What was the neczar doing here? Didn’t it need to protect the high priest? Worse—were there more than one in town?
Nikon said, “We have to hurry.”
“We’ll never escape it,” Apaesia said. “He’s faster than a human.”
“We escaped a neczar the other day,” I said, putting hope into my voice.
“An enhanced neczar is different,” she replied. “It will never stop.”
“Then we fight.” My words were met with silence.
“She’s right,” Nikon said. “We have to try. But we should attempt to get as far from here as possible, on the off chance that prevents the warriors from catching up to us.”
I didn’t wait. I just went forward, swinging my cane and pulling on my dad.
He groaned, but headed forward as well, soon leading me instead.
We hurried along, making a couple turns through the streets. People murmured as we passed, but we didn’t stop to catch what they said. We made a right turn onto a street and had gone a length greater than we’d covered previously without turning, when a low growl came from behind.
“What’s that?” Though I feared I already knew.
“It’s here.” Nikon brought us to a stop. “Our best chance is if we all attack it at once.”
He didn’t say it, but the unlikelihood of it working underlay his words.
I turned around, facing where the growl had come from. There was no heavy rush of footsteps, just the light tap of someone used to stealth. I wished I knew more about this opponent.
The sphinx came to mind. Why, at this moment, would I worry about the sphinx? I had answered her question. But that might be the point. All I could do was take heart, like the sphinx had said, and do what I could to protect us.
“Tell me when,” I told Nikon.
“He’s taking his time, getting here,” Nikon whispered. “The warriors will reach us before he does. We should rush him.”
I took apart my cane into the fighting sticks. “I’ll follow you.”
“Apaesia, Dorian, do what you can to protect yourselves and Edita. I’d tell you to run, but it’s probably better we stick together,” Nikon said. “Let’s go.”
His footsteps were loud, probably for my sake. I’d take it. I followed him as closely as I could, Husani’s footfalls near. Thankfully, Nikon wasn’t running, but there also wasn’t time for me to test the ground before I went forward. Any divot or rock could trip me up. I pushed ahead, regardless of the dangers, arms pumping.
Nikon and Husani must have reached the neczar before I did, because there was a clash of metal. Rain poured down my face as I joined the fight. I didn’t want to lash out and accidentally hit one of them, but no tingles of warning came my way.
How could I help, if the neczar didn’t attack me? I stood there, ready, following the clang of the fight but unable to do anything. I wracked my brain for something—anything—that would help. Nothing.
The fighting drew farther away, so I followed it as fast as I dared. Nikon grunted. Husani swore. The neczar laughed, a dark, growling sound that sent chills down my spine.
It didn’t sound good for us. If he managed to take out Nikon, there’d be nothing to stop him. I had to help my friend, and now.
I jumped forward, yelling, “Duck, Nikon, Husani,” and hoping they did so.
I swung out, toward the noise of fighting, and connected with something solid. Nikon and Husani didn’t call out, so it wasn’t one of them, but neither did the neczar. I whacked at the thing again and again, before a low chuckle sounded.
“You can’t hurt me, girl. No one can.” The neczar’s voice was rumbling, deep like thunder.
I clenched my teeth and struck out again.
A shuffle of movement on my left. Nikon. He was fighting. A tingle moved up my arm. The neczar flung a weapon at me—at us both. I blocked, hoping Nikon and Husani would go to the opening it left. The weapon I’d stopped twisted around, flinging me backward, and the buzzing sensation of what was going on around me died.
I wouldn’t let it go easily. I slammed my stick down hard in front of me, only to find air. The momentum sent me tumbling forward. All sound except the pelting of rain stopped.
“Where’d he go?” I held myself ready to defend.
“Darted away faster than I could see.” Husani moved as he spoke.
Nikon could be anywhere, just as much as the neczar.
“Behind you,” Dad called.
I swirled around and lashed out as a tingle reached up my arm. Thanks to the magic, I pummeled into solid mass. A grunt sounded, but the buzz of an attack kept coming. I moved faster than I thought possible, striking and defending. Nikon and Husani’s swords clanged against the neczar’s weapon.
The fight wore at my arms, tearing into me with a fierceness I’d never experienced. We were losing. Soon, we’d be dead or captured. I needed to turn the tide of the battle, but all felt hopeless against such an opponent.
He was strong, fast, and indestructible. How did we win a fight against something like that?
I wished Tewy were here. He’d be a distraction to my opponent if nothing else. At least he wouldn’t be captured or killed with me.
On the other hand, Nikon would.
The thought made me rip into the neczar faster and harder than ever before. Me dying was one thing. It would be another if Nikon did. The thought pressed me on more, my sticks moving as if guided by someone stronger and faster than me.
Nikon yelled, “We’re losing. Fall back.”
Though I didn’t want to, I hurried back, Husani’s steps coming near mine.
The neczar laughed. “There’s nothing you can do. I always win.”
Nikon grabbed my right arm, and we both stepped backward, thrusting our weapons at the neczar. I didn’t dare turn away from the creature, as it appeared to be faster than us.
“What do we do?” I asked.
“You give in. Give up. Give me what I want,” the neczar said.
“And what is that?” I was proud when my words didn’t quaver.
“My master wants you. Come willingly, and I’ll let the others go.”
What? Me? What could the high priest want with me? I let my right stick flick outward toward the neczar but only found empty space.
The neczar laughed, a deep creaking sound that was just out of arm’s reach. “You’re no match for me. I’ll put my khopesh through the Reding’s old pet’s throat unless you join me.”
I didn’t want to go. I had to fight the creature, and if it was just me, I would. With Nikon’s life on the line, however, I wouldn’t risk it. I’d go if it meant protecting my friends. “You promise to let them go?” I asked.
“No.” Nikon pulled me back. “You can’t have her.”
I tried to shake myself loose, but his grip was tight. I couldn’t get out, though he only held me with one hand. “You have to let me, otherwise we’ll all have to go with him or perish.”
“Perish. Yes. I like the sound of that.” The deep voice thrummed through me.
“No.” I pulled against Nikon and stood forward, digging my feet into the ground. “You can’t have them.”
“If you insist, little blind girl. I won’t hurt anyone needlessly if you come now.”
I ignored the insult, instead wondering if the neczar had chased us because of the prison breakout or because of something else. Didn’t matter. I had to save those I loved. “If I come with you, you won’t hurt any of them at all.”
He snorted. “I can only promise that for the night.”
“Fine.”
“Cass, no.” The words ripped from Nikon, as he pulled me closer until our chests were touching and his words brushed against my cheek. “You can’t go with him. You don’t know what he’ll do. What will happen.”
“It’s the only way.” Though it was true, my throat clogged with emotion. I didn’t want to leave him any more than he wanted to leave me. And then there were my parents. I’d just gotten them back. If I left now, I might never be with them. But if that was what it took to keep the rest safe, that was what I’d do.
Nikon crushed me hard against him in a one-armed hug. My hands were full, clenched around my fighting sticks, but I did my best to hold him back.
“Now, little blind girl, or I’ll go back on my word.” The neczar sounded impatient.
“Cassandra.” My name ripped from my father, anguish coating it.
I pulled back. “I have to go.” I aimed the words at my father, then whispered to Nikon, “Promise me to take care of him and Tewy.”
“I would, but I can’t let you do this.” Nikon’s tone went from determined to that of a general, ordering his soldiers around.
“I have to.” I’d just rescued my father; I wasn’t about to let anything happen to him. And I cared far too much for Nikon, to have the neczar tear him apart.
I pulled away from Nikon, surprised when he let me. I wanted to tell him what was in my heart, but I didn’t know what that was—only that I didn’t want to be parted from him. I stuck with, “I’ll always remember you.”
“How touching. Now move it.” The neczar must have wanted to get me to its master.
I turned toward him and put my sticks together to sweep the way clear before me.
“I’ll be taking that.”
My cane was ripped from me, making my hands ache, but not nearly as badly as my heart did.
It would have been easy to follow him, even without my cane, but something made me stumble and tumble into the great mass of his body. Through his thick leather armor, I felt his strength—muscles much larger than Nikon’s. I jumped back, but before I got out of reach, a hand grabbed me, larger than two of Nikon’s put together. “Come, little blind girl. Time for your reckoning.”
What was he talking about? Whatever would come would come. I saved the people I cared about. That was what mattered. Though they’d have to get out of here soon, or else the warriors would catch up to them, and they’d made no promises.
I hurried my step. The neczar didn’t protest, instead matching my speed. I tried not to think about what fate awaited me, or the loss I felt so deeply in my chest. It was impossible not to.
We’d gone about a dozen steps, when the neczar jerked to a stop and let out a strange, gurgling sound. He fell to the ground, taking me with him. I landed on my side, half on the ground and half on him. I shoved myself off as his grip grew weak.
“What’s going on?” The words slipped from me.
Nikon’s familiar, comfortable hand took hold of mine and gave me my cane before placing my free hand on his arm. “I stabbed him in the back. He’s incapacitated—for now,” he said.
We were going to make it.