The Silver Fangs controlled the eastern docks. Twenty men. Well-armed. Well-trained.
Kael and Lyra watched from a warehouse roof.
"That's their headquarters," Lyra pointed to a large building. "Leader is a man named Vex. Former soldier. Smart, mean, experienced."
"How do we do this?"
"You go in the front. Loud and obvious. I slip in the back and sabotage their weapons. When they realize half their swords are useless, they panic."
"You want me to be bait."
"You're good at it. Besides, the sword protects you. I'm just human."
Kael looked at her. "You're more than just human."
Lyra smiled. "Sweet. But I'm still the one who needs to be careful." She pulled out several vials. "Alchemical acid. Melts metal. One drop on a blade and it becomes brittle. Useless."
"You made those?"
"My father taught me alchemy before he died. Useful skill in the Black Market." She tucked the vials away. "Give me ten minutes to get in position. Then make noise."
"I'm good at that, too."
"I've noticed."
Lyra disappeared down the back of the building. Kael waited. Counted to six hundred.
Then he dropped to the street and walked toward the Silver Fangs' headquarters.
Two guards at the door saw him coming. Hands went to weapons.
"Stop right there," one said. "This is private property."
"I'm here for Vex," Kael said.
"Vex don't see nobody without—"
Kael drew Soulrender.
The guards' eyes went wide. One ran inside. The other tried to draw his sword.
Kael kicked him in the chest. He went down hard.
The door burst open. More guards poured out. Six. Eight. Ten.
"That's him!" someone shouted. "The one with the black sword!"
Word had spread. Good.
They came at him together. Smart. Coordinated.
Kael moved. Parried the first blade. Ducked under the second. Soulrender cut through a spear shaft.
A sword came at his side. He blocked. The blade shattered.
The guard stared at his broken weapon in shock.
"What—"
Kael kicked him aside. Another guard swung an axe. It broke on impact with Soulrender.
More weapons shattering. Breaking. Useless.
Lyra's acid. Working perfectly.
The guards were panicking now. Half their weapons destroyed. The rest uncertain.
Kael pressed the advantage. Soulrender sang through the air. Men fell. The sword drank.
Power flowed. Strength building.
A huge man emerged from the building. Scars on his face. Armor that looked real. This had to be Vex.
"You've made a mistake coming here, boy," Vex rumbled. He drew two swords. Both looked intact. Lyra must have missed them.
"Probably," Kael agreed. "But I'm here anyway."
Vex charged. Fast for a big man. Both swords came at Kael from different angles.
Kael blocked one. Dodged the other. Countered. Vex blocked.
They exchanged blows. Fast. Brutal. Vex was good. Really good.
"Former soldier," Soulrender observed. "Captain, maybe. He's had real training."
"Noticed that."
Vex's blade cut across Kael's arm. Pain flared. Blood.
Kael jumped back. Vex pressed forward. Both swords moving in a pattern. Professional. Deadly.
This wasn't like the others. This was a real fight.
"Use me," Soulrender urged. "Really use me."
Kael let the power flow. Red light flickered around him. His speed increased.
He blocked both of Vex's swords. Kicked the big man in the knee. Vex stumbled.
Kael's blade found an opening. Cut across Vex's side. Not deep but enough.
Vex roared. Swung wild. Kael ducked and drove Soulrender up through his ribs.
The big man's eyes went wide. He dropped his swords.
"How..." he gasped.
Kael pulled the blade free. Vex fell.
The sword drank. Power flooded in. Vex had been strong. Experienced. His strength was significant.
Kael felt the change immediately. His reflexes sharpened further. His muscle memory expanded. Years of sword training flowing into him.
The remaining Silver Fangs broke and ran.
Kael let them go. The message was sent.
Lyra appeared from inside the building. "Done?"
"Done. You?"
"Sabotaged thirty weapons. Found their gold. Took it." She patted a bag on her hip. "Two hundred crowns. Not bad."
"That's stealing."
"That's spoils of war. Julian won't get this money now." She looked at the bodies. "Vex?"
"Dead."
"Good. He was a problem. The docks will be unstable for weeks without him. Julian's income from shipping will take a hit."
"How much?"
"Hundred gold a week, probably. It adds up."
They walked away from the headquarters. Behind them, the building stood silent. Another operation destroyed.
"Your arm," Lyra said. "You're bleeding."
"It's fine."
"It's not fine. Let me see."
She examined the cut. Deep but clean. She pulled out a bandage and wrapped it.
"You need to be more careful," she said.
"I won. That's what matters."
"Winning doesn't matter if you bleed to death." She tied off the bandage. "There. Keep pressure on it."
"You worried about me?"
"Someone has to be. You certainly don't worry about yourself."
"The sword heals me."
"The sword isn't invincible. Neither are you." She met his eyes. "Promise me you'll be careful. Please."
Kael had never heard her say please before.
"I promise," he said.
"Good." She started walking. "Come on. We need to report back to Ethan. He worries when we're gone."
They moved through the dark streets together. Kael realized he liked this. Having someone to fight beside. Someone who watched his back.
Someone who cared if he came home.
"Lyra," he said.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. For the help. For... everything."
She smiled. "That's what partners do."
"Is that what we are? Partners?"
"Among other things." She took his hand. "Come on. Let's go home."
Home. When had the safe house become home?
But it had. Because that's where Lyra was. Where Ethan was.
Maybe that's what home was. Not a place. But people.
They walked together through the Black Market. And for the first time since leaving Voss Hall, Kael felt like he wasn't alone.
* * *
END OF CHAPTER 14