The Broken Pieces(64)

Shadows moved, and then the tent shook as several men entered.

Pulling his shield off his back, Jerico charged, knowing he had not a second to waste. Through the tent flap he barged. In the confined space he found Kaide standing in the center, his dirks drawn. The wizard Bellok stood beside him, Adam and Griff each holding one of Luther’s arms. The priest himself was gagged, and his face reddened as he struggled to breathe.

“Kaide,” Jerico said, for he knew not what else to say. The brigand was at first startled by his entrance, but seeing who it was, he smiled.

“It was a cowardly thing Arthur did, trading you,” he said. “But I’m glad you’re alive. You should be here with me when this bastard dies.”

“Don’t!”

Jerico flung himself between him and Luther. The dirks bounced off his shield. Nothing could match the shock and betrayal he saw in Kaide’s eyes.

“How dare you?” he asked. “Have you gone mad?”

“Get out of here Kaide,” Jerico said. “You don’t need to do this.”

“I do,” Kaide said. “Sebastian’s dead, and by my hand. It felt good, Jerico. It felt so damn good, but it didn’t last, and you know why? Because Luther is still alive. He killed Sandra. She died in your arms for the gods’ sake. How can you defend him?”

With his shield still blocking Kaide, Jerico pulled free his mace and pointed it at the two Irons twins.

“Let him go,” he said.

Adam leaned to the side so he could see Kaide.

“We could break his neck, if you’d like,” he said.

“No,” Kaide said. “No, his life is mine. Move out of the way, Jerico. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“And you won’t,” said Jerico. “Last time, get out now. Go to your daughter. Find happiness, but not through this. I traded my life for Sebastian’s, yet you killed him anyway? Save yourself, Kaide. Save yourself before it’s too late.”

The standoff continued, Jerico bouncing his attention between both sides. Either of the twins was capable of wrestling him to the ground, and Jerico had seen firsthand the speed and skill Kaide possessed with those dirks. So worried about them, he almost didn’t catch the subtle waggling of Bellok’s fingers as he cast a spell.

Jerico shoved his shield in the way. For a half-second he felt a terrible exhaustion clawing at his eyes, but then the light of his shield flared, and the spell broke. The motion stirred the two Irons brothers into action, Adam securing Luther with both hands while Griff flung himself at Jerico. The paladin shifted so the hilt of his mace jammed into Griff’s stomach, blasting the wind out of him. Griff was a big man, though, and that was hardly enough to stop him. As his momentum kept him moving forward, Jerico turned and pushed with his shield, flinging him in the way of Kaide’s desperate lunge. During the brief respite as the two were entangled, Jerico spun on Adam.

“I’ll break him,” Adam said, his hands tightening around Luther’s neck.

“You won’t,” Jerico said, and in a single smooth motion he stepped close and struck Adam with the base of his mace. It connected between his eyes, and in his daze his arms loosened, and Luther slipped free.

Kaide, sensing their advantage almost gone, rushed Jerico, and his dirks flashed with blinding speed. Jerico blocked two strikes with his shield, and with a hard counter he sent a dirk flying from Kaide’s hand. The move put him off balance, though, and like a dancer Kaide angled about him, avoiding his feeble attempt to block the way. With nothing between him and Luther, Kaide ran, his dirk hungry for blood. Jerico shouted for him to stop but knew it was pointless.

Luther, however, had pulled free the cloth from his mouth.

Shadows pooled before him, forming a shield. Kaide’s dirk hit it and bounced off, filling the tent with the sound of reverberating steel coupled with a crack of thunder. The brigand tried sidestepping, but with a twist of Luther’s wrist the shadow-shield followed, remaining between them. Jerico moved to help him, but both Irons twins flung themselves atop him, each wrestling control of an arm.

“Wait,” said Luther, his voice surprisingly calm. “I would make you an offer, Kaide, if you would give me but a moment to listen.”

“Speak,” Kaide said, a dirk still dancing eagerly in his hand.

“As I told Jerico, I have wronged both of you greatly in what I did to Sandra. In this, I will make amends. You may face me, Kaide, and me alone.”

“A duel?” Kaide said, and there was no hiding his surprise.

“Yes, a duel, a single chance for you to find your vengeance. But not yet. I must stop Cyric, a man who threatens to enslave every last man, woman, and child your army has fought to protect. Come with us. Help us kill him, as Jerico has also sworn to do. When my former pupil’s body lies at my feet, then the matter between us shall be settled.”