in the city as he did. That might turn into a detriment.
Until Helldrick had been dispatched, he’d take the extra help, all while keeping a watch on his back … and Jamaeh’s. He sensed that she’d never had anyone to protect her. While he’d been on his own during his missions, at least he had the training and equipment necessary to succeed. All she’d had were her wits, pure grit, and the will to survive.
The sun was low in the sky, a burning orange orb, blinding in its beauty. The unending dunes had given way to a combination of rock and sand. They were all tired and the terrain had more places for someone to hide. It was the perfect time and location for an ambush.
He’d no sooner had the thought when the first blast hit. The sled to his left flipped, sending the man on it flying. “Take cover,” he yelled as he pulled his blaster. Not that there was anywhere for them to hide. The land was flat here, rocks rising on either side. They were boxed into a small canyon. If they tried to run, they’d be picked off easily.
Zaxe caught a glint from the rocks above. Taking aim, he fired. A yell was followed by a body pitching from the cliff and plummeting to the ground below. A blast slammed into his chest. Going with the momentum, he flipped from the sled, landed on his knees, and returned fire, dropping another enemy. He heard Jamaeh scream and started to look, but pulled himself back.
Gritting his teeth, he rolled to his right behind a downed sled. The best way to protect her was to kill all the snipers hiding amongst the rocks above. Focus settled on him like a well-worn blanket. All his years of training and missions guided his actions.
Baraj and his men were firing blindly, wasting the charge of the blaster. “Stop firing,” he roared. Some complied, but a couple of the men kept on shooting.
“By the hells of Melton,” he swore as he edged around the small protective barrier. Since they insisted on firing, he’d use it. On each return flash, he fired. One shot, one kill. There were ten down by the time he was done. Reman’s men had either given up fighting or run out of charge in their blasters. Either way, silence reigned.
He listened intently and caught some sounds off to the right. The low rev of an engine got farther away with each passing second. “Stay put,” he yelled. It could be a trap. Sending one man for reinforcements while leaving the rest in position.
“They’re gone.” One of Reman’s men stood and immediately dropped when a blast took the side of his face. Zaxe didn’t bother returning fire, the snipers had gotten smarter, ducking back as soon as the shot was made.
“Stay down,” Zaxe yelled again. “Jamaeh?” When she didn’t immediately answer, his heart stopped before taking off at a gallop. Sweat beaded his brow. “Jamaeh!” he roared.
“I’m okay,” she called. Her voice was shaky, but it was sweet music to his ears.
“Are you injured?” The urge to go to her was almost too much to fight. He dug his free hand into the ground to anchor himself. He’d be more likely to draw fire toward her if he moved.
“No.” A short pause. “You were shot.”
“I’m fine.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not. I’m not hurt.” As much as he wanted to keep talking to her, he needed to know their numbers. “Baraj?”
“I’m here, but the other men are dead.”
“All of them?” Her voice was getting weaker. Had she lied about being hurt or was it shock? Had she been in a battle like this before? Unlikely. The swiftness of it, the lives lost in the blink of an eye. It was difficult the first few times. Then, like anything else, it became easier.
“We need to take out the rest of the snipers.” He kept his voice low, knowing how easily sound traveled out here. Dusk had settled and darkness was quickly descending. Zaxe smiled. This was his time.
“We stick together,” Baraj hissed.
“Don’t be stupid.” He inched his way to the other side of the sled. Baraj was off to his left about fifty meters away. Jamaeh was just beyond him. “You take one side, I’ll take the other. We can’t stay here. If whoever left comes back with reinforcements, we’ll be dead come sunrise.”
“We stick together.” The man was a broken recording.
“We both want the same thing—Helldrick dead. If we all