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"Here they are!"

One of the rogues smirked, using his thumb to wipe some blood from his cheek as he stepped out of the bushes.

Kel immediately cupped her hands around her mouth.

They were still a ways from the original patrol route and, therefore, the Dragon Heart's earshot, but perhaps somebody would hear her--someone hunting, someone wandering into the woods to relieve themselves, anybody.

The rogue moved as quickly as she did, however, and no sound had a chance to escape her throat before she found herself dodging a hostile slash.

A loud clang behind her told her that Taegus had also been forced to rapidly defend himself.

The silver-haired boy at least had a sword, though.

Kel grunted, clutching her pitiful dagger as she rolled out of the way of another heavy swing from the rogue.

A couple more clanks sounded from where Taegus was, this time accompanied by a yelp.

This isn't good, Kel thought. We're outnumbered and out-armed.

As if validating her concern, she heard a muffled groan from Taegus followed by a sickening thud. Without seeing what happened, Kel instinctively knew that it was the sound of the boy's body falling helplessly into the dirt.

She writhed around, trying to get to her fallen comrade, but red tunics and glinting swords bombarded her, holding her back. Soon, they would both be incapacitated.

And then finished brutally like their companions back in the clearing.

Was this really it?

After everything she had survived. After finally beginning to unravel Calix's feelings and work out a place for herself.

Would she die now? So quickly, without warning or time to come to terms with it?

"No!" Kel shouted, rolling onto her back and plunging her dagger blindly above her.

By some miracle, the tiny piece of sharpened metal made contact with flesh.

She felt the subtle give of meat beneath her blade along with the jerking movements of the meat's owner attempting to free himself. Accompanying the stab was a bark of pain and annoyance followed by a few curse words.

"Why! You little.." The angry man used his bloodied wrist to knock the dagger out of Kel's hands.

He then crashed down over the top of her on all fours, not unlike the position she'd found herself in with the emperor the night before. But this time, her heart was pounding out of an entirely different emotion.

"Ha. Feisty, aren't you?" the man snorted, raising his weapon.

With her own weapon gone and the weight of the rogue pinning her to the ground, Kel already knew her situation was hopeless. Unless an actual deity intervened now, this would be the end.

Swallowing, she closed her eyes, bracing herself for the stroke that would take her life.

She scrunched her eyes even tighter as she felt a gust of air against her face, but, strangely, nothing followed.

Had the blow killed her before she even felt it? No, she could still clearly feel the man on top of her and stinging of her hand where the dagger had been smacked away.

Then, had the pain not registered yet? Were the final seconds of her life passing as slow as minutes?

"... Kel?"

Her eyelids fluttered open, revealing a pair of shocked green eyes staring down at her.

Her own eyebrows raised in surprise as the man's face came into focus.

"M-Marcus?" she breathed.

It was the name of one of her fellow palace guards in Mevani. She hadn't spent a lot of time with him, but the green eyes and dark hair that complemented a handsome face were difficult to forget.

A sigh came from the man as his sword clattered to the ground.

"It's really you," he shook his head, climbing off of her.

".. Marcus," Kel repeated bewilderedly.

What was he doing here? Had he joined the band of rogues in the time she'd been gone?

"Hey guys! It's Kel!" the man called out as he rose to his feet.

"What? Kel?"

"Is it really her?"

"That scrawny archer is Kel?"

A flurry of questions went up from the rest of the rogues as Marcus pulled Kel off the ground. Looking around, she recognized every single face of the red-clothed soldiers. They were all old acquaintances from her time as a palace guard.

Had several Mevanian soldiers defected?

More importantly, she noticed Taegus lying in the background, struggling to push himself up. He was bleeding from more than one wound, but at least he was still conscious.

"Oh right, finish that kid off, will ya?" one of the men rolled his eyes at another one, motioning to the injured silver-haired boy.

"Don't!" Kel shouted, hurling herself to the ground again in front of Taegus. "Please, he's my friend."

With her arms outstretched protectively in front of the boy, she scanned her old comrade's faces warily.

These men weren't evil. She'd trained and served alongside them for years, and they were all honorable soldiers. Surely, if she just explained the situation, she could make them back down.

While Kel watched them, the men all turned to give each other uncertain looks. Finally, Marcus stepped forward, carrying his sword.

"Sorry Kel, but he's a Serin soldier," the man shrugged, stepping toward her. "We can't leave him alive."

"But I am too!" Kel yelled, shrinking even closer to Taegus. "I'm a Serin soldier too!"

Breathing heavily, she knelt tall, glaring at the man. She had gotten close enough to Taegus for her toes to squish into the dirt that had been softened with his blood.

Though he appeared to be stable for the time being, the silver-haired boy needed to have his wounds treated as soon as possible.

But first, he needed to be safe.

"I know you are," Marcus gave Kel a sad smile before raising his sword.

"And I really wish you weren't."