Page 111 of The Familiar

Again the guards exchanged a glance.

The first eyed Ovidio. “If your pocket is being weighted, ours should get heavy too.”

Luzia wanted to cheer. A bribe they were prepared for.

“Oh, very well,” grumbled Ovidio. “I’m the one who was fast asleep. I’m the one playing nursemaid. But certainly, let me share my hard-earned pay with you.”

He dropped silver reales into their hands.

“Come now,” protested the guard. “Don’t be miserly.”

Ovidio scowled. “Fine, but this is the end of it.”

The guard grinned and bowed. He unlocked the gates and stepped aside.

Teoda clapped her hands and skipped ahead and Luzia followed. The guard offered her his hand to help her cross the threshold and she took it without thinking.

“Wait,” he said, his grip tightening.

“She is not for you to enjoy,” said Ovidio. “You’ve been paid in silver, you don’t get to collect her purse too.”

“Shut your mouth,” snapped the guard, and the other drew his sword, keeping it on Ovidio.

The soldier dragged Luzia toward one of the torches burning in its sconce and yanked her hand close to the firelight.

“Calluses,” he said. “But she’s dressed like nobility. So is the child.”

Ovidio’s gaze met hers.

“Go,” he growled. Then he drove his dagger into her captor’s throat.

“To arms!” shouted the other man.

Luzia stumbled away from the bloody guard, who was still trying to keep his grip even as he crumpled to the ground.

Ovidio snatched his sword away. “Run!” he shouted. “Protect her!”

Luzia lurched toward Teoda, who was halfway to the coach now. The outriders had leapt down and drawn their swords to come to their aid, but it was too late. Guardsmen were pouring into the courtyard and through the arch.

Teoda screamed and Luzia looked behind her. Ovidio was on his knees, a sword through his chest. He clawed at the air as if trying to pull himself to his feet, then toppled.

My angel says I will die here. We all will.

“Not all,” she whispered. “Run, Teoda!”

Luzia didn’t stop to think. She focused on the cobblestones and let the song roar through her, the words like bursts of fire in her mind, blinding in their light. Onde iras, amigos toparas. May you find friends. May you find friends. May you find friends. The stones rose in a heap, a tide of rock that exploded between Teoda and the soldiers, blocking Luzia’s path to the coach.

One of the outriders seized Teoda and ran for the coach doors.

“Luzia!” Teoda cried as she was shoved inside.

Luzia thrust the walls of rock outward, trying to give the coach time, closing off the road. But she could feel the song trying to split, her fear pulling her toward escape, anywhere but here. If she couldn’t keep to the melody she might tear herself in two. So be it. It would be the death she chose.

Something struck her from behind. Luzia fell forward and then they were on her, kicking and punching. Her head struck the stones. The song slipped away.

It has to be enough that one of us got free, she thought as darkness crowded in. Fate was wrong once; maybe it can be again.

CHAPTER 49