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The volley of arrows pauses. But it will be moments before the bows are nocked again and another hail begins.
“He was on the balcony with Lyr,” Damon says. “He is not there now. He must have fled.”
“He’s gone,” Perl shouts, already half inside the passageway behind the panel. “Elric and Lyr are together. They will meet us on the street that leads into Gleamview Market.”
Damon looks around as if surveying the temple, for dangers, for survivors, Lukas does not know.
Lukas looks with him at the ruins of the great Sarelik Temple. Padded benches ripped up for weapons, statues wrenched from alcoves. Blood and bodies everywhere. Just the start of the destruction of the empire.
On the side of the stage, Doroth is knelt over the headless body of Vindar. Where it was dragged by the guards. “Get him,” Damon says to Kerik indicating with a kick of his head. “He needs to come with us.”
As Kerik obeys, a man dressed as an Imperial General comes up to the door. He is carrying what appears to be a dead priest in his arms. He makes as if to leave through the doorway.”
Damon squares up to the man. “Not with him. You’re not taking him anywhere.”
The man frowns back, as if he struggles to understand. “Plumian,” he says. His voice has a heavy accent. “Damon Darekul. I am friend to this priest.”
Lukas looks at the bundle of limbs and robes the man is carrying. “Is that…?”
Damon nods. “Our father’s fifth bastard, yes.”
“Tobi,” Damon says, “Take this man out of here with Jemel. Stay with him. Charge Harok to stick close to both of you.”
Tobi comes over as Kerik returns with a crumpled Doroth. Damon ushers them out then turns back to Lukas.
“Please, Lukas. Go. Now.”
But Lukas is looking out across the temple again, the doors are open. Perhaps he could make it. The fight on the streets calls to him.
He turns to look at Damon. “We need to kill Atticul.”
“We will. I swear.”
“Oh, come on, traitor,” says Tobi. “For once don't just do the opposite of what Damon says for spite.” He says it playfully.
Lukas turns and grins at Tobi, before following him into the tunnel behind the jewelled panel.
Damon closes it just as the arrows start to rain down again.
They emerge onto the streets of Attar. Lukas recognises the back of Gleamview market. He is delighted to see that the rioting has already spread this far.
The streets are in chaos. He sees Inez hugging Damon with tears in her eyes.
But there will be guards upon them soon.
“This way,” Lukas shouts.
He looks around as he speaks. Where is he? Where is he?
Lukas barely sees him. It’s just a flash of red hair and then a weight hitting him full force. But it is? It is…
Elric is in his arms, wailing, right in his ear, loud enough to deafen him, “You bastard, you bastard. I will chain you down, I will, I will…”
And then they are kissing.
Elric’s mouth is a furnace. Lukas plunges his tongue into it, like he needs it to live. He is kissing his lover in the middle of Attar, right on the streets of the Jewel of the Empire.
And it feels better than sinking his blade into any Emperor.
