“This is the man that was protecting you?!” Tau shouted. He kicked Jakub’s head, and his neck twisted until a loud crack could be heard. “Useless old fool!”

Ako was about to reply until she was dragged forward again. Djal’s pants were down now, and his shirt was off. He was clad only in his undergarments.

“You are as ugly as you are stupid,” Ako spat, trying to kick out at him. Djal chuckled and held onto her legs, preventing her from doing any damage.

“If I am stupid, what does that make you?” Djal taunted, beginning to pull down his undergarments. Ako closed her eyes, giving up. May Jakub find shelter in Noam’s embrace, Ako prayed. Her thoughts turned to Tau, and she found nothing but helpless rage. May Tau burn in the hottest of hells.

Djal reached for her clothes. Ako lashed out instinctively, and Djal growled as she scored a hit on his stomach. “Hold still, you bitch,” he said.

“Make me,” Ako replied. Her eyes were still closed. She didn’t want to look.

Djal’s response was overwhelmed by a frantic scream from the alleyway entrance.

“DJAL!” one of Djal’s men screamed. “LOOK OUT!”

Ako opened her eyes to see one of Djal’s men blown off his feet by an invisible force. He struck the left wall headfirst, crushing his skull. He was dead before he slid to the ground. The second man was then thrown back, colliding into Tau and sending them both sprawling.

Ako kicked out at Djal, who stumbled back as he drew a dagger from his boot. “Azmar’s Bane!” Djal cursed as a single man came into view. He was a little over average height and thin, wearing brown robes and a pale-white stick in his hands. He had dark hair and was snarling like a wolf.

His brown eyes were also glowing.

“MAGE!” Djal bellowed in warning. He leapt forward as Tau, and his surviving follower rose to their feet as well. Ako fumbled her way back to her knives, seizing both and bringing herself up on shaky feet. She was ready to fight if she had to. She would turn her own knives on herself if that was what it took. I will not be a prisoner again, Ako vowed.

She didn’t have to do anything. Ako watched as the mage took a step forward and gestured with his stick. Tau’s dagger flew from his hand and went clean through the other man’s throat. Tau ran forward with a cry, Djal right behind him. Ako bit back a scream as the mage seemingly did nothing as both men came within striking distance.

He is going to die.

The mage didn’t die. Instead, he threw his arm forward. A pulse of unseen energy exited the stick, and both Tau and Djal were frozen in place. The mage then drew his sword, shuffling his stick over to his other hand before he stabbed forward. His blade went through Tau’s eye and out the other side before he pulled out, kicking Ako’s brother to the ground. He turned to Djal, whose eyes widened in fear.

The mage smiled cruelly before he gored Djal through his groin, ending his spell at that moment. Djal covered his groin and rolled on the ground, screaming in agony, but Ako only had eyes for Jakub and her brother. They were now both dead and lying next to each other.

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Ako almost threw herself backwards as the mage suddenly came into view and crouched down. “Are you OK?” he asked roughly. Ako shook her head, staring at Jakub’s body.

The mage reached toward her, and Ako scrambled back. “Help him!” she screamed, pointing at Jakub. She couldn’t see clearly anymore—she had started crying and didn’t know when that had occurred. “Help him!”

The mage turned to look at Jakub before he turned back with a grimace. “I am sorry,” he said, his voice full of remorse. “He is dead.”

“No,” Ako gasped out. She had already known, but having it confirmed to her was like a punch in the gut. “He cannot be dead.”

“It is not safe here,” the mage said. He reached toward her again, and Ako shook her head. The mage sighed. “My name is Marek,” he said. “I saw the older man that went down… your friend?” he didn’t wait for her confirming nod before he kept going. “Both of your mounts will be collected. We need to leave, now, before the guards come. Can you walk?”

“Yes,” Ako said after a moment’s consideration. She slowly rose, testing herself. She was unwounded except for her clothes, which were now scuffed and nearly torn in places. “I can walk,” she said firmly.

Her eyes went back to Jakub, and Ako almost crumpled again.

“Jakub,” Ako said, her lips quivering as she stumbled toward him. She fell to her knees next to him. The mage stood back a respectful distance, which Ako was absurdly grateful for. “I am sorry, Jakub,” Ako said, pulling the old man up and cradling him. She ignored the blood that was staining her clothes. “I am sorry you died for me. I never wanted any of this to happen.”

Ako sniffled, and then a thought occurred to her. She smiled through her tears. “Sara will take good care of you,” she said before she brushed back his sweaty hair and kissed his forehead. She closed his eyes and laid him down gently.

“I am sorry,” Marek interrupted. “But we must go, now. I have a room not far from here. You have my word that nothing will happen to you. I will protect you for tonight, and we can decide what will be done tomorrow."

Ako shrugged. Her dreams were dust, now. Even if she went to Velaire, it would not be the same. Not without Jakub.

“Let us leave this place, then,” Ako said. She looked up to see another man in the alleyway entrance, holding the reins to both her camel and Jakub’s horse. Hopefully, he is Marek’s man.

She looked back at Marek questioningly. At her silent question, he nodded. “He’s one of mine,” Marek said. “Let’s go.”

With one last look behind her at Jakub’s cooling body, Ako went.