Free Eona by Alison Goodman Page B

propelled by Kinra’s exhilaration. From the corner of my eye I saw Ryko stoop and grab a second sword from the ground. The emperor was already clambering to his feet. His terrified horse kicked at dodging men and flickering shadows. I felt Kinra focus on the Imperial Pearl at the emperor’s throat.
    I could feel her fixation on the gem, her need to possess it.
    A soldier in unfastened body armor turned to meet me, his swords raised in a classic block. Even before I saw his face, I knew it was Lieutenant Haddo. His startled gaze took in my shape under the thin robe. Then his eyes found mine and I saw shock flare into anger. He lowered his blades.
    â€œPut those swords down, woman,” he shouted. “Get back inside. You’ll be hurt.”
    I faltered; the man still thought I was defenseless. In my head, I heard a command: Strike him now .
    â€œStay close to me,” he added. “I’ll get you to the house.”
    Before I could collect myself, Ryko ran past me, swords swinging at the lieutenant’s head. Haddo raised a hasty block, but the force of the attack drove him back toward the horse. The animal reared at the sudden movement, its plunging hooves grazing the lieutenant’s shoulder. Ryko leaped away as Haddo stumbled and fell, tucking into a roll to escape the horse’s stamping frenzy. The maneuver twisted off the man’s unsecured armor and sent it sliding across the stones. Nearby, a soldier saw his lieutenant go down and lunged at Ryko. The islander whirled around and deflected the strike.
    I tightened my grip on Kinra’s swords and felt her battle experience flow into me. Give no quarter , her voice whispered. Take Haddo now. I readied my blades. But the man was still on his hands and knees.
    â€œHaddo,” I yelled. “Get up.”
    He raised his head at my call, his eyes suddenly widening. “Behind you! Stop! I order you to stop!”
    I turned. One of his men was coming at me. Either he didn’t hear the order or didn’t care because he kept coming, sword swinging at my neck.
    With Kinra’s reflexes, I angled my blades into a desperate parry. His steel hit mine, the force sending a cascade of pain through my arms. He lifted his weapon for another strike.
    â€œStop!” Haddo roared.
    The man pulled back, startled.
    â€œThe islander. Get the islander,” Haddo ordered. The man ran at Ryko.
    Across the courtyard, I saw a soldier heading toward Vida. The girl had caught the emperor’s horse and was doggedly holding on to its bridle, all her attention on the plunging animal. As I opened my mouth to scream a warning, Solly ran out of the laneway and clubbed the man with a yoke.
    Haddo turned to me with the beginnings of enlightenment. “Who are you?”
    My answer was a punishing set of Tiger cuts aimed at his chest. He blocked reflexively, his face sharpening at my borrowed skill. Ahead, the emperor was holding off two soldiers with rage-fueled savagery. Again, I felt my focus drawn to the base of his throat. To the pearl. With grim determination I turned my attention back to Haddo.
    The lieutenant had already recovered from his surprise; he met my next barrage of cuts with efficient blocks. I changed tactics, swinging into the circular upper and lower body attacks of the Goat. Our swords connected in a sudden stop, our faces a finger-length apart.
    â€œAre you resistance?” he gasped.
    I could not brace against his weight much longer—he would have me off balance. Kinra whispered: Rabbit feints and kicks . Summoning courage, I relaxed my trembling hold. The sudden lack of opposition made him lurch forward. Throwing all my strength into a downward disengage, I jumped free of our grapple. My landing buckled into a fall; once again, I had forgotten the new strength in my healed leg. I scrambled upright.
    A few lengths away, Ryko and Dela were holding off three soldiers who had advanced on the unhorsed emperor. Although I