Forest of Ruin Read Free

it—”
    Lysias grabbed for Tyrus’s sword arm, apparently thinking him distracted. Tyrus’s sword swung and it caught the captain of the guard in the arm, blade cutting through to bone. Lysias did not stagger back. Did not fall, howling, to the ground. Hepulled his blade with his other hand and faced off with Tyrus. Blood gushed from his wounded arm. Lifeblood. Moria knew that, and she started forward instinctively, then stopped herself as Lysias’s blade swung up. Tyrus countered, steel clanging.
    â€œTell him to give way, Father,” Tyrus said.
    Another swing. Another clang.
    â€œFather! Tell him now. He’s badly injured, and he cannot fight me with his off-hand. I do not wish to hurt him.”
    The emperor did nothing. He would do nothing, Moria knew, and not out of a callous disregard for his captain, but because he did not need to intercede. Tyrus knew Lysias. Knew him and respected him and cared about him, and it didn’t matter if he could end this standoff with a single blow—he would never deliver that blow.
    Moria caught a glimmer of motion and saw two men step from the forest. They quietly advanced on Tyrus.
    â€œI’ll go with Gavril,” she said.
    â€œWhat? No!”
    Tyrus started to spin toward her. Lysias lunged, but Tyrus countered with a clash of swords that sent Lysias stumbling back. One of the men from the forest pulled his blade and stepped up behind Tyrus. Moria did not warn him, but she readied her hand on her blade for the slightest sign that the man would do more than capture him.
    At the last second, Tyrus saw the second man. He spun and Lysias tried again, but as Tyrus wheeled toward the other man, he kicked Lysias, and the weakened captain toppled. Tyrus’s blade swung at the second man. It hit him in the shoulder, embedding itself in the lacquered armor, but slicing throughflesh, too, the man letting out a gasp. The other warrior from the forest rushed Tyrus as Lysias staggered to his feet, his sword still in hand. Tyrus spun so fast that Moria saw only blades flash and blood arc and she charged, shouting “No!” Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Gavril dart forward. She wheeled on him, but he hadn’t drawn his sword. He only moved into her path, stopping her before she leaped into the fray, and by the time he did, it was over.
    Tyrus had two swords at his throat. One man lay on the ground, blood soaking his breastplate. Tyrus breathed hard, more rage than exertion, like a trapped beast, face hard, nostrils flaring, watching his captors for any twitch that would allow him to escape, knowing he’d find none.
    Moria started past Gavril. He put his hand on her shoulder. She shook him off.
    â€œLet me speak to him,” she said. “I can—”
    â€œStay where you are, Moria,” the emperor said.
    She bent and laid down her dagger. “There. Now let me—”
    Two more men stepped from the forest. Both had blades raised.
    â€œI’m not going to try anything,” Moria said. She put out her hands and turned to Gavril. “Here. Bind me.”
    â€œThat isn’t necess—” he started again, but before he could finish, one of the men had grabbed her and was taking a rope from his belt.
    â€œNo,” Tyrus said. “Don’t. Father—”
    â€œI’m fine,” Moria cut in. She smiled for him. “I can handle this. You know I can.”
    There was an eerie calmness to her voice, as if her sisterwas there, infusing her with her quiet reason. A moon ago, Moria would have been snarling like Daigo and fighting like Tyrus, taken down only at the end of a blade. But she’d watched Tyrus—always so calm, so even-tempered—explode, and it was as if he vented her rage for her.
    She let the warrior bind her, and she kept her gaze—and her smile—on Tyrus. Behind her, the emperor called for other men, presumably from the forest, telling them to transport the