Witch Fall(53)

Lilette felt a sharp sting as something imbedded in her arm. Han grunted in pain. Then they were through. Guardians and witches burst into the open in front of the palace. They crashed down the city streets, lightning and thunder at their backs.





Chapter 19



Elephants are useful for many things—most especially for clearing things out of the way. ~Jolin



Dozens of lightning bolts struck behind the palace compound. Sash and the others were still alive and fighting. Before them, a scattering of imperial soldiers converged.

Han tossed the bow and the empty quiver. “I’m out.”

Lilette patted her sheath—she still had the jeweled dagger. “Which way?”

“There.” Han pointed from behind her. “Take merchant’s row.”

Lilette turned the elephant down the street and looked back. The witches still followed her. Surrounding them, the guardians had their swords out.

Shouting came from the one of the side streets. Imperial soldiers ran toward them. Knowing they couldn’t afford to be trapped, Lilette nudged Jia Li to go faster. People and animals moved out of the elephant’s way. Anything that didn’t was simply ran over. More than one merchant cart was knocked down, its wares trampled in the streets.

“Not much farther now,” Han said.

There were more shouts, and Lilette turned to check on the keepers. Still coming. Feeling some of her tension ease, she faced forward. “Oh, no.”

“What?”

Wordlessly she pointed to the blockade of carts. Han leaned around her and promptly cursed. With no side streets, there was nowhere to turn.

“Can she go any faster?” Han asked.

Lilette shook her head.

“Hang on!” He gripped her middle so tight her side pulsed with pain. He pressed her flat beneath him just as Jia Li hit the blockade. She blasted through carts and broken furniture that had been piled higher than a man, but quickly lost momentum. Lilette kept kicking. Jia Li trumpeted, her ears flapping at the sides of her head.

With a yell, imperial soldiers charged them from above. Han leapt to his feet, his swords whirling above her. Clutching her dagger, Lilette hugged Jia Li’s neck. “Come on, girl. Come on!”

From the ground, the soldiers cut at Jia Li’s legs.

“No!” Lilette sobbed. “Leave her alone!” Trumpeting, Jia Li reared up, shaking loose the soldiers and Han with them.

“Han!” Lilette reached for him, but he was already gone.

Jia Li dropped back to all fours and began picking up broken bits of furniture with her trunk, flinging it at the soldiers swarming them. “Good girl!” Lilette rubbed her rough skin. Guardians quickly joined the fray, protecting Jia Li as she cleared a path for them.

Finally, they were free. Witches booted their horses forward, guardians swinging up behind them. Lilette looked around for Han.

“Lilette!” he called. “Go on! Don’t stop!” He grabbed a loose horse and jumped on its back.

She could see the docks. They were going to make it! She kicked Jia Li back to full speed. A group of soldiers darted in front of them and disappeared in a narrow space between buildings.

Before Lilette could make sense of it, they shouted. “Now!” A rope as thick as her leg snapped up. Jia Li skidded, trying to avoid it, but she couldn’t stop. She trumpeted as she hit the rope. Lilette went flying, skidding across the paving stones before coming to a stop.

Quickly she assessed her injuries—nothing seemed to be broken. She braced herself on her arms and looked back. From atop their horses, guardians were fighting more soldiers. Jia Li lay where she’d fallen, her enormous body seeming so much smaller now. Oblivious to the chaos around her, Lilette stumbled toward the elephant and knelt beside her head. Jia Li was covered in cuts, blood pooling around her. How could something so magnificent and strong fall?

Lilette reached out and rested her hand on Jia Li’s face. The animal looked at her and touched Lilette’s stomach with her trunk. With a start, she remembered the boy giving her a bunch of bananas. The elephant wanted a treat.

“I’m so sorry, girl. I don’t have anything.”

Jia Li kept searching until her trunk flopped on the ground and her eyes went unfocused. A strangled cry left Lilette’s lips.

A sudden hand gripped her shoulder and pulled her to her feet. Han lifted her onto a horse’s back. “Come on! We’re not dying. Not today.” He swung up behind her. His arms came around her, and he urged the horse forward. Lilette turned back to watch Jia Li’s body and the pursuing soldiers grow smaller.

“Lilette! Answer her!” Han shouted practically in her ear.

She swiveled around to find Jolin riding directly beside them. “Which one?” Jolin asked.