Running with the Wolves (The Chronopoint Chronicles Book 1)

by J E Reed

  Kiuno drifted, her mind waking when she needed more warmth. Her teeth clattered, and Kikyo had enough mercy to drape one arm around her. She didn’t care what it looked like. The night lingered beyond what she felt it should until the first rays of light peered over the horizon.

  She jolted at dawn. “You didn’t give me a shift?”

  “There wasn’t any need,” Elliott said.

  “Why not, does it look okay to go down?”

  “Hardly.” Venom dripped from Kikyo’s voice. His hostility put her on edge, but Elliott interrupted before he could explain.

  “Here comes another.” She inched up beside them and watched the silhouette of six figures walking toward the camp. Rope tied the rear three together. Horrified, Kiuno watched as they were led past the gate, their motives clear.

  “Wait…they’re taking them?”

  Slaves? First brutality and now this?

  Elliott turned away, his fists clenched. “There’s nothing we can do.”

  “We can’t just leave them here!”

  “What choice do we have? Three people can’t take on an entire camp.”

  No, but there had to be a way around it. Were they not going to consider a plan? Sure, it’d be difficult, but that didn’t mean impossible.

  “I’m not leaving.” She clenched her jaw and glared at those below. She couldn’t.

  Elliott sighed. “Kikyo, what are your thoughts?”

  Blue eyes scanned the area again. “They were fairly inactive last night, most likely indulging in—” He paused, glancing at Kiuno before skipping his sentence. “One of us could sneak in, see how the area is laid out, but the risk—” He shook his head. “If we’re caught, that’s it.”

  Elliott nodded. “I agree, there’re too many. We can let the next group we come across know about this and hope they have the manpower. It would be suicide if we went in. They’ll just kill us and take Kiuno for themselves.”

  Kiuno gritted her teeth. She just needed to sneak down, release them and escape without notice—Could she do it?

  “Kiuno?”

  She turned away and rolled her blanket without speaking.

  Kiuno trailed behind as they walked along the cliff side, her gaze drawn to the structure below. The cliff turned into a steep hill, tapering with every step. By the time they were level, the town would be long gone, and those people forgotten.

  She could see it perfectly, the unguarded rear. It would be easy. How much were those people suffering, what kind of evils had been done to them? What if one of her friends was down there?

  She looked at the two in front. Both silent. They knew she was unhappy. They were too. Being helpless was humiliating. They only wanted to keep her safe, to ensure she survived until the end, but what was the point if others were sacrificed?

  Adrenaline coursed through her veins as she threw her pack to the ground and did a full turn to slide down the cliff. Both men called from behind in frantic voices, but she didn’t turn. She couldn’t. Kiuno ducked between the trees and raced forward until she pressed her back against the wooden wall.

  The tiny spark she usually had to fight for raged through the currents, begging for release. She’d grant it. Fire sparked around her arms, catching the dry wood. She kept her palm against the wall as she ran, leaving a trail of flames in her wake.

  “Kiuno.” His harsh whisper made her turn. Elliott looked to be sure the guards hadn’t caught sight of them. “If we’re going to do this, we need to be very careful. The fire is a clever trick, but we don’t know how many are waiting behind those walls. Kikyo and I will take out the front two. Once we’re inside, stay hidden, the smoke will create a distraction. Meanwhile, I want you to burn every building we pass once we’re sure it’s empty. We’ll find the prisoners and slip out.”

  She nodded, her mind set.

  “Kiuno.” His voice shifted, almost hesitant. “I need you to realize what you’re doing before we jump into this.” She stared at him, wondering what he meant, but the smoke in the sky caught her attention. He drew it back. “If we’re exposed, which is likely, we’ll have to fight. You’ll have to fight. Do you understand what that means?”

  “I do.” If he was trying to scare her, it wasn’t going to work.

  He didn’t appear convinced. “I hope so.”

  He nodded to Kikyo, who moved to the vantage point. They could hear commotion inside, and it drew in one of the guards. An arrow buried itself into the neck of the other. Elliott wasted no time. He ran forward and dragged the man away from the entrance, ensuring he was dead before they moved on.

  They peeked around the corner before running in, the younger two trailing behind. They found it difficult to maneuver with the buildings crammed against the wall. Hopefully they wouldn’t be forced to fight within the confined space.

  Elliott peeked into the window of the first house, confirming it was empty before she set it afire. She looked at Kikyo, wondering how he would handle all this, but he maintained a calm appearance. The small tornado with flames shifting through its core came to mind. Perhaps he planned to do the same here.

  At the second house, Kiuno peered around the corner, checking on those that were attempting to drown the flames she’d started minutes prior. Smoke replaced the fire, and it wouldn’t take them long to notice the next. Without a distraction, they’d be discovered.

  Elliott hissed as she ran into another building alone. Empty. She set to work, lighting the bed on fire before hiding in a corner as men ran toward the crackling wood.

  Risking a glance around the door, four men stood closer than she would have liked, while others ran for water. With a moment’s opportunity, she snuck around the other side, seeing both men and women being hauled out of houses with bound hands and gagged mouths.

  Fire burned in her core, but she fought the surge for now. They needed to stay hidden for the plan to work.

  Kiuno ducked and ran around three more buildings in search of her companions only to find them across the center road. Elliott caught her eye, looked around the building he was leaning against and waved her through. She ran her hand along the wall as she went, a trail of fire following.

  The smoke filled her lungs and her eyes watered. Panic swept through the men as they continued to run, searching for a reason for such spontaneous outbursts.

  Elliott pointed toward the center, and she followed his finger to a slanted door buried halfway in the ground. Fingers wrapped around the bars and reached for the latch. She cursed. They were keeping them in an underground cellar. This complicated things.

  “Stay here,” Elliott commanded. They watched him run toward the door and kneel, pulling on the iron bars. She glanced around, her heart hammering through her chest. He was exposed, how long before someone spotted him?

  Elliott used the hilt of his sword to break the lock and set the weapon down before lifting desperate people from the hole they’d been trapped in.

  Kiuno looked to the other side of the street as a man emerged carrying a pot of water. His eyes locked on Elliott’s back, and an arrow buried itself in his chest as the warning rang out. He fell to his knees, clutching the shaft of the weapon that caused his life to spill across the ground.

  She looked behind, searching for Kikyo, but he’d already made his way to the roof and pulled another arrow. Several men closed in on Elliott, each of them carrying swords and daggers. A metallic ring filled the air.

  What should she do?

  Elliott turned his attention to them, picking up his sword as he positioned himself between the enemy and victims.

  Kikyo released two more arrows, and the men scattered. Elliott used the distraction to pull the last few prisoners up, and most of the men turned to find Kikyo. He seemed to be a greater threat, but that put her in the center of attention. She wouldn’t be able to hide, it was time to use what Elliott taught her.

  Kiuno pulled the sword from her belt. She’d left the staff. Speed would be her greatest asset. All she needed to do was keep moving a
nd let Kikyo pick them off.

  Arrows flew.

  At least three men on the far side pointed their bows at Kikyo. Fear gripped her heart as she turned, unable to warn him, but a violent wind tore through the air and the arrows fell aside.

  She smirked. Not vulnerable in the least.

  Kiuno ran forward, the first male colliding with her despite the flames that still raged around her body. She ducked at his swing and used her momentum to slam her shoulder into his ribcage. He fell back, and she turned to the second, bursting her flames forth. The man shrunk back, but a third surprised her from behind, and the tip of his blade caught her upper arm. She turned with the swing, avoiding the worst of it.

  He swung again, and it was all she could do to avoid the sharp blade. Her lessons with Hodge came back.

  Your sword isn’t a shield.

  She ducked again and thrust, driving her weapon into his gut and twisted. Pain swept over his face as she stepped back. His knees hit the ground, blood soaking his shirt, and his eyes rolled back.

  Her heart skipped, breath coming in shallow gasps. It was necessary. Right? Her hands trembled as she struggled to hold the blade, blood dripping from its tip.

  You’ll have to fight, do you understand?

  Motionless. One mistake and they’d all end up the same.

  “Kiuno!” She turned to Elliott’s frantic call. A sword was over her, coming down fast. Fear raced down her spine, but an invisible force threw her back, skidding her against the ground.

  “Focus!” Kikyo screamed. There wasn’t time to think. She had to survive.

  Kiuno plunged her sword through the second man’s throat and looked away as the blood gushed over her hand. The feeling twisted her gut, but she couldn’t afford to stop. It was her life or theirs.

  The flames surged again. They curled around her as if they had a life of their own. Three looked at their fallen comrades and ran toward her. Two arrows whizzed past, dropping their targets, and she let the flames consume the last. He writhed on the ground, begging as he fought for an escape.

  It reminded her of the contorted figures from days before. Dead men, woman, children…

  This power. It was different. The warmth of the blaze acting like a shield. They’d survive. She’d ensure it.

  Checking on Elliott, Kiuno turned to see another young man helping on the other side, pulling people from a second cell. She gripped her sword tighter. Just how many had they held hostage? How long had they suffered?

  Elliott lifted a small child, and rage ripped through her core.

  “Kiuno.” She followed Elliott’s gaze and her heart skipped.

  Thirty men stood at the gate. Some sat on horses while others dismounted. They drew their weapons, and she looked at her friends, each of them breathing heavily. Elliott stood to her right. Kikyo drew his sword. Had she sentenced them to death?

  The clash of steel rang in her ears as she hit time and time again, spinning around blades that grazed her arms and shoulders. One hit. Just one and they’d fall.

  A sharp kick sent her sprawling to the ground. Her assailant stood over her, but a man in rags tackled him, stabbing repeatedly with a sharpened piece of wood. Blood splattered over his face, and the violent rage left her speechless.

  The male was young, probably only in his twenties, but his eyes were wild, body covered in dirt and blood. “We can help.” She nodded, what pain had they suffered to warrant such malice?

  With the young man’s guidance, more of the victims picked up weapons. They were willing to fight for their freedom.

  Flames still crawled along the wall and most every building was on fire. The smoke created a dense fog. They needed to get out of here. The fire wouldn’t harm her, but it would kill the others.

  Kikyo… His sword sliced another throat. The captives unable to fight stood away from the chaos, and several men closed in on them.

  Kiuno broke from Elliott’s group and placed herself between the vulnerable and their pursuers. Eight stood strong, each of them examining the flames that still flickered around her body. Their smiles mocked her effort.

  The last man on horseback jumped down, and fire wrapped his body as he drew a heavy sword. Kiuno took a step back. She’d never fought against magic before, they’d never practiced. Why hadn’t they considered it a possibility?

  Her body shook from exertion. Would she have the strength to fight him? Kiuno tried to steel herself. She couldn’t falter. Not before taking care of him. If she died, everyone died.

  With a smug expression, he charged, the opposing flames reaching forward like claws ready to tear her apart. She met his resolve, and magic burst forth in a magnitude of sparks. The two pushed against one another, both fighting for dominance. She flinched from the heat and barely blocked his sword as it came down over her head.

  Kiuno jumped back, but he pressed forward, hitting her with blow after blow. She couldn’t take much more of this. His size alone was enough to overpower her and trying to concentrate on keeping both blade and magic at bay was sapping the last of her strength.

  She moved to his right, causing him to stumble, his side wide open. Stars shot across her vision as his hilt busted against the back of her head. Kiuno hit the ground, ears ringing. The world faltered, and the heat grew closer. She fumbled for the blade as his shadow loomed over her. Tears sprang to her eyes. Kikyo needed her—

  A thunderous howl filled the air, and the man’s sword clattered to the ground. She turned to see the blurry image of an arrow buried in his bicep.

  “Kill them all!” he roared. Her heart clenched as seven others approached the defenseless. Pleas of mercy echoed through the air.

  A young woman, about her age, ran forward and fell to her knees. She begged for mercy, but a sword plunged through her throat. She garbled unintelligible words and fell to the ground when he pulled the blade out. The one still standing over her smirked.

  She stared at the woman, her mouth gaping. That could have been her. If she’d never met Elliott, if she’d been the one captured… A child screamed, echoes of pain continuing through the air.

  Kiuno clenched her sword as the power surged once more. It took every ounce of strength to stand on shaking legs. Their leader took a step back, hoping to avoid the hungry flames, but his efforts were in vain.

  Her magic clashed with his again, but this time he faltered, the fear in his eyes palpable. She screamed, her battle cry echoing as he was snuffed out like a candle. Something insignificant compared to her magnificence.

  He rolled across the ground in agony, suffering like he’d made so many others suffer. She extended her arms, the flames rushing to collide with the wall and form a ring around the innocent. They wouldn’t hurt any longer. Those threatening to end their lives met the same fate as their leader, choking on their last breath.

  She locked eyes with Elliott and motioned to the exit. He nodded and pulled Kikyo toward the fire. Kiuno pushed against the heavy flames, forming a path that would lead them out of harm’s way. It felt as though she were in perfect control, yet the flames consumed everything they touched and spread like wildfire.

  She chased down those that tried to escape, dancing with the raging inferno in perfect unison.

  Sound faded.

  Screams turned to crackling fire.

  Stillness.

  They’d done it.

  Together they’d survived against the odds, but she still had to get out. Kiuno couldn’t be sure she wouldn’t burn if she fainted.

  Her mind faltered. Each aching step taking her closer to the exit, and everything faded when her feet hit the dull grass.

  REALM: 3

  DAY: 66

  Heavy eyes fluttered open, a blurry mixture of blue and green. She tried to move, but winced, her body far heavier than she remembered.

  “Kiuno?” Kikyo’s image hovered above her.

  “Hey,” her voice cracked, throat raw. The coughing fit that followed added to her pain. She took a few breaths and tried to close her e
yes to ease the pounding headache.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Not so good.” She imagined she didn’t look very well either. Elliott was there a moment later and sat her up, though she would have rather stayed still. Kiuno’s vision swam, and Kikyo handed her a flask, the cool liquid relieving to her parched throat.

  “That was some display back there, kiddo.”

  She gave him a weak smile. “If this is the price I have to pay, I’m never doing it again.”

  “Is she ok?” Kiuno didn’t recognize the woman’s voice, but Elliott responded after placing his hand over her forehead.

  “She’ll be fine. Just expended too much energy.” That was an understatement.

  “I’m glad to hear it.” Kiuno glanced up to see the frail woman staring. The clothing around her body torn and in disarray.

  “So, is it over?” she asked.

  Elliott chuckled. “Considering you burnt the entire place to the ground, I would say yes.” Her mind started to refocus as she looked up to see billowing clouds and then out across the dead plains. There were so many people, all those they’d set free.

  Small fires still burned within, but they only fed on the remains of charred rubble. Those seeking to cause them harm were dead.

  “We’re grateful.” Two males approached, and she caught sight of the scorched ground beneath her fingertips. Kiuno ran her hand through the ashes. How long had the fire lingered around her? She looked to Kikyo, but he turned away.

  “We took the liberty of telling them this was all your crazy idea,” Elliott explained. She took them all in again, a small smile creeping to her lips. They were tired but would live to escape this place. At least that was her hope. The two thanked them again and left the trio to themselves.

  “What do we do now?” she asked.

  “Didn’t think that far ahead did you?” Kikyo’s change in tone had her turning to find his blue glare directed her way. She knew he had every right to be angry. She could have killed them all.

  “Don’t worry,” Elliott assured. “A few of the men say there’s a town not too far north. We’ll follow them and rest a while.” She was glad they had a destination, but Kikyo’s anger worried her.