Zaavi’s soldiers started to charge, and I heard the rumbling of cavalry and foot soldiers behind me. The two armies were running at each other, and I was in the direct center! Finally shocked into motion, I leapt towards the side, running away from the middle of the clearing at an angle. My feet pounded into the dirt, side stepping other soldiers who ignored my lanky, clearly not a soldier body. I zig zagged through the mess of battle, ducking and dodging stray blows, trying to make it anywhere near to Hazuzu and in turn, Callie.

I spared a glance up on the hill where Callie was.

Her guards, Zaavi’s soldiers, were shiny. I couldn’t figure out why.

Then my attention directed to the massive, snowy and shiny ice figure that loomed over her. As suddenly as it arrived, it melted into the ground, revealing a woman behind her. I couldn’t make out the features, I was still way too far away, but if she was killing Zaavi’s soldiers to get to Callie, that definitely wasn’t good.

I picked up the pace, urging my legs to pump faster. My muscles protested. I was never very in shape to begin with, and then the last few days had really taken their toll on me. Though the demon healer had solved a lot of my problems, my shoulder still ached where the Ahool had sunk its claw into me. A pang of regret reminded me that my mother, and most of the hunter’s guild, were all dead. I didn’t have a family left.

I looked back up at the hill where Callie was. No, that wasn’t true. I did have family left; it just wasn’t biological. Friends are the family that you choose. And damn it, I would do anything to help her.

But I couldn’t do much without Hazuzu. I’d already proven I was a shitty fighter, and I was barely able to avoid these blows from soldiers that weren’t even directed at me. I had to get to him, get the cuffs off, and maybe we could get in there and rescue Callie. Hazuzu could portal us out of there, to safety. It wasn’t the best plan, but it was the only one I could come up with on short notice. I grit my teeth and changed direction slightly, now aiming towards getting to Hazuzu.

Unfortunately, he was still right next to Zaavi, who was at the base of the hill, brandishing a gleaming longsword. Dodging and jumping over bloody bodies, I made my way closer and closer to Hazuzu. I was almost there, somehow, they were only about twenty yards away now, my feet taking me a step closer and closer with each leap as I avoided injury.

I was close enough to see them clearly now, almost within reach. But I didn’t know what to do now. My plan effectively extended to getting there. Now that I was here, I didn’t have a clue to do. I watched Hazuzu, trying to catch his attention.

But he was staring up at the hill, at Callie. I watched his expression turn from concern to outright fear. His skin turned pale, as if he’d seen a ghost. I’d never seen a demon look so afraid before. This did not bode well for me, and particularly, for Callie.

I turned my attention to the hill now, to see what he was seeing. All I noticed was that the woman I’d seen up there was now sitting next to Callie, watching everything below.

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“Hazuzu!” I shouted. I couldn’t do anything right now, but I had one brief idea. For it to work, though, Hazuzu had to get out of those cuffs. I rummaged in my pocket, this time, knowing exactly where I’d put the key. “Look up!”

His head swiveled towards me, confused and surprised to see me.

I chucked the key as hard as I could towards Hazuzu.

It landed in the grass, at least twenty feet away from him.

“FUCK!” I shouted. There was no way I was finding that now.

But, to my luck, Hazuzu dove and rolled on the ground, his hands still secured together by chain, grabbed a sword right out of one of Zaavi’s soldier’s hands, and pointed it at Zaavi.

I gasped. That was the coolest thing I’d ever seen.

“Find the FUCKING KEY, dipshit!” Hazuzu yelled, still facing Zaavi. “I’ll keep this dickwad entertained.” Hazuzu let out a battle cry and leapt towards Zaavi, sword ahead of him.

I jumped forward, scrambling for where I’d thought it had landed. My hands brushed over the trampled grass, my knees pressing into the ground. I felt the dampness of the earth through the cloth of my pants as I desperately roved my fingers, searching. I crawled, frantically, all the while trying my best to shut out the screams of horror surrounding me. The clangs of sword against sword screeched against my ears, the metal ringing with each blow exchanged. I couldn’t tell who was winning, in the nearby fight of Hazuzu against Zaavi, and I didn’t have the courage to look up and check. It was my fault that Hazuzu was fighting with his hands bound in the first place, I had to find the key!

My eyes caught a shiny glint in the grass a few feet away, just beyond my reach. I rushed over to it, still on hands and knees, and slammed my hand overtop the glint I’d spied. I felt the cold metal, wrapped my fingers around it, and clambered to stand, holding the key aloft for Hazuzu to see.

“I found it!” I shouted.

This earned the attention of my intended audience, but also others. Zaavi’s face turned towards me, as well as several of his soldiers. Oops. Hazuzu took advantage of the momentary distraction and slammed a heavy blow on Zaavi’s chest, shoving him down, and delivered a steady kick to make sure he would stay down for a moment longer.

“We need to get up there,” Hazuzu said, rushing towards me while pointing at the top of the hill. “Callisto is in danger.”

I glanced up there, too, and all I could see was Callie sitting there next to someone. I didn’t know what was going on, but I gave Hazuzu a steely stare, gritting my teeth. I nodded. I would do whatever it took to save her. I would simply have to trust Hazuzu. Our determined reunion was abruptly ruined by a soldier lunging at us from behind me, an advance which Hazuzu deftly blocked.

“Now!” he said, grabbing my arm.

We ran, away from the melee, and towards the edge of the forest. We had to get to Callie somehow.

“Who is that up there with her?” I said, huffing as we ran. Hazuzu didn’t seem to be winded at all, his armor clinking as each step jostled the metal.

“The worst case scenario,” he answered grimly.

I shot a look behind us to see if we were being pursued. Hazuzu had only slowed Zaavi down, and it looked like he was now following us, although a fair distance away. Protecting his investment, his capture of Callie, I was sure. It didn’t bode well if he was following us. But what did he have to do with this person who was up there with her now? Did he know who he they were?

“Okay, but…,” I said, shaking my head as we continued our frenzied pace, “do you know who it is?”

“My wife.”