Shadowguard

If there was ever a time in her life where Everna felt well and truly outmatched, it was then.

The grip on her wrist was like iron, firm and biting and threatening to shatter the delicate bones buried not all that deep beneath her skin. Godwin’s nails dug into the soft flesh on the underside of her wrist as he hauled her forward, her shoulder burning as it shifted in its socket. Without thinking, she swung at his face. Godwin leaned back, laughing.

"Quite the feisty little thing, isn't she?" he asked, turning back to her mother, who had dropped the illusion now. The edges of his cloak shifted, and the hilt of her sword came into view, the emerald set into the cross-guard gleaming beneath the torchlight. It was well within reach, if she could get her hand there in time.

"How did you know?" her mother asked, slipping a dagger from beneath her sleeve. Her eyes darted about the room, lingering on each of the agents for not more than a second before returning to Godwin.

"I see you've forgotten about the scrying torches," he said, chuckling. His grip on Everna's wrist tightened, and she winced. "Though it has been, what? Thirty-some years since you last set foot in here? Age must be dulling your mind, Fiadh. Or, perhaps motherhood has made you soft."

The agents rose from their kneeling position, an array of weapons appearing from beneath the drapes of their robes. Wil slipped his hands free of his shackles as Arden nocked an arrow. Everna swallowed a fresh wave of panic. A fight was inevitable, but she'd hoped not to be caught directly in the middle of it.

And that's exactly where she was — smack in the middle of a soon-to-be bloodbath without a weapon in hand.

For a long moment, no one moved, the air still with anticipation. Shroud remained at the ready, awaiting Godwin's signal. Her mother bounced on the balls of her feet, her fingers drumming against the hilt of her weapon. Mayor Ashburn drew his bow. She caught Wil's eye from across the hall, and the look he gave in response sent a jolt of guilt through her.

How many weeks had he and the others spent trying to keep her safe, only for her to turn around and barrel head first into Shroud's clutches — and all for the sake of her own pride? Hellbent on seeing it all end as soon as possible, she ignored the better judgment of those who were far more experienced. They knew what they were up against, but she insisted she was ready for something she wasn't.

She was a complete and utter fool for thinking she had a chance.

"Let her go, Godwin," her mother said, spinning her dagger in her hand, "and I might just let you live. Long enough for the noose, that is."

"I see where your daughter gets her arrogance from.” Godwin twisted Everna’s arm to the side and she bit back a hiss of pain. Her mother's face darkened, her eyes wild with murderous intent. "Did you truly think I wouldn't call in Enforcers once I realized you were interfering?"

A wicked grin split her mother's face. "Still that afraid of me, are you?"

"Wary," he corrected, "though you were as predictable as expected. The only reason this wench survived as long as she has is because I kept my agents at bay. Our master wants her dead or converted — whatever it takes to get her out of our hair. But I knew if I made just enough of a ruckus after the damned Courts failed me, it'd draw you out of your hole. What I hadn't expected was the good mayor to survive, though. It doesn't matter now. I have all of you right where I want you."

Arden loosed his arrow.

Godwin ducked as it streaked towards him, the tip of the arrowhead skimming his ear. Everna turned and lunged for her sword. Her fingers closed around the hilt, the familiar warmth of the enchantment a blessed relief as it washed over her. She wrenched it free of the scabbard and immediately swung it at the hand holding her. He cursed and snatched his hand away just as the edge of the blade skimmed across it. Much like the skin of an apple, his glove and a thick layer of skin peeled away from the back of his hand.

Everna bolted behind the nearest column as the chamber fell into the bedlam of battle. Spells flew through the air: motes of fire, bolts of white and green and purple, and crackling lightning. Arrows splintered against walls. A statue on the far side of the wall burst into a shower of dust and marble chips. Her mother advanced towards Godwin only to be stopped short by an agent emerging from the shadows before her.

Godwin spun on his heels, his hand dripping blood, and tore after Everna. She skirted around the column, back pressed against the marble. He made a grab for her and she dodged. Cursing, he went around to the other side and she followed.

The column shook as a mote of fire exploded above her head. Shrieking, she ducked beneath the flames and bolted for the next column. Godwin gave chase.

It seemed to last an eternity, Godwin hounding after her as she ducked and bobbed and weaved between the columns and through the clamor. She barely had time to snatch her dagger off the floor before a small barrage of fire motes sent her scrambling for cover. Wil shoved her out of the way of an arrow. Her mother blocked a blade coming at her from behind. Mayor Ashburn shot an agent seconds before they hit her with a spell.

Rational thought fled as absolute terror stilled the air in her lungs. These weren't drunken revelers but trained agents of a vile organization — raving lunatics flinging more magic and weapons than the academy duels and tavern brawls combined. If she survived this fight, it would be only because they wanted her to.

That realization brought tears to her eyes as she scrambled behind the metal chair, narrowly avoiding a brilliant bolt of glittering white aimed at her. It struck the woven metal and dissolved into a shimmering fog. An arrow caught in the gaps, the tip stopping just inches from her face.

Golden Lady help her, she was going to need all the luck she could get.

The longer the fight dragged on, the more agents seemed to appear. They flooded in from the hall, blocking the only exit. Her mother tore through the throat of one and vaulted over the falling body as a mote of sickly green sailed past her head. An agent broke away from the chaos and made for her, only to be taken down by a well-placed arrow from Arden. Somewhere off to her right, another arrow flew. It caught the mayor in the shoulder and sent him stumbling for cover behind a marbled column.

Above the din of battle, she heard Godwin give an order that further sent her into hysterics. "To hell with it, just kill the lot of them!"

A streak of light caught her eye — another brilliant mote of fire barreling towards her. She scrambled behind the nearest pillar as a resounding boom tore through the room. Fire shot past her, the heat smothering. As quickly as it arrived, it vanished. Sweat slicked her skin, which was red and angry but not blistered.