The air in the clearing was thick enough to taste. It carried damp earth, the sharp metal smell of blood, and the oily sweetness of the Worm Mother's bile.
Lena stood at the edge of the open space, her lungs burning. Beside her, Skall was completely focused. He didn't look like the lazy mercenary from the courtyard anymore. His stance was low, his two short swords held in a reverse grip that felt natural, almost like a hunter ready to strike.
Far away, the main battle sounded like a dull, steady rhythm. Lena could hear faint shouts from Captain Vane's soldiers and the clash of spears against shields. She knew they were holding, but she also knew they were being pushed back under a mass of pale, moving bodies.
"They won't last forever," Skall said quietly, almost lost under the Mother's heavy heartbeat. "The longer we wait, the more die."
"I know," Lena replied.
Lena focused, trying to recall how it felt to use her skills, and within seconds her body and mind began to remember.
