Page 107 of A Thief to Die For

The men quiet some.

‘Your journey ends here. You’re not going to Kingsland to pillage them. I won’t let you.’ I find some eagles among the men – Jefferson and Millo. Men who serve the Commander only because they wouldn’t survive the badlands. I speak directly to them. ‘This isn’t who we are. But it is the Commander. He’s a coward and a murderer. And you’re wrong if you think he cares about you.’ A murmur rises. I yell over it.

‘You’re right, I’m not alone. You are surrounded. You won’t escape, but you can choose a different path to do what’s right.’ I shout at the top of my lungs. ‘Revolt and join me!’

The faces before me are mostly stunned. Petronis snickers loudly, and although his ridicule bites at my skin, I’m not surprised. An arsehole until the end.

Atlas shouts commands to ignore me.

My eye catches on movement behind all of them. I spot Levi and then a sliver of Ryland’s face as they dive and roll under an unmanned wagon. My heartbeats turn painful – I need to keep the guardsmen’s attention on me.

Lowering my bow, I reach for my cape tucked in my saddlebag and hold up the vagabond hood I’ve used every time I’ve raided the militia. ‘Recognise this?’

Heads lean together, and a rumble spreads across the crowd. Some spout their outrage as they realise what it is.

‘Yes, I’m the raider!’ With my point made, I toss the garment away, knowing I’ll never wear it again. I’m done hiding.

‘I-it was you?!’ Atlas sputters. ‘You’re the thief?’

I raise my chin as a calm settles over me. ‘Yes, Atlas,’ I say, disrespectfully. He’s not my commander. ‘I’ve been sabotaging you for years. But your abuse of power ends today!’

‘Hey!’ a guardsman shouts. He points at Levi, who’s in the middle of releasing a horse. ‘They’re attacking from behind!’

Guardsmen everywhere turn to look in Levi’s direction. My heart leaps into my throat as Levi takes on his first opponent, his sword arcing with a precision I didn’t expect. He blocks with a loud clang of clashing metal, then kicks the guy in the chest. He’s managing impressively, but there’s an entire swarm of men charging his way.

A fever comes over me as my hand dives into another saddlebag and retrieves a small metal ball – a present from Dezzy. I remove the pin and throw it as hard as I can. It lands between Levi and the men rushing him. The explosion is mostly dirt launching into the air, but it works to scare away some of the guards.

It’s not enough – Levi needs a way out. I dig my heels in, and my horse springs into a gallop. The remaining guards left standing around Atlas dive as I jump my mare over them and into the middle of their wagon circle. I pass others as I ride hard to where Levi’s succeeded in releasing the horses from two trailers.

‘Get on,’ I shout. I hold out my hand and hug the neck of my horse tightly with the other, only marginally slowing down. I hope he’s as coordinated as he looks.

Levi’s eyes widen, then he grins and gets a running start. I strain to reach further; we’re only going to get one shot at this. We slap hand to forearm, locking our grip. I grunt, fighting to keep my seat as he heaves himself up, slamming into my back. I gasp at the pain.

‘Go, go, go,’ he urges, looking behind him.

I bank right and take off again, guiding my horse to skirt the outside of their wagons. Agatha. I search for her, then watch as arrows of fire fly across the sky from the trees. I guess the plan Sam settled on is to burn the trailers.

‘You might want to hold on for this,’ says Levi, gripping my waist tighter.

Oh. It’s not the trailers they want to ignite; it’s Agatha’s bombs. I brace as the lit arrows land on the now horseless trailers. But nothing happens. Maybe that wasn’t where Agatha’s compounds are being –

BOOM! The explosion nearly knocks us both from the horse. I duck as a giant fireball erupts into the air, so much bigger than anything I could have imagined. My pulse turns violent at the shock of it, the searing heat. Briefly, my horse gallops away from the fight, spooked. Men shout and scream. The ones not thrown back from the explosion try to organise. ‘Fire! They’re shooting arrows of fire.’

‘Take cover!’

The guardsmen huddle, weapons drawn, when Levi and I make it back to the wagons. I fight to rein in my skittish horse while searching for my sister. It doesn’t take long for Coatl’s bloated eyes to stand out. Agatha’s with him; he’s holding her as bait.

‘Let her go,’ I yell and draw my bow, but he jerks her in front of him. My arms shake as I lower them. ‘I’m going to need help getting Agatha out,’ I say to Levi.

‘At your service, my lady.’

‘Agatha,’ Ryland yells, drawing my attention. He’s about twenty feet away, trying to get to her. He swings his sword, blocking a blow, then promptly faces another one. There are too many guards around him.

‘No!’ I shout as he’s hit from behind and falls. He barely rolls out of the way in time to keep from being impaled.

‘Levi, help Ryland first,’ I yell over my shoulder.

Levi leaps from the horse, sword in hand. He cuts through one, then two men like a force of nature. I’ve never seen anyone so nimble with a blade.