Ashyn frowned. Yes, it was a threat, but an idle one, given that they'd vanquished Edwyn's warriors. Yet the look on Moria's face . . . Then on Tyrus's, a slow widening of his eyes, dawning recognition. And then, from across the cave, a fifth figure, running through the doorway, breathing hard as if he'd been finishing a fight outside. Ashyn saw the newcomer's familiar face and dark braids.
"Gavril?"
It was, and the look on his face as he stared at the cowled man was the worst of all. He lunged for them, shouting, "Moria!" and the cave went dark.
THIRTY-SEVEN
Moria heard Gavril shout her name, and then the cavern went dark, every torch extinguishing at once. She yanked out her daggers and pushed her sister against the wall, guarding her as Ashyn whispered, "Moria?"
"Sorcery," Moria said. That was all she said. All she dared say. She would not speak his name, as if to do so would--were she wrong--somehow bring him, manifested like a spirit. Yet she had no doubt who the cowled man was. That voice was branded on her brain.
Alvar Kitsune.
She had asked Gavril what his father had planned next. Gavril had said he didn't know, but feared it was sorcery. Now they had their answer. More than sorcery. Alvar had planned to murder Ashyn to raise dragons.
Ronan knew the plan to raise dragons meant sacrificing Ashyn, which is why they'd raced here as quickly as they could. The fact that his captors had stopped at Alvar's camp suggested Gavril's father was involved in the scheme, but it was only now, seeing him here, that they knew those fears had been well-founded.
When darkness fell, chaos exploded. Shouts erupted from Tyrus and Dalain. Daigo growled. Metal clanked. Moria stayed poised, not daring to take a step, lest she leave Ashyn exposed. She had to trust the young warriors.
Trust them to do what? Fight in the dark? Somehow not butcher one another?
"Gavril!" she shouted, but even as she did, she saw light, Gavril raising his glowing left hand. He brandished his sword in his
right, but the long blade could not be wielded single-handedly. He pulled out his short sword instead and swung it awkwardly when a dagger-armed woman lunged at him.
Daigo and Dalain advanced on the still-cowled warrior. Ronan had Edwyn against the wall, his sword at the old man's throat. Sabre guarded a second woman, her slingshot in hand, ready to send a stone flying where needed.
From beyond the cave, Moria heard more sounds of fighting. They'd had to battle their way through, the Okami warriors at their side. They'd left them out there, fighting Edwyn's men, who were apparently Alvar's men. When she glanced toward the entranceway, drawn by the sounds of that distant fighting, a figure appeared. Another warrior--and not dressed in the Okami colors. A second followed him.
"Gavril!" Moria shouted.
He was still trying to use the short sword, but when she shouted, he pulled his long sword instead, gripping it in both hands . . . and his light went out. Blades clanged. Someone gasped. An oomph. A thud. Then Tyrus's voice: "Gavril!"
"Busy!"
Another thud. This one followed by the wet sound of a blade slicing through flesh. A howl of pain and Moria froze. Then Tyrus again: "Gavril!"
A grunt. A clang. "What?"
Tyrus didn't answer for a moment. When he did, it sounded like he'd moved closer to Gavril. "Light! Now!"
Another oomph. Another thud. Then light, and Moria could see Tyrus fighting the two newcomers. Gavril stood at his shoulder, his blade in one hand, light in the other, his gaze fixed on the fighters, his body tense.
"I need the light more than I need help," Tyrus grunted between blows.
The warrior Tyrus had been fighting earlier lay dead a few paces away. Ashyn darted from behind Moria. Moria let out a grunt and grabbed for her sister, but Ashyn snatched the warrior's blade, ran back to Moria, and said, "Trade?" then took one of Moria's daggers and handed her the sword.
"I know you're better with the daggers, but you can use that," Ashyn said. "And I don't need to be shielded in a corner, Rya."
Moria murmured an apology, and they surveyed the battlefield together, hunting for the best target. Seeing how they could help without getting in the way, given the poor lighting.
Ronan still had Edwyn pinned. Dalain and Daigo had backed the cowled man into a corner. Their opponent had sheathed his weapon, his hands raised in surrender.
Surrender? Does that mean it is not Alvar?
No, that voice . . . She'd known it and so had Tyrus and Gavril, but both boys seemed to have forgotten him in the heat of the battle. Or perhaps they'd realized they were mistaken, and--
She yanked her gaze away as another warrior barreled through the entrance. With Ashyn at her side, she began rushing toward him. Then Gavril's light went out. The last image Moria saw was Gavril looking up at his hand in surprise, meaning he had not extinguished--