Page 94 of The Iron Hex

Hugo took it all, silently stepping forward again, hoping Carth wouldn’t notice his closeness in his rage.

Hugo caught Evangeline’s eye as she peeked through the window and mouthed, “Eight.” It was the six Iron Retinue soldiers he’d seen and two more that had already been here, or two city guards. They were outnumbered. They were doomed.

Hugo frantically tried to figure out how to convince Eira to run, to run, and survive.

“Imagine my surprise when the dashing commander who killed my mother showed up at my tavern.” Carth’s hand shook at his side, the fury radiating through him. “I wanted to kill you and your woman in your sleep tonight, but imagine my joy when you told me your plans today. Then, you told me the Iron Empire was looking for you and, even better, that your woman is a witch. It was perfect,tooperfect.”

“I know what I did was wrong, but I’ve learned from my mistakes. Siding with the Iron Empire only harms the memory of your mother,” Hugo tried to speak calmly, one hand reaching toward Carth as he tried to figure out a way to strike the man down before he could signal to the Iron Retinue knights outside. Anything to buy Eira time to get to safety.

“You don’t even get tospeakof her, you monster.” Carth’s voice shook. “You’re going to go out there and I’m going to watch them execute you for what you did to her, and every other life you ruined in this city, and it’s going to feel so, so good. Maybe, if I’m lucky, they’ll kill your witch first so you can watch her die like I had to watch so many people I cared about die.”

“At least let Eira and Evangeline go,” Hugo begged. “They didn’t do anything to you. They don’t deserve this.”

It was the best he could do.

“Hugo, no!” Eira walked and stood beside him and grabbing his arm as she tried to force him to look at her. He wouldn’t, couldn’t.

“This is the best I can do,” he whispered, voice shaking as he finally looked at her. “Let me save you.”

“I need you,” Eira whispered, her voice thick and her eyes wet.

“You two don’t need to argue,” Carth growled, the rage and anticipation of their deaths clear as day in his gaze. “I believe in guilt by association.”

Before Hugo could speak, Carth whistled, and Hugo turned to the windows to see the Iron Retinue soldiers outside nocking arrows. They’d shoot out the windows and kill them in here if they didn’t get out. It only took the moment, but as Hugo turned his head Carth slunk out of the room, leaving the three of them alone.

“We have to act quickly.” Hugo placed his hands on Eira’s arms and looked into her eyes. “I’m going to go out there and we’re going to hope that gives you a moment to get away, both of you.”

Evangeline shouted from her corner, sword in her hand and braided hair whipping behind her. “They’re getting ready to fire!”

“No,” Eira said, eyes welling up. “I’m not leaving. We’re here because of me. I’mnotleaving you.”

“I can’t watch you die,” Hugo pleaded, weaving his fingers through hers and trying to savor the feeling for the last time. “I will never forgive myself.”

“This isn’t your choice.” Eira’s voice cracked as she begged him. “There’s a better chance of getting out of this alive if all three of us fight.”

The glass shattered and an arrow flew into Hugo’s arm, a grunt escaping his lips as the pain shattered through him. “Are you okay?” he said, ripping it out and looking Eira over for injuries.

“Are you?” Her hands hovered around his bleeding arm.

“They’re nocking another round!” Evangeline yelled, frantic.

“I love you. I’ve always loved you.” Hugo kissed her.

Eira grabbed his jacket, eyes welling with tears. “No,” she mouthed, lip trembling.

“I’ll love you when I’m dead and gone. Please, get away. For me. Live, for me,” Hugo said, kissing Eira again and throwing her hood back over her head before kicking open the front door. He desperately hoped they would listen to him andget out.

“Gentlemen,” Hugo said, arms wide as he greeted the Iron Retinue soldiers, sword in his hand. “This doesn’t need to be a bloodbath.”

The two archers had arrows nocked and aimed in the direction of the tavern. They knew Evangeline and Eira were in there.

Use the diversion Eira, please.

He waited for them to speak and watched as the soldier in the center removed his helmet. Hugo’s heart fell into his stomach as he recognized Lord General Kerrigan immediately, here in the flesh. If what he had been feeling before had felt like panic, he’d been wrong. Hugo needed Eira to run, now more than ever. He had never expected the lord general to make an appearance; he had no reason to be here... except for revenge against Hugo.

“Hugo,” Lord General Kerrigan said, stepping forward in the same plate armor he wore the night they took over Astrad together. “You’ve become a real problem for me.”

Fear ripped through Hugo as he involuntarily took a step backward, flashes of all the times Lord General Kerrigan struck him for not performing well enough tearing through his mind. No. The lord general was just a man. He didn’t have any sway over Hugo anymore. He was just a man with too much power. Hugo would not be afraid of him for another moment of his life, however short that may be.