Chapter 18 - Wilde

Wilde made his move as Raeyn called out to Violetta, " Behind you! "

In a sudden rush, Wilde anticipated Violetta turning to look over her right shoulder and cut to her left flank. His hand dipped low and thrust the dagger into the back of Violetta’s left upper thigh, jamming the blade to the guard and pushing upwards to unbalance her and lift her into the air. Violetta’s left hand dropped the torch, but her right hand continued to grip the sword. The shifting weight threw her to the ground, a fierce cry of anger and rage snarled through clenched teeth.

With grace and a little flare, Wilde caught the torch before it struck the ground and pivoted to hurl it at Cade. Whirling through the air end over end, it struck Cade in the chest and a chunk embedded itself in his chainmail as it struck, falling in front of his feet. Dropping Huron, Cade pulled his own dagger as the resin began to catch the gambeson under the metal links.

Violetta pulled herself into an awkward position to attack, her left leg struggling to push herself upright and manage a feeble strike with the sword. Wilde simply dropped his foot on her left knee and stepped behind her while taunting, " To think it took this much to get you to drop your guard. "

Cade had to cross the room to strike Wilde, but he was already too late as the bow was slung off his back. Cade slashed and Wilde blocked, the black lacquered longbow’s riser catching the attack. Wielding it like a quarterstaff, Wilde pushed in and hooked it around Cade’s leg and unbalanced him. As Cade fell backwards, Wilde nocked the arrow and drew it for where he fell.

" CADE! " Violetta screamed as the arrow drove itself through his eye and through his skull.

Huron struggled and crawled across the floor towards Violetta as Wilde stepped away to align himself in the tunnel and deal with Raeyn. He nocked another arrow, and the words from his mouth warned her to not interfere, “Stay. My kill.”

He spoke in the crudest form a warning of someone who only needed to know enough Gobbo for a hostile encounter. He gestured to himself and then to Violetta and Huron. Was he going to kill her then? Twenty paces down a straight corridor would be a suicidal run. Yet as soon as he turned and fired at Huron, she charged forward with her sword in hand.

A third arrow nocked, turning towards Wilde drew it on her. Violetta attacked as he aimed, the sword striking the bow right before it released and knocking it to the right. The arrow flung to the side and grazed the wall before ricocheting past Raeyn. Wilde’s right foot aligned perfectly with Violetta’s head delivered a powerful stomp that dropped her.

It was all the time Raeyn needed, with the sword in both hands she charged into Wilde’s left flank. Having never wielded a sword or any other weapon, Raeyn drove herself into him while making a desperate stab. The sword missed as he barely dodged by arching his back, but the two of them crashed to the floor. The bow was flung across the floor and came to rest at the base of the statue. Wilde was quick to recover, and his hands reached for Raeyn’s throat

" Stupid Gobbo! " Wilde snarled as his hands clenched down on her windpipe, " That is a short sword. It is not meant for stabbing! "

Raeyn flailed and struggled to swing the sword, but Wilde began slamming her head up and down into the stone floor. The jarring strikes’ success coming from the sound of the sword falling on the ground. Raeyn started at Wilde as she began to lose consciousness.

" Not so fast. " Wilde pushed himself upright and plucked her from the ground, showing her off to Huron who was about to throw his dagger at Wilde in a desperate attack.

Using Raeyn’s body as a shield in his left hand and stooping to pick up the torch in his right hand, Wilde approached Huron. He lunged forward to close the gap, his broken leg shifted, and he fell forward and dropped before Wilde.

" You really are stupid. " Wilde stepped past Huron and touched it to his right thigh, " Burn. "

The layer of guano caught, and the flames spread from one leg to the other as Huron’s lower half erupted. For a moment it was only the white smoke, but it black as leather and flesh began to burn. Huron screamed and thrashed. Wilde laughed.

As Huron’s screaming fell silent and the smell of burning flesh filled the chamber, he motioned the torch to Raeyn’s guano covered feet, " For Stirge. "

The flame caught and the heat suddenly spread throughout her body and Wilde dropped her. As it spread throughout her legs, she rushed forward and dove for his legs. Her flames leapt to his legs and the two were engulfed. Wilde tried to pull her free, pushing on her head and flailing her about, but it was already too late. The flames spread across her skin, and she clung as hard as she could. Wilde screamed and fell over as the flames engulfed him.

Raeyn felt the intense heat surge through her body and realized she was no longer in any pain. The flames enrobed her and Wilde, Huron and Cade’s bodies. Through the bonfire, Violetta lay on the ground unconscious. Wilde moved forward, dragging himself towards Violetta. Even if he was doomed, he was determined to see Violetta burn with him.

" Damn Gobbo! Damn priestess! " Wilde snarled as he realized he would not be able to make it to her, not with Raeyn clutching him.

Even at the center of the blazing fire, the darkness came for Raeyn.