and we don’t have time.” Rohnan cleaned his blade before bending to check the body.

“I would have learned more about his fighting style to make it easier to take down his kind the next time.” Disappointed, Shanti moved so she could see Cayan fighting the other one. He hadn’t used his Gift either, probably thinking like she had. Or maybe relishing the challenge.

He moved forward to attack, fast and powerful. His thrust was vicious and quick. The Graygual knocked it away and pivoted. Cayan was ready with the next attack, battering at him. The Graygual turned again, and again, slower than Cayan and knowing it.

“He knows he has lost, as well. He is surprised that a man can best him.” Rohnan moved forward with his staff.

“Don’t do it, Rohnan!” Shanti spread her arm across Rohnan’s chest to hold him back. “Let him learn from this Graygual. It’ll make him better.”

Cayan slashed through the other’s arm, a deep cut that might’ve sliced close to the bone. The Graygual didn’t so much as grunt. Arm dangling, he stepped forward with another thrust, slowed with pain. Cayan batted the strike away, met the advance with his own, and ran his blade through the other’s gut.

“He’ll head-butt—”

As if on cue, the Graygual bent forward. Cayan arched back to evade but didn’t move in time. The man’s head crashed into Cayan’s jaw. A blast of power rocked out from Cayan, scorching the man in front of him. He convulsed then went slack. His body slid limply to the ground.

Cayan glanced down at the man before turning to survey Shanti. She couldn’t see his eyes, but she knew his gaze was scouring her body, making sure she was okay. That done, he bent to the man and used the fabric to wipe his blade.

“This one used the same style of fighting as the one last night,” Shanti said. “As the one you fought.”

“They were trained in the same place. That stands to reason.” Cayan straightened and wiped his brow. His Gift spread wider, checking everyone it touched. Shanti didn’t tell him that she’d already done it. He needed to check in on his people.

“You and Sanders were trained in the same place, but your styles are so different it’s laughable. And Lucius isn’t like either of you, yet you are all good. These fighters are exactly the same.”

Cayan faced her then, wheels turning in his head. He didn’t say anything. Instead, he looked in the direction of Marc and Xavier, who were relieved but carried a burden. Shanti had no doubt they had found the Gifted.

“For all he complains of his fear, and of his incompetence, Marc is one of the best,” Rohnan said.

“He is like you.” Shanti followed Cayan in that direction.

“How so?”

“He hates his role by my side as much as he loves it. He hates the