Kaelen fought with the desperation of a man who had everything to lose. He used the narrow tunnel to his advantage, forcing them to attack one by one. He took a shallow cut to his shoulder to land a killing blow on the first acolyte.
The second acolyte caught Kaelen's arm, the brass graft humming with heat. Kaelen screamed as his skin began to sear, but he used his other hand to drive a glass shard into the acolyte's throat.
Then there was only Lyra.
She stood with her dagger drawn, shaking. "Don't make me do it, Kaelen. Please."
"Then don't," Kaelen said, blood dripping from his arm. "Come with me. We'll find another way."
For a moment, the girl with the glass eyes looked like she would drop the blade. Then, a sharp hiss echoed through the tunnel. Lyra's eyes went wide, and she collapsed. Silas stood behind her, holding a brass dart-gun.