Liam shook his head, “It is too late to help her Reena.”
They battled their way through the crowd and into the mouth of the small alleyway. There they had a few moments to rest and Reena turned to her father, hugging him tightly. “Oh Father,” she sobbed into his chest. “I have missed you so much. I have been so far and you will never believe the places that I’ve been; I don’t believe them myself. I never thought I would see you again.”
Liam’s arms tightened around her and he said I always knew that I would see you again, my daughter. If not in this life then in the next.”
Reena managed to get out, “I’m glad it wasn’t in the next life Father. I need you here in this one.”
Praxis shouted a warning and pulled Reena to one side just in time to avoid the blade that was hurtling through the air towards her. It landed in the wall of the wooden building in front of which they stood. That knive’s hilt quivered, showing the strength with which it had been thrown into the wall. Reena turned in time to see their attacker; she was shocked to realize that it was Talon coming towards them, his sword drawn.
Her sobs broke out of her chest. Here he was, the boy who had always been kind to her! She was so glad to see him and she held her arms out, reaching for them as she said, “Talon! There you are, I am so happy to see you!”
He said nothing. He just kept coming. His sword drawn back, and if she had not moved it, it would’ve sliced right through her skin. Bewildered at his actions Reena asked, “Talon, Talon don’t you remember me?”
Praxis said, “No. No he does not. He had his mind wiped. I’ve heard of it, but I’ve never seen it until now.”
What was Praxis babbling about? She knew this boy! She knew him well; she had shared most of her life with him! What was a mindwipe? That answer became clear very quickly. As Talon faced her it was easy to tell that he did not know her at all. His eyes held no recognition even when she said, “Talon, it’s me Reena. Please put the sword down Talon. I don’t want to fight you.”
He just kept advancing! Why? What had she done or rather, what had been done to him to make him not know who she was? There was no choice, she was going to have to kill him!
Just then Liam appeared, his body worn away to nearly nothing and his eyes sunken into deep pockets of flesh. He saw what was happening and he cried out his daughter’s name.
Hearing her father’s voice distracted her just long enough that Talon’s sword cut a slice into her left arm. Reena cried out in pain and shielded herself from his next blow, which never came. Dax and Lucas jumped on Talon from behind, dragging him to the bloody sand.
Liam’s next cry stopped them from killing him, but sent Reena’s world spinning. “Do not kill him! He’s my son!”
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Battle Cry Page 15