Siege (The Warrior Chronicles, #5) - K.F. Breene Page 0,51

“Ruined my moment,” Shanti muttered through gritted teeth.

The ground jiggled in her vision before she shifted and braced. Her body merged with that of her horse, matching the movement and finding balance within his stride.

Feeling out in front of them, she gripped the mind of the first Inkna sentry, and the few after, in preparation. They flew around a soft bend. She speared the sentries as the Bastard sprinted down the lane, the ground even and smooth. Their minds winked out, only of moderate strength and no match for the might at her disposal.

A surge of power went up from the town, only a couple of hundred yards away now. The enemy had felt the sentries die and knew danger was drawing near. Here we go!

“Haw!” She dug her heels into the Bastard’s side and gave a grunt when he put on a burst of speed. He took off like an arrow.

The town came into view. Townspeople were running for cover. Shanti spared a small part of her power and touched as many minds as she could, layering them with feelings of relief, joy, and ease. She envisioned wrapping them up in blankets of safety, making them welcome the people bearing down on their town. Finally, she injected a shot of courage. It would not diminish their fear, but it would bolster their natural inner strength. It was time for them to fight.

A line of black ran toward the edge of the town. The Graygual response time was impressive.

She searched, combing through the town for the Gifted. She found them, many in a state of urgency, some waiting anxiously. About a dozen—they were of moderate power and experience, but a shiver of fear worked through their minds as she clutched. Clearly they could feel the power on their doorstep. There was only one force it could be.

The Chosen.

Hating to disappoint them, she struck. Her power thrust out of her, slicing into soft brain matter. Agony flared before half the minds blinked out, dead. The others held on, clawing through the pain.

The gates loomed. Graygual stood in front, holding shining blades and experienced poses. Shanti ripped out her blade as an arrow whipped out from the side. Heads popped up over the walls. Bows came up.

Bursts of power flared around her now as the Shadow and Shumas were in range. Their attacks fell on the archers. Screams rent the air. A wave of arrows took to flight anyway, few of them well aimed. Someone groaned in the cluster of Cayan’s army. A gasp preceded the sound of a body hitting the ground.

“Steady!” Cayan yelled, throwing his voice over the noise.

The Bastard gave his equine war cry, unlike any other horse she’d ever heard, followed by a loud whinny as he reached the line of Graygual. He barreled through, knocking his way into the city before flinging out a foot behind to catch someone in the head. The blow cracked the Graygual skull like a melon.

Shanti slashed down with her sword as power slapped her. She shielded as the Bastard reared, having her tipping in her saddle. She threw a leg over without thinking, and jumped. She hit the hard ground and rolled, coming to a stop at a Graygual’s feet. She kicked out, catching his knee. His leg bent sideways. He screamed and fell. Still on the ground, she struck toward his chest. Misjudging, she missed. Her blade rammed through his throat. Happy accident.

She hopped up. A sword swung through the air, right for her head. She ducked as a blast of power smacked into her. The remaining Inkna were getting annoying.

Without warning, Cayan’s huge undertow of power bubbled up and overflowed. It rolled through her and then surged out, shaking the ground as it ripped through the battle. Pain hammered through the Graygual, making them shriek. Her power swirled higher, filling the void between them with electricity.

“Blast it, Cayan,” she swore, slashing through a Graygual and running deeper into the city. He was right beside her, moving so fast she could barely see the tip of his sword. “You have to aim!”

“I reacted. Quit nearly getting your head lopped off!” he yelled back. He blocked a thrust and then kicked out to the side, catching another Graygual in the jaw. He cut through the man in front of him before ripping him out of the way, too impatient to wait for him to sink to the ground in death.

Shanti took out a knife and threw it at a Graygual who