The Silver Siren (Iron Butterfly, #3)(40)

I needed to find Kael.

I needed to find Joss.

Where were the guards? I tripped over someone in the dark, landing on something warm and soft. I stifled a scream as I recognized the familiar uniform of one of the Calandry guards. I pulled away and reached for his neck, feeling for a pulse and relieved to find a steady one. He was alive. I left the unconscious guard on the ground and stood up to run toward another robed figure who was leaving with Emry.

I was about to reach the Septori when the ground opened up in front of him and he sunk down to his waist in quick sand. He had dropped his prize, and the young girl fell to the ground a safe distance from the deadly sand.

“Wha—?” He yelled and tried to scramble out of the ground, sinking lower and lower. Within seconds he was gone and the earth hardened once again. There was no hint of the tomb buried below. A blonde girl ran out of the shadows and checked on the younger girl. Syrani! I was somewhat taken aback by her efforts. She hefted Emry in her arms and looked around in confusion. It was clear she didn’t know what to do then.

“Woods!” I whispered loudly from behind her. “Run to the woods.”

Syrani jumped and let out a little noise in fear. Once she recognized me, her eyes widened, and I thought I saw a small hint of relief. She turned and carefully headed into the dense trees, carrying the young girl.

Thalia, they’re leaving!

Stop them. We can’t let them leave with the students!

It was time to stop being quiet and stealthy. I didn’t know if anyone else was awake during the midnight ambush. I had to do what Kael always said to and assume the worst.

I ran into the middle of camp, making every single fire relight at once and blaze angrily into the night sky. I wasn’t going to hide. I wanted to see how many of my attackers there were, and I wanted to face them. I’d usually become the strongest when I was angry.

And right now, I was ticked.

I launched the burning logs like missiles at the men. One screamed before he was silenced by my fiery dart. I wanted the robes to burn. I wanted to see their faces. One of the taller men yelled and tried to pat down his robe but the flames spread quickly. He ripped the robe from his body, revealing his Calandry military uniform and flung it to the ground away from him. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, panting with fear before he looked up and realized what he had done.

Familiar eyes met mine and my heart plummeted.

I halted my attack midair and let the fire fall to the ground, dissolving. There are times in my life where I think I can handle anything. But I wasn’t prepared for this—not Garit.

“Thalia, I can explain.” Garit held up one hand to me, while his other hand rested on his sword. His discarded Septori robe lay burning in the grass next to him. He took a step toward me and I mirrored his step by walking toward him.

He licked his lips and smiled wanly at me. “It’s just a job, you know. I was at a tavern in town and someone approached me.” The others in red moved nearer, closing in.

I wanted desperately to hear his explanation—to hear the reasons Garit changed sides and was working for the Septori. I wanted to know how long and why.

But not at the expense of the Denai lives. I wouldn’t let what happened to me happen to anyone else.

“How many of you?” I asked. “How many more like you have been compromised?”

“It’s not like that,” Garit crooned. He turned his green eyes on me pleadingly, asking me to trust him.

I watched his sword hand until he was within four feet. Then I stared into his eyes and waited for the tell. The sign. It came seconds later.

His eyes widened just a millimeter and I rolled. His sword swung and missed me by seconds. He yelled and lunged. I stepped back and directed all of my anger on on his blade. It shattered and Garit froze mid-attack.

His mouth gaped open in shock and he stumbled backwards holding his stomach, where a piece of his shattered sword had blown back and impaled him.

I let out a cry of grief and reached out to help him, but he fell forward and I rushed to catch him.

“Garit, I’m so sorry. I wasn’t trying to hurt you, I swear.”

“But I was…and I wouldn’t have stopped trying until you killed me,” he rasped out.

“Garit. Where are the others? Where’s Joss?”

“Gone. They were the first ones,” he gasped in pain. “They were the first to be taken.”

“Gone? Taken where, Garit?”

“I don’t know,” he whispered, losing strength. “They no longer care about you. To much a risk. But we were to ordered to get the SwordBrother at all costs.” Garit grabbed my hand and squeezed tightly. He started to sputter, and I reached out to try and heal him, but I was yanked backwards off of him.

“Thalia,” he groaned.

I kicked my feet as one of the Septori rolled me to my back and jumped on me. I couldn’t believe I had let myself be sidetracked by Garit, that I lost my peripherals.

I turned my face to spit out a mouthful of dirt and the man punched me. Bright lights flickered in my vision, and I could feel myself start to black out. His fist rose into the air again, but a giant boulder came barreling through the air straight at him and knocked him off me.

I looked to the edge of the camp. Syrani’s hands were raised as she used her power to attack the remaining Septori. She didn’t stop after the first attack. The ground shook as more large boulders and rocks rose out of the earth around her, and she sent a barrage at the rest of the Septori. Her mouth was pressed into a determined line as she focused on killing. The girl was a deadly force, her beauty deceiving. I shuddered to think back to our battle in the arena. If I hadn’t attacked her personally, she probably could have killed me.