“Amos!”

Noak slid down bits of scrap and sprinted to the Junker’s side. He rolled Amos onto his back, grateful when he heard the old man’s gargled protest.

“Hold on.”

Noak dragged him across the sand and between chunks of rock towards containers emblazoned with Dragon Shipping Solutions. Bullets hit close to their head. They threw up sand and showered them in debris. Noak kept low and pulled Amos around a corner, ignoring the old man’s pained groans.

There was a pause in the gunfire while Melker coordinated his men. Noak propped Amos against the metal container’s side. He pulled off the Junker’s scarf and tied it tight around his stomach, ignoring Amos’ cry when the material squeezed against the bullet hole.

“Keep your hands pressed against that wound, Junker. Hey!” He slapped Amos’ pale face to get his attention. “Do you hear me?”

Amos gave a weak nod and did as Noak asked.

“This is bad.” Amos wheezed.

Noak nodded. There was no point in pretending.

“You should have kept going,” Amos said.

“I know.”

“There’s more of them than us.”

“Doesn’t mean they’ll win.”

Noak removed his jacket and freed the knife from his belt. He took a few deep breaths, then he opened himself up to the Leashworm and drew on the Source. The power ran in an electric shiver across his muscles. When he heard the scuff of feet on the sand nearby, he attacked.

***

Finn ran. His lungs burned and his limbs felt unsteady, even with the Source coursing through him. The cave magnified and distorted the sounds, so he wasn’t sure when to duck and when to move. The bright entrance dominated his vision. Finn’s muscles were still weak, so he acted with clumsy instinct. Hands grasped him. He cut them away. Finn barged into a man, knocking him off his feet.

More guards appeared, too many to fight. Finn swerved. He sprinted across the barge and crashed into the river. He swam through the cold flow to the other side and vaulted up the bank. It was safer here. Only frustrated curses followed him. A guard tried to take Finn’s shortcut and was swept downstream.

He reached the barrier and scaled the junk scraps. Corrugated iron wobbled beneath him. Wire cut his hand. The men on the barricade scurried along crude walkways to reach him. Finn was too quick. He found a tiny gap and wriggled through. The guards lunged a hairsbreadth too late.

“Go after him!” Finn heard Melker shout.

Impossible. The guards were too big to enter the space. They started pulling at the scrap on the wall. His tunnel shook with their efforts. Scrap shifted.

Finn saw the clearing beyond the cave mouth, it was filled with more containers, as well as abandoned vehicles in which he could easily lose his pursuers. On the far side, he could make out the treeline, mostly fire-blackened trunks shrouded in a dusty morning fog. His sister and friends would be there, waiting. He would be safe.

Finn reached the last section and tensed, ready to pull his body free of the wall, when the crack of a gunshot rang out. He jumped and hit his head. The silence after the sound was frightening. Finn glanced over his shoulder.

The guards were gone.

Was this a trick?

Suddenly, there was more gunfire in the cave. Finn’s thoughts flew to Amos and Noak. Could they be in trouble?

Finn hesitated on the edge of the barricade. Noak was one of the best Blood Wolves. There was no way he was in danger. Amos was different, but Finn had made sure Noak would protect him. Noak was the best Blood Wolf…but he was also one man.

Doubt filled him. Had he made a mistake by using the Voice?

He squirmed around and headed back. He peeked through the gap.

Inside, Finn had been forgotten. The guards converged on a cluster of containers. Finn scanned the barricade. He couldn’t see Noak or the Junker.

Could Noak actually need his help?

As Finn had the thought, Noak leapt from his hiding place. He used a boulder to gain height and fell, like a vengeful warrior, on the closest guard. Noak struck with his knife, stabbing the soft part between neck and shoulder. His bulk carried the guard to the ground. Noak rolled away from the limp body and was up again to confront the second guard as he turned. His opponent slashed and Noak replied with a hit to the windpipe. The guard pitched forward only to meet Noak’s knee and down he went too.

Noak dispatched several more guards. He used the environment as a weapon: he cornered and scattered opponents; vaulted off a crate’s side; and stirred up the sand for cover. He rained down blows on his attackers and kept them off balance. His fists, shins, elbows and knees did as much damage as his blade. On the crane, the armed guard followed the combat, but Noak moved in and out of his line of sight and he never got off more than a few ineffective shots.

Finn watched Noak fight in awe. He suddenly felt foolish. Of course, Noak didn’t need him. Noak was a warrior. Finn would only get in the way and make everything worse, like he always did.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

Self-doubt and loathing filled him. He turned away from the cave, wriggled through the barricade and dropped back into the world on the other side.

Finn might be a failure as a fighter, but he did one thing very well. He turned toward the treeline, and he ran.

***

Noak needed help.

He’d drawn heavily on the Source for this fight, and it was almost depleted. He was tired. Bodies littered the cave floor, yet the enemy continued to come at him, and his keen hearing picked up more footsteps heading towards his position and the sound of another barge entering the cave.

A new guard attacked. Noak received his first serious blow. It sent him staggering and put stars before his eyes. In this daze, a knife got inside his guard and sliced across his chest. The pain sharpened his senses enough to drop the man before the knife ended up in his gut.

Noak retreated.

Amos leant against the rock, still struggling to breathe. “They look…to Melker.” He rasped. “Take him down, then escape.”

Noak wiped the sweat from his eyes. “I’m not leaving you.”

Amos snorted. “Don’t be daft. Find Melker. Finish that son of a smoker.”

Noak didn’t bother to explain that he couldn’t. The command was still singing through his body. Noak focused. He heard the captain somewhere over his shoulder, issuing orders, bringing the guards with rifles closer.

“Circle them!” Melker shouted. “Don’t let them escape. Shoot on sight.”

A sudden volley of bullets. Noak waited until the gunmen paused, then slipped out of cover. He cut the throat of the nearest man before he could reload and vaulted over another. Melker saw him coming. The captain took a knee and dug the butt of his rifle into his shoulder, but Noak was faster. He tackled him. They fell. Noak landed hard on Melker and the air gushed from the captain’s lungs. Noak rolled to his feet and kicked Melker’s weapon away before he could reach it.

They faced each other. The guards nearby stepped forward, but Melker waved them back.

“Don’t shoot,” Melker ordered. “Look at his eyes. He’s got the boy’s power.”

“I do,” Noak replied. “And I have a score to settle with you.”

“A score?”

Noak nodded. They needed Melker to ensure their escape, but first Noak would pay him back for some of the cuts he’d inflicted on Finn. “You shouldn’t have missed when you had the chance.”

Melker laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Noak asked.

“You think I missed you and shot the Junker by accident?” Melker circled him. “He was my target, fool. Until now, I had no idea you existed.”

Melker attacked. Noak intercepted his strike and deflected it. Melker’s blade came at him again. Noak sidestepped and sliced Melker’s forearm. The captain hissed.

“It hurts, doesn’t it?” Noak shouted.

Melker pressed on with his attack, going for Noak’s neck. Noak dodged the slash, then blocked the return. He gave Melker’s arm another shallow cut. Then followed up with a slash to Melker’s thigh.

The captain went down on one knee. Noak knocked his good leg out from under him too. Melker quickly repositioned and kicked towards Noak’s head. Noak avoided the boot and took control of Melker’s legs. Noak trapped Melker beneath him and used his weight to hold him in place.

“Get off him, Smoker!”

Noak looked towards the new voice. A blonde cadet had Amos on his knees.

***

Amos felt the blade against his neck.

“That’s it!” The cadet shouted. “Let him go.”

The young man followed each word with a shake, sending spears of pain across his stomach. Amos wasn’t sure whether to faint or vomit. He closed his eyes and on opening them again, Noak had released Melker.

Men surrounded the Blood Wolf and forced him to his knees. Noak’s pose mirrored Amos’. His arms and neck were splattered with red. He was breathing hard. The fighting had been brutal. Amos didn’t understand why the Blood Wolf had stayed. Now they were both in trouble.

Melker coughed, drawing Amos’ attention. He spat a mouthful of blood onto the sandy floor, then clambered to his feet. He checked his bleeding arm and grimaced at the wound on his leg. A guard brought him a strip of cloth, which he promptly tied around his thigh. Melker then did his best to straighten his ponytail and torn shirt before he limped towards Amos. He crouched with a groan and inspected the impromptu dressing over Amos’ bullet wound.

“You’re a tough old blighter, I’ll give you that.” Melker plucked at the blood-soaked scarf. “You just won’t die.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” Amos rasped.

Melker wiped his gloved hand on a clean part of Amos’ sleeve. “No matter. I doubt you’ve got long.”

“Why?” Amos started to ask. He licked his dry lips and tried again, “Why did you shoot?”

Melker shrugged. “The story I’ll spread is that I confronted you about the boy and you attacked me, leaving me with no choice but to treat you as a traitor.” Melker leant in closer. “But the truth: I’ve been imaging your death for many years. You’re the final obstacle. The last, and strongest, string in Elsa’s safety net. Cut you and she’s alone. It’s only logical that she’ll turn to me.”

It took great effort, but Amos shook his head. “Elsa will never want you.”

A confident smirk spread on his face. “We’ll see.”

With some effort, the captain rose. He placed a hand on the cadet’s blonde head. “Good job, Maxim.”

The cadet glowed at the praise…and loosened his grip.

Melker turned back to Noak.

Amos reached into his inner jacket pocket. This time he pulled out his revolver without a problem. He cocked the gun, reversed it and aimed the barrel over his shoulder.

Amos fired.

The bang deafened him in one ear. Blood rained down upon him. The cadet behind him crumpled to the ground, clutching his cheek with a groan.

Melker spun, eyes wide, and Amos changed the direction of the gun. He used the captain’s slack mouth as a target. Amos would get some satisfaction watching the man’s head explode.

“You’re wrong, Melker!” Amos said. “Elsa will never, ever be yours.”

He targeted the barrel and squeezed the trigger…only his fingers wouldn’t cooperate. His strength deserted him. Amos’ sight blurred in and out of focus and the gun slipped from his grasp. He’d lost more blood than he’d realised.

Melker recovered quickly. “By the light, Junker, I never thought you had it in you!”

He picked up Amos’ gun and checked the chamber. Melker tsked. “No bullets left. Let me remedy that.”

Melker took one from his pouch, loaded it and clicked the barrel back into place.

“I have to admit, today has not gone entirely to plan, but it’s important to focus on the positives.” His black eyes fell on Noak. “I’ve replaced one oddity for another and in a moment, Junker, you will cease to be a problem.” Melker aimed the gun at Amos’ head. “Goodbye.”

Amos closed his eyes.

A whistle pierced the cavern, loud enough to halt his execution. On the cargo containers and the sandy floor, the armed guards had all disappeared, replaced with a familiar group of youths. At their head stood a smirking, dark-haired female. If she was terrifying with a blade, she was even more so with a rifle.

Ysolde aimed the weapon at Melker.

“Tell me,” She said to the captain of the Black Guardsmen, “are you the bastard who laid a finger on my brother?”