Page 93 of A Sea So Cruel
“We can’t hold them off forever!” Gyrial yelled down the line.
Halsten knew he needed to ensure Linnea’s safety, but he also knew that she would not leave Dyri. As if reading his mind, Thurs broke from the line at the same time Halsten did, sprinting back for the pair they were protecting. Halsten apologized to Dyri, only taking a moment to observe the mangled limb dangling from the canine, before hoisting him up over his shoulder and laying him on Thurs’s back. It was a testament to the pup’s demeanor that even in such pain, he never once lashed out or tried to bite.
Halsten yanked Linnea to his chest by her wrist, planting a powerful kiss on her lips, then lifted her up onto Thurs behind Dyri. The mare took off toward the castle and Halsten knew that it could very well be the last time he saw Linnea. Even though his leg was going numb, he turned and dove back into the fight.
King Botmar’s iron sword left sizzling corpses in its wake and Halsten wished they had more than one iron blade. They needed something—anything—to give them an advantage.
An outbreak of shrieks and hisses sounded from the forest before a swarm of people appeared, running through the underbrush toward the beach.
Was it just Halsten, or were the people all very short?
No, they were not short people. They were children. At least twenty of them.
The deafening screeches were not human sounds, and Halsten panicked. How was he supposed to justify fighting children, even if they were dangerous ocean dwellers?
This was how he would die. Halsten couldn’t fight children. Kaid, maybe, if he were here. Kaid punched first then asked questions later. Halsten, though? Halsten at least put some thought into what he punched before he did it. And he would not be punching youth.
He braced himself as the children approached and closed his eyes, flinching when he felt them brushing past him. When he opened his eyes, he realized they had run around him and were fighting beside Asta. Fightingagainstthe Ryktarvans.
They were vicious little things, using their razor sharp teeth to latch onto the warriors. It took two-to-three of them to take down one warrior, but the extra hands were helpful.
As thankful as Halsten was for the children, a shiver ran down his spine as he watched them. There was something very terrifying about watching murderous children. Halsten may have developed a new fear of youth in general now.
Either way, the new arrivals were not enough, and Halsten and his friends were fighting a losing battle.
Chapter 56
Tears threatened to fall from Asta’s eyes as she continued fighting.
Her orphans had come. They had come to help her. Some of them were hardly old enough to form a fist, but they knew that Asta was their friend and she needed their help.
In a normal situation, she would have demanded they return to the safety of the orphanage, but this was not a normal situation. These orphans were abandoned by the creatures they were attacking. Birthed and planted to be used later when it was convenient. This fight was as much for them as it was for Asta and her friends and family. She couldn’t take that from them.
However, they still needed something more to give them the upperhand. They were not getting pushed back as quickly now because of the orphans, but they were still being herded toward the castle.
“Asta! Behind you!” her father howled.
She spun, swiping her blade out in front of her to stop whatever was coming her way.
Maren was charging her, causing Asta to do a double-take. Asta’s sword did not strike, her sister being far more skilled than the warriors that were sent. Maren rolled out of the way and once she was back on her feet, she sprang into the air. Asta raised her sword to block what she anticipated was coming her way, but Maren jumped over her, landing behind her and plunging her sword into a Ryktarvan warrior’s chest.
Maren withdrew her blade and locked eyes with Asta. “Mother’s comb! Asta, use it!”
Asta froze, baffled. What was she seeing right now?
Maren spun, slashing her blade and cutting down her own soldiers, her red hair flaring out like an inferno ring around her.
“Asta!” Maren gritted her teeth. “Listen to me for once in your life!”
Was this some form of a trick? Was Maren manipulating her somehow, coaxing her to reveal the comb and mirror for some nefarious reason?
But what good would the siren artifacts be to a finfolk princess? Unlike the trident, the comb and mirror could only be used by sirens.
Asta’s father continued his fight, but watched his daughters closely. Would he intervene if something happened? How would he choose a side?
There was one thought that brought Asta comfort—if she used the comb and mirror and Maren attempted any sort oftrick, Asta could use the artifacts to control her sister. But would she be able to go through with it, if it came down to it?
Fuck it.
