Les released the pole into the water and grabbed the rope around his neck, trying to free himself. I scuttled toward him, the boat rocking violently at Les’s struggles.
The rope pulled him out of the boat and up to the bridge, his legs kicking as he hung in the air.
“Les!” I clutched my sword and lunged for the rope. But it was too high, and every second I wasted they pulled him closer to the top of the bridge.
Laughter and shouts echoed from above. The Da Vias, enjoying themselves while Les dangled, choking from the noose. I knew how it felt.
I sheathed my sword and jumped for the bottom edges of the bridge. My hands reached the stone and I clamped tight.
My side ripped with pain. My body fought against me, commanded me to let go. But if I dropped, Les would die. I managed to swing my leg and hook it onto the ledge. I took a breath, agony radiating everywhere, and pulled myself up. I flopped over the side of the bridge gracelessly.
Nik and Grape Leaves dragged Les onto the bridge. He lay sprawled on the ground, struggling with the rope. Grape Leaves drew the rope taut, the other end with the stone bludgeon resting at his feet.
“Looks like you caught a big one this time,” Nik said as they watched Les fight against the rope. “Feisty, too.” He glanced in my direction. “Nice of you to join us. You’re just in time for the fun.”
I struggled to my feet and hunched over as I pulled my sword free. Behind me footsteps pounded on the street. The rest of the Da Vias. I couldn’t spare them any attention. I needed to save Les.
I lunged toward them. Nik laughed as I swung my sword. He jumped aside easily, but I wasn’t aiming for him.
My sword bit into the rope, severing it. Les inhaled sharply and pulled the noose from his neck.
Grape Leaves shouted and jerked the severed rope toward him. He switched ends, grabbing the severed half and swinging the bludgeon in a circle beside him, slowly gathering speed. It whirred and buzzed the faster he spun it, until the rope was a blur of motion.
“You’ve made him angry now,” Nik said to me. “That was his favorite one. He’s had it for years.”
“Too bad for him,” I said, free arm clenched against my side, which burned with fresh pain. I couldn’t straighten my body, could only face them hunched over like an invalid.
Les struggled to his knees beside me, coughing, tugging his hood back in place.
Behind us, I heard dirt shifting under feet. I turned. Two other Da Vias and Val stood armed and ready.
I charged them, a foolishly reckless move my parents would have been disgusted to see. But my parents were dead, and Les would be too unless I could stop this fight.
I swung at Blood Spatter in a wide and frantic arc, hoping my crazed attack would take him aback, force him to step away. But he was a Da Via, and they were the second Family for a reason. He stepped inside my arc. The pommel of his sword smashed against my solar plexus like a blow from a hammer. The air in my lungs rushed out of me with a cough.
Diamond Mask kicked the sword from my hand. It crashed against the cobblestone bridge.
A loud snap filled the air, followed by a booming twang. I turned. The stone bludgeon on the rope smashed into my right cheek. My head snapped back. Half of my mask shattered. Bone shards rained across me as I fell to the ground.
Everything faded to black. A smell like rotten fish wafted across me. Blurry shapes returned. Muted, dull sounds settled over me like raw wool. I blinked. Blood filled my mouth and I spat it out.
Someone leaned over me. Nik. I reached for him. He grabbed my hands and pulled me to my feet, twisting my arms behind me. In front of me a quick scuffle ended with Les in the same position, Grape Leaves securing Les’s arms behind him.
Les and I were too winded and injured to speak. My face swelled. Was my jaw broken?
Val paced between us, his anger apparent with every pounded boot step against the bridge.
He stood in front of Les and jerked the hood off his head.
Behind me, Nik yanked the remains of my mask from my face. He dropped it to the ground and drove his heel through what was left of it. The tiger-striped bone shattered beneath his boot.
“You’ve been poisoned again,” I said to Nik. My voice sounded slurred from the hit I’d taken. He paused, then looked to his arm.
“Huh. Well, knowing you, I’m sure you have an antidote somewhere in this pouch of yours.” He tapped the pouch on my hip.
“Let us go, and I’ll give you the antidote.”
Nik laughed. “No deal. In a few minutes all your antidotes will belong to me. I haven’t dropped dead yet, so I think I’ll take my chances finding the right one in time.”