I backed away to the window in the hayloft and sucked in gulps of fresh air, trying to clear the wolf out of my head. However, the scene outside the window was anything but calming. I could see Daniel below, locked in battle both with Mr. Chain Whips and Anton Oberot. Daniel’s adeptness with his sword kept Anton at arm’s length, and his agility to spin and flip out of the way of the swinging chain whips seemed to frustrate his other opponent to no end. But Daniel was definitely on the defensive, trying to fend off both attackers at the same time.
Then in a move I didn’t expect, and neither did Daniel, Mr. Chain Whips sent a lashing strike of one whip at Anton. It caught the Russian Urbat around the neck, and Mr. Chain Whips jerked his arm back, flipping Anton into the air and then slamming back down again. Anton clutched at the chain that was wrapped around his neck. I’m sure the silver was burning into his flesh. Even from the barn I heard Mr. Chain Whips laugh as he pulled his other whip back, ready to send it lashing into Anton’s face. But as the whip went flying, so did Daniel. He reached out in front of Anton, catching the brunt of the whip’s blow with his arm. The chain wrapped around his wrist, and before anyone could react, Daniel yanked the whip with all his might and sent Mr. Chain Whips flying over his head. He hit the ground several feet away and rolled over onto his back.
Daniel reached out and helped Anton to his feet.
To my surprise, the Russian made a small bow toward Daniel and then jogged out of the challenging ring. I assumed he’d withdrawn his challenge out of respect for what Daniel had done for him.
I was just thinking that not all of these challengers were bad people when Mr. Chain Whips scrambled to his feet and went flying after Daniel again.
I didn’t see what happened next, as a commotion below me caught my attention. Lisa Jordan, going spear to spear, had driven Marrock into the barn. Talbot and one of Marrock’s lieutenants entered behind them, fighting sword versus spear. It was only a matter of seconds before Talbot sent a slashing cut into the lieutenant’s throat with the blade of his steel sword. Not a killing blow for an Urbat, but the man clutched at his spurting artery and dropped his silver-tipped spear.
Lisa and Marrock went at each other with their spears—spinning, jumping, and ducking out of the range of each other’s thrusts in a way that reminded me of a kung fu movie. But Lisa shouted as Marrock sent a kick into her belly. She flew backward into a tower of hay bales.
“Watch out!” I shouted as Marrock raised his spear to stab her.
Talbot heard my call and snatched the fallen lieutenant’s spear and sent it sailing into Marrock’s back. Lisa rolled out of the way as Marrock fell forward into the hay, the spear still protruding from underneath his right shoulder blade. Talbot rushed at him and grabbed the end of the spear—I thought at first for the purpose of pulling it out, but instead Talbot twisted it with hard, cranking motions. Marrock screamed and screamed, and I knew the silver-tipped spear was not only slicing his insides, but also burning them at the same.
“Mercy!” Marrock begged between his shrieks of pain. “Mercy! I submit!”
Talbot twisted the spear again, his foot pinning Marrock down for better leverage. Marrock shrieked.
“Stop!” Lisa shouted at Talbot. “He’s submitted.”
Talbot only twisted harder.
“Stop!” I shouted at him from the hayloft, but he didn’t seem to hear me, either. I took a running leap and jumped from the loft. I landed in a trough of hay and ran to Talbot, shouting his name. A look of complete and utter rage filled Talbot’s eyes as he twisted the spear in Marrock’s back. I was sure the eclipse hadn’t started yet, but was it already having some sort of terrible effect on Talbot?
“Stop!” I sent my open hand sailing and slapped Talbot across his face.
He let go of the spear and stared down at me—that rage burning in his eyes. Then he blinked and clutched his palm over the red hand-shaped mark I’d left on his face. “What was that for!”
“He submitted. Let. Him. Go.”
“Fine.” Talbot grabbed the spear, yanked it from Marrock’s back, and cast it aside. “You’re welcome,” he snapped at Lisa, who gaped at him openmouthed.
“Grace! Grace!” I heard a voice shout. I couldn’t tell where it came from at first, and I thought the wolf was shouting in my head again. Only it sounded an awful lot like Brent.