Chapter 22

The fight is one sided. Though the boys are incredible, it doesn't matter. As good as they are, eight against two is never going end in a win for the two.

Three guards pile on top of Khiara and take him to the ground. Four more are circling Dilacs. As they close in on him I'm struck and stumble away from them and into the wall. The leader doesn't miss his chance. He dodges around the fighting and grabs me.

"Gwen!" Dilacs roars.

He bodily picks up one of the attackers and slams him into another one of them. As he throws the guard, though, another guards club cracks against the back of his head. He stumbles forward, grunting as his normally half-lidded eyes open wide.

I'm thrown into the air by the leader and drop painfully onto his shoulder. I try to scream but I've got no breath to do it with. The leader rushes around the conflict, leaning away from a thrown fist. He has his arm locked like a vice of iron over my midsection, crushing me against his armor.

"No," Khiara roars.

Each of them are engaged with three hulking Urr'ki who are still standing. As I'm carried away Khiara is struck several blows. His head rocks side-to-side with so much force I cannot believe he isn't on the ground unconscious.

"There, stop them," the one carrying me barks, swinging me around so wildly I'm nauseous.

More guards rush past as we turn a corner. Then, coming down the street opposite the way we are going, comes an unarmored mob. A mob of what looks like an irregular militia. They're carrying makeshift weapons, rods of steel, some have chairs, others have what looks like cooking utensils.

They are running to the fight and for a moment hope fills my head. But they aren't coming for me, they the corner without a glance. I can only hope that they're going to help Dilacs and Khiara. Please, if there is something to this whole Tajss provides, save my boys.

My head is banging against the back of my captor as he runs. Two guards appear and fall in on his flanks. I struggle, trying every way I can to break free but it's of no use. Nothing I do phases him. I wiggle and slip, but before I can make it far enough to be free his other hand grabs my ankles and jerks me roughly back into place.

The clashing sounds of fighting echo loudly in my ears still even as I'm carried away to face who knows what horrible end. We run down a narrow street without incident. My hope dwindles with every step.

Then something strikes the head of my captor. He yells in pain and stumbles to one side. His grip loosens as he does and I buck my hips, sliding further down his back. He tries to grab on, but I kick my legs and then I'm free.

I hit the ground hard on my shoulder. It feels like I may have broken my wrist trying to break the fall but I'm not sure and there's no time.

Stumbling to my feet I run without looking. More things rain down behind me. Crashes, bangs, and yells of pain fill the air, but I don't pause to even look.

Run. Run you damnable fool.

And run I do. For all I'm worth. I come to a crossroads and only now do I dare to look over my shoulder. Urr'ki are throwing anything and everything from the second and third stories of the buildings along the street. Objects are flying out of the windows so fast that it's almost impossible to ascertain what any one thing is.

The three Urr'ki who had me run around shielding their heads then the leader sees me. He points and roars. The two guards look from beneath their protective arms and start in my direction but one of them is struck by a heavy pan. He falls back, holding his head as he tries to stay upright.

We didn't turn to get here so I continue running straight. Not quite blindly, I'm trying to get back to the boys, but I'm not one hundred percent sure of the way or direction. It all looks a lot different from an upright, on my feet position than it did bouncing off the backside of my captor.

I put my head down and run with arms pumping and breath coming fast. A stitch forms in my side but I push through it. Dilacs is back there. In trouble or not, he and his brother are my hope. The one thing I know I can count on here in this alien city.

I don't see the arm until it's too late. As I'm clotheslined, I hit so hard I lift off my feet, flipping up and slamming onto my back. My breath goes out an instant before my head cracks the stone road and darkness takes over.