Siege (The Warrior Chronicles, #5) - K.F. Breene Page 0,52

was running around a house toward her. Another knife hit the next man before Rohnan appeared by her side, his staff whirling.

“Take out the Inkna,” Rohnan yelled over the din.

“Give me a minute, would you? I’m leading the attack here!” She caught a sword strike, stepped back, and looped her sword around. The Graygual blade went flying. She stabbed him as she searched for the Inkna again. They weren’t hard to find. They were clustered together at the back of the city, scattering their efforts. They were outnumbered, perhaps for the first time in their lives.

Her power surged, then felt the growl of Cayan’s might and spiraled higher. Electricity crackled. Her Gift grew and expanded, swirling out. A low-level boom shook the foundations of the city. A huge explosion of power ripped out of Cayan, bringing the crowd of Graygual to their knees. Shanti’s power frizzed into white-hot points of light, raining down on the Inkna like a lightning storm. There was nowhere to hide and no hope of blocking. It pierced their consciousness and shattered their minds. The Inkna minds winked out almost as one as the Graygual before them writhed, clutching their chests and screaming in agony.

Shanti felt minds bent on violence in the sky. She glanced up at the rooftops before sending out mental warning. She pointed upward and yelled, “Archers!”

Arrows rained down before Shanti and the army could move. A slice of agony seared her arm, the arrow ripping flesh but not sticking.

Bursts of power flared, but not before answering arrows flew from the army.

“Mine!”

“I got left!”

“I’m shooting anyone I can!”

An arrow stuck into a Graygual chest, followed by two more. He fell to the ground as more arrows struck those around him, this time coming from the sides.

“The townspeople!” someone shouted behind her.

Shanti blasted the town with a surge of pride before searching out more Graygual.

“Back of the city,” Cayan yelled, doing the same thing.

He led the charge with her right behind. The Shadow and Shumas spread out, trying to fill the area with power in case anyone else popped out.

“Are the Graygual running?” Sanders yelled up.

“No. Not cowering, either. Waiting.” A surge of adrenaline rose up in Cayan. She suspected it was a trap.

Shanti thought of the Hunter.

Townspeople emerged from houses along the lane. These were mostly men but included a few women; they had angry or determined expressions, with tattered clothes and rusty swords. One carried a shovel. They were prepared to do whatever they had to.

“This way!” Shanti yelled, directing them to follow.

“What are you doing?” Sanders asked.

“They need to win back their town, and we are going to help them do it.” They ran through a building and met a middle-aged man. He held his sword like a lover, standing on slightly bent knees and looking at a large house at the end of the lane.

“Well met,” Shanti said in the traders’ language.

The man met her eyes in confusion. He shook his head and said something Shanti couldn’t understand.

Sanders rattled off an answer, or an insult—there was no telling, really—and nodded. “He says the Graygual officer is in that house surrounded by Inkna.”

“The Inkna are dead and the officer is waiting for death,” Cayan said in a flat voice. He glanced at Shanti, letting her take the reins again. This new leaf he’d turned over regarding her rash decision-making was a pleasant change. It was also terrifying. Didn’t he realize that sometimes she needed to be reined in?

“Let us clear the way, and you will have your vengeance,” Shanti said to the man.

Sanders translated in a voice that sounded like a threat.

“We’re on the same team,” Shanti told Sanders.

“That’s why he isn’t dead. Hurry up.” Sanders motioned her on.

“Give the man a little power…” Shanti jogged toward the building with her Gift spread wide. For Sanders’ benefit, she said, “There are a few more Graygual throughout the town, and a couple more trying to run, but the Shadow and Shumas are taking care of that.”

“I wish you’d left a few Inkna alive…” Sanders growled.

She doubted that her smile reached her eyes. “Next time.” At the door of the house, she felt a thick arm come across her chest and force her back.

“No.” Cayan stepped in front of her, and gestured Sanders to his side.

She should’ve known that making decisions only went so far.

Shanti clutched the Graygual mind, ready for what was going to come.

Cayan braced to kick the door down, but the man from the town quickly stepped forward and put