The air hissed as another dart fired down at Sven. Shock struck me harder than the pain throbbing from my wound. XXX Ealaín’s boots dug furrows as she halted her charge before being impaled. I would be his shield. Something wrestled with her, another pale form. It buried in the ground. It couldn’t hurt, but only distract and deceive. I squeezed my eyes shut, flinching as… “Do not fear the shadows,” I shouted at Sven as I charged in, my armor rattling. “Pater, no,” I moaned. The thing flowed away from my weapon, moving like liquid darkness in the vague form of a man. If she wouldn’t speak it, it meant she didn’t want to tip off the attacker.
