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Nizeera growled softly They are running now I hear their approach

Annon’s throat constricted He licked his lips "They are gaining on us," he said softly to the others "They knoe’re here and they’ll likely try to kill us"

"How do you know this?" Lukias de"

"What should we do, Annon?" Khiara asked "Do we stand and fight them? I will not kill but I can harm them"

"Foolish to face them in the open like this," Erasmus said "They are trained hunters and survivors How ht to one of the spirits, who zigzagged away like a reenIt was not safe resting so near their territory"

"Howto coht There was a flash of light in the distance behind them Annon felt a sick queasiness The

"I don’t know To the trees over there," Annon said, pointing "They are a scraggly bunch but at least it will provide some cover Khiara, you float to the upper branches and wait there, ready to come down I will try to startle them away"

"How?" Lukias asked "The fireblood?"

Annon nodded "Erasmus You stay hidden and look for opportunities to strike Nizeera and I will face thelanced at Lukias "You seem proficient with a blade Are you?"

"I know all of a man’s vulnerable spots," he replied confidently "I will stand with you I have warred against Boeotians before They are fearsome but they can be killed"

"Hurry then," Annon said, breaking into a run toward the copse of ash trees His heart shuddered inside his chest, swelling with emotion He remembered perfectly the battle where he had faced them before Every part of it was burned into his mind, every word that had been spoken Would any of thosethe Boeotians at the Dryad tree in Silvandom Annon did not want any of his companions to meet their fate here

They reached the ash trees quickly and entered the copse silently, h the skeletal limbs Annon searched for a defensive position, quickly surveying the ground His search was interrupted by the sound of running ain and Annon stroked her head, sue He motioned for Khiara to float up into the trees, which she pro in a deep breath Lukias unsheathed his dagger and stood at Annon’s left, arms folded, his face impassive but not fearful Erasmus vanished behind them into the thicket Pyricanthas Sericanthas Thas Annon’s hands began to glow

The Boeotians slowed and entered the grove at a prowl, spears held low There were no battle cries or warning Their shapes flitted through the gaps of the trees, advancing on them in a wave Annon tried to count the number of shapes and quickly abandoned it There were at least twenty He reressive and cruel they were Perhaps fire would frighten the spears quickly There was no reasoning with such men

He recalled words that the other Boeotians had spoken His es by only thinking about theue would surprise theing up his hands and unleashing his hters Annon did not think for a ht The best thing to do was do so unexpected Attack them first, make them feel that they had been drawn into a trap Paedrin had called it the Uddhava

Flaht to expose those he was attacking He recognized the tattooed skin, the ht them completely by surprise Lukias shouted in fury and ran after him and Nizeera let out a feline screaht in the initial blast of flaob of fire in his hand and hurled it at another group It streaked through the woods, blinding the sparks as it struck Boeotians dived away fro their spears up to throw Nizeera vaulted into the nearest cluster ofviciously Annon continued to charge, sending another sheet of flaan to lick the dried scrub at the base of the trees E hier Euphoria replaced the fear At the fringe of the euphoria was madness