The other guard dodged his stab, swinging his heavy blade down across Jireo’s with such force it almost slipped his grip. Jireo used the impetus, spinning around and lifting his sword to slice through the guard’s side, drawing blood.
When the guard lifted his hand to his bleeding side, Jireo lunged forward, sliding his blade between the ribs to sever his heart. As the guard crumpled to the ground, Jireo wrenched his blade free, spinning to face the wounded guard, lest he attack again. But the guard slumped against the wall, watching Jireo with wary eyes. Deciding he was no further threat, Jireo turned to go.
“Wait. Come back.”
Jireo hesitated, but something in the man’s voice made him return. He addressed the man who grimaced with pain. “I’m sorry to have killed your friend, but your own wound may not be fatal.”
“I… I freely and gladly serve my master…” The man lifted his eyes in a soulful gaze.
“Yes. Yes, I understand. I’m certain you serve with honor.” Jireo almost choked on the words. “Uhmm… I must go.”
“Wait… please… If I threatened you now, you would kill me, no? As you did Waedden?”
“You’re not a threat to me. I promise I won’t take your life when you can’t even lift a blade against me.”
“But… if you leave me alive, I’ll sound the alarm. I won’t let Stone Clan vermin roam in my master’s halls.”
“Are you trying to provoke me to kill you?” Jireo tightened his fist, biting back his temper.
“I’d never ask you to kill me.” His eyes puddled with tears.
“Sound the alarm if you must; I’d be a fool to let you delay me longer.”
As Jireo turned away, his eye caught a movement. The guard’s left hand came up into knife throwing position. Darted forward.
Pivoting on reflex and grasping his knife, Jireo threw. The blade buried in the guard’s throat, the startled O of his mouth transforming to a smile as the light left his eyes. His left hand relaxed, and Jireo spied the guard’s failed weapon… a small stone.
*****
As Markaeus led the way, Uncle Charles tried to take stock of their abilities. “I’m guessing one of you, at least, is gifted with throwing knives, right? I brought a bunch along, but I don’t throw them. I do a lot better if the hilt stays in my hand.”
Haegen fielded the question. “We might both be gifted in weapons some day. But that’s a major gift; we don’t get those until we have sixteen years.”
“Great.” Charles didn’t hide his sarcasm. “Then what can you do?”
“I’m gifted in gresses, of course,” Markaeus said, “and Haegen’s gifted with animals.”
“What about this gift where you don’t get lost? I know Jireo has it…”
“That’s direction,” Markaeus answered, dancing with enthusiasm.
“Direction. Have you got that?” asked Charles.
“Uhmm… no. I’m gifted in horsemanship and water-source.” Markaeus’ voice sounded hopeful.
“I’m gifted in weather,” Haegen said.
“Weather? Does that mean you can maybe call lightning from the sky? Or a tornado? Something like that?”
“No, I can predict weather changes. Or at least I’ll be able to do so after I train with the weather guild. It’s a rather difficult gift.”
“Sounds like we’d be in great shape if we were going camping, but not so much if we want to get out of this cave alive. And I’m stuck using a knife instead of a gun,” Charles mumbled.
Markaeus stopped just before the passage turned, holding up his hand for silence. Crouching, he peered around the corner. “There’s a sentry in the spoke room, and our passage is almost directly across the way. We’ve no rat to distract him, this time.”
“A rat? Yuck!” Both boys grinned at the disgust in Charles’ voice. “Never mind, I don’t want to know. Can we go a different way?” He whispered the question as he leaned to peek around the corner to view the room for himself.
“Besides the main entrance, I know of only one secret pa