101 Out of Time (2/2)

I caught the metal cylinder with both hands as it might have been disastrous if I'd failed to catch it and it fell to the ground and broke without warning.

A few months ago, I'd asked Zarz to make me a weapon that we could use against Thom's drow clan during that confusing debacle at Broken Sellsword's Canyon. The heavy metal cylinder that he'd cooked up was a total dud, but we'd never given up on making it work. The new and improved version in my hands was about the size of a Coke can. It had a similar metallic casing riddled with holes systematically placed across the metal surface.

Luca's brow furrowed at the sight of the cylinder. ”Um, is that what I think it is?”

”Break in case of emergencies,” I said happily.

I glanced behind me and grinned.

More enemy soldiers were coming, their faces red from anger.

Seeing their desperation only made me grin wider. It was the perfect opportunity to test whether or not we could use Mudgardian tools effectively in the Fayne.

I pulled out the metal pin at the top of the cylinder and threw it over Darah's back. Then I pulled on Myth Chaser's reins and urged it forward.

”Cover your eyes, Darah soldiers!” I yelled, hoping anyone who heard me would pay attention and follow my suggestion.

There was a loud popping sound that pierced through the noise of the battlefield. This was followed by a searingly bright light that I could see even through my shut eyelids.

Screams ensued. Voices of all kinds crying out that the light had blinded them. Suckers.

One second passed. I kept my eyes closed. Two seconds passed. I took a quick peek.

The chaos had only intensified with momentarily blind fools lashing out those around them out of fear. there was a lot of friendly fire.

”Time to go!” I yelled while silently thinking of giving Zarz a raise for the spectacular craftmanship that may have just saved all our butts.

We ran, pushing our mounts to wade through the sea of grays and blues and race out of the encirclement of spectators. Those soldiers who saw their great general riding behind me cheered before falling in behind us like an honor guard following their master to escape.

To my Foolhardies fell the responsibility of guarding our sides. Aura led the group on the right while Luca led the team on the left of our procession of Darah soldiers. And they had their job cut out for them.

As if possessed by demons, the Magesong soldiers continued their attacks on us. They harried us every step of the way so that we were forced to veer off course several times, moving further and further away from our own front lines.

It was at this moment that I decided to take a risk.

”Please take the reins, general,” I said, offering Myth Chasers reins to Darah.

”Should I scratch your back while I'm at it, Dean?” Darah asked jokingly while she accepted the reins from me. ”Or would you prefer a cup of tea while you laze about and leave me to do all the hard work?”

”Hilarious,” I said. ”Just keep us alive while I keep watch from on high, ma'am.”

Hearing my plan, Aura, who was now riding at our side, said, ”But, Dean, you've already overused Fool's Insight, haven't you?”

I heard the worry in her voice and knew I should just lie to her. It would have been easier to just lie about it. But I never could lie to Aura. It wasn't just our bond, I just thought that I needed to always be truthful with her so that she would always be truthful with me.

”It's okay, Aura… I think I have a bit left in the tank for one more look,” I reasoned.

”But the risk—”

”—would be less than the risk of not using it,” I reasoned. ”Can't you tell, Aura? Something's wrong here, and we can't make the best decisions without seeing the whole board.”

Aura went quiet. She knew I was right. But her concern for me was touching. Even made me blush and fidget in my seat. stupid teenage hormones at work again.

'Do it, Dean,” Darah ordered. ”Find us a way out of this mess before we're out of time.”

”Yes, ma'am,” I answered.

I closed my eyes and spoke the words floating in my mind's eye, ”Oh great fool, let me see the unseen that I might know the unknowable,” and felt the magic stir. Then came the pain, and right afterward, the screams began.