She caught the guard’s upper arm and cut deep, enough that he cried out and dropped his weapon. But now the others were focused on her as their target, and they started to move, spreading out to surround her.
Breathing hard, Red ran for the wagons, and darted down between them and the wall of the stable. The shelter was fleeting; they’d box her in at any moment. She could go for the wall, try to get up and over—
“Stay safe, Red. Your life is dear to me.” A small part of her remembered the High Baron’s admonishments. But her blood sang of steel and death, and caution had no place in the moment.
She ran to the back of the last wagon, thrust the larger key in, and twisted. The lock clicked open, and she lifted the bolt.
The enemy of her enemy, with any luck.
The door burst open. Red fell, landing hard on her back, the wind pushed from her lungs. Her daggers went skittering away.
A huge something stood over her, growling, its teeth inches from her throat.
Red fumbled around, trying to find her daggers, staring at the jaws of the monster. It was as big as a bear; she couldn’t see much past the teeth. Hot breath stung her eyes. It sniffed the air … paused—
—then spun off, charging toward the guards.
Red flipped onto her chest, grabbing up her daggers as a seemingly endless stream of the creatures jumped out of the wagon. Their huge paws were all she saw, landing around her and then past her, off into the darkness. Screams started then, of men fighting for their lives.
Red scrambled up to her feet, not questioning her luck. If the beasts could draw off a few, she could take down the rest.
She rounded the wagon on the other side and saw two men, their backs to her, fending off one of the creatures. Softly, holding her breath, she ran up behind the one, grabbed his hair, yanked back, and stabbed at his throat.
He screamed, blood spurting from his neck. She jerked the dagger free, letting him fall to the ground. The other guard was fending off the animal, shield high, eyes hard. “Here! She’s here!”
Red snarled, pulled her blade free.
An arrow slammed into her shoulder, the pain driving her to her knees.
The flagstones swam before her eyes. Blackness swirled as well, but Red fought it off, forcing herself up, her one hand still grasping a blade. But two hits to the same shoulder—that hand wasn’t going to grasp much of anything anytime soon.
“Bitch,” one of the men growled as they started toward her. “Don’t crowd, boys. Disarm her, then we’ll have some fun.”
Red grimaced, not really seeing much more than heavy boots, drawing close. Enough men to take her, that was sure. Provided they were willing to pay the price.
A scrabbling sound came then, of claws on stone. Deep snarls from behind the guards, who lost all interest in her, fast.
Red used the distraction to force herself to her feet. The arrow in her shoulder shifted as the tip grated on bone.
Dark, swift forms leapt out from the wagon’s shadow, claws scraping on the flagstones.
“Vores,” one of the guards cried out, no longer focused on Red.
The others cried out as the animals leapt forward, fangs gleaming white. Huge wolflike creatures, but these were no wolves. These were nightmares out of the darkness with teeth and fangs and savage fury in red eyes. No matter. The enemy of my enemy …
Red launched herself at the man who’d screamed, bringing her dagger into play. He was swift enough to parry her. She had a quick glimpse of grim eyes under the helm, and a sword swinging for her neck. She blocked, but not before the blade caught the arrow and tore the tip partway out of her shoulder. Red staggered back as her arm went numb and useless.
A big vore with silver on his ruff darted in behind her opponent. The man cried out as he fell, hamstrung. Red heard the beast growl, and then the screaming stopped.