Shadow's Lure by Jon Sprunk

Author:Jon Sprunk [Sprunk, Jon]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fiction, Fantasy, General, Assassins
ISBN: 9781616143718
Publisher: Pyr
Published: 2011-06-20T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Caim dove into the front ranks of the men coming up the steps. His assumption—that this was a patrol of jailors, maybe two or three at the most, lightly armed—collapsed when he ran into a squad of helmed spearmen. He barely had time to register this as he plunged into their midst.

He dropped two enemies in his first rush and sent another stumbling back into the men below with a kick to the face. Shouts resounded up the stairwell as Caim cut his way through leather and flesh. His only advantage lay in surprise and sheer ferocity, but that only lasted a few heartbeats before the soldiers discarded their ineffectual spears and drew smaller arms. Step by painful step they pushed him up the stairs until he was back on the landing. Then Keegan and Ramon’s cousin were on either side of him. Joram attacked like a man possessed, swinging his hammer with a vengeance. Caim scowled as a sword stroke meant for Keegan almost took off his ear. With another thrust, the soldiers pushed them back another few steps, almost to the wall. Joram didn’t retreat with them, but pressed forward by himself. The soldiers fell back before his intensity, but Caim saw the danger.

“Get back!” he grunted between breaths.

But it was too late; the soldiers surrounded the tall clansman, cutting him off from the landing and safe retreat. One moment Joram’s hammer rose and fell like he was pounding metal into submission, the next he and it disappeared under the press of bodies.

“Back!” Caim shouted to Keegan.

Keegan retreated into the doorway with his sister, giving Caim some room to maneuver, but three soldiers were already on the landing, with more coming up behind them. Caim glanced around. How am I going to get out of this?

There was nowhere left to retreat to—they were on the top floor. No windows in sight. And having seen the results of captivity in this horrid place, surrender wasn’t an option. He’d die before they took him alive. If Keegan loves his sister, he’ll kill her the moment my body hits the floor.

Another option buzzed in the back of his head like an angry hornet. His powers. As the soldiers moved to surround him, that final solution loomed larger in Caim’s mind. It was potentially fatal for everyone in the prison—Keegan, Liana, the outlaws, and the scores of men and women languishing in their cells. Then again, some might call it an act of mercy. Damn yourself if you will, but don’t sugarcoat it. Will you kill a hundred people to save your own hide?

The answer lurked inside him, but Caim didn’t want to search for it, afraid of what he might find as the battle-rage bubbled in his chest. The shadows oozed along the ceiling, pulsing with hunger, wanting to be unleashed. Their hunger began to eat away at his concern, and he didn’t know how long he could keep the feelings at bay.

Caim froze for a fraction of a heartbeat as a tremendous roar echoed behind him.

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