For now, the fact that Tamir had killed someone with a sword out of nowhere was the least of their problems. Grabbing the boy by the arm, she took him to Lev's private bath, where she ordered him to stay hidden in the steam. He was not to come out under any circumstances, until she or one of the Protectors came for him.

In her blood-stained nightgown, Flavia ran out of the baths. On the bed, the man was motionless. Since his upper body was no longer attached to his legs, she didn't have to worry about that.

Leaving the room, she made her way to the source of the screams. At a run, she arrived at the top of the stairs, to see a scene of carnage.

Dozens of soldiers were there, fighting with the Clypeus ' guards. Some were half-dressed, some women still wearing their night caps. When Flavia saw one of the attackers climbing the steps four by four in her direction, she understood the gravity of the situation.

They were overwhelmed by the enemy, caught by surprise in their sleep, in the absence of the Duke and the Northern Battalion.

She thought of Tamir, covered in blood in the baths.

Fury seizing her, she stared into the soldier's eyes, his face transfigured by the lust for murder. Flashing her bow in her hands, she clearly saw him slow down. But it was too late.

The arrow, loaded with full power, blew off his skull, before blowing the front door of the fortress. There was a moment's pause below. Everyone looked at her with wide eyes. Everyone saw her bow and her expression.

Did they think they could kill the Shield woman to weaken her?

Very good.

Unlucky for them, she could fight.

-For the Duke! she roared, notching a new arrow.

A roar answered him. Galvanized, the soldiers of the Clypeus fought like demons. Because of the numerical inferiority, the defense of the fortress was weak.

However, not one of them gave in.

Standing at the top of the stairs, Flavia notched arrow after arrow, being careful not to use all her power this time. They didn't want to hurt their own people. Unfortunately, their attackers soon realized that they had to shoot her first.

There were others in the building. How they got upstairs, Flavia would not know until much later. The kitchens had been attacked too, along with the service staircase. The traitor had made them a map of the place.

Caught off guard, she saw a blade rushing towards her.

The blade spun in the air in a spray of blood.

No !

Tamir was between her and the three mercenaries who had come to take her on. Well, two, since the third had just had his arm cut off by the boy. But what the...

Taking advantage of the confusion, Flavia put two arrows in her bow and shot them at full speed. They went in two different directions, and they hit the skulls of the soldiers, who fell, dead on the spot.

-There are others, said Tamir.

In the hallway leading to the back stairs, four more men were coming running. How many of them were there, for God's sake? How many had been sent to eradicate the fortress!? How many had been sent to hurt Lev!?

Firing a final arrow, she grabbed Tamir by the hand. She couldn't leave him there!

Running away in the corridors, Flavia reproached herself for not knowing the place well yet. Her priority was to protect the little one, at all costs!

- Catch her! someone roars.

No !

There were four others in front!

Stopping, Flavia looked back, then forward. No door to escape. No, no! She couldn't leave the boy here! They were going to kill him too! Flashing her bow again, she took a deep breath.

-Don't move, she ordered Tamir.

She hoped that this time he would obey her.

Caught in a vice, she could only shoot the attackers from one side. On the other, by the time she fired, they would have reached her. No choice. Snapping four arrows, she didn't take the time to charge them with power. They shot out, skewering the soldiers' throats. Turning, she stood ready to face the others... When suddenly, she found herself in total darkness. What the...

-It's all right, Tamir said softly, slipping his little hand into hers.

The next moment, terrified screams rang out in the unfathomable darkness, followed by the vile sound of tearing flesh. That... The time of a heartbeat, the time of a shuddering breath... And then the light came back suddenly. Not as if the torches on the wall suddenly flared up. More as if with a simple blink of the eye, the opaque veil had disappeared.

Her moment of blindness had lasted two seconds, at most. But before her, the mercenaries were dead. Some were sliding down the wall, their eyes revolted with terror into death, their guts in the air.

What...

Flavia's heart stopped beating. A shadow, right next to her. Suddenly lowering her head, she saw Tamir 's smile. Had she been dreaming, or... had a black-gloved hand just ruffled the boy's hair?

-We're alive, he declared.

Yes... Yes, but they wouldn't stay that way for long if they stayed there! Taking Tamir in her arms, a knot of terror in her stomach, Flavia ran back to the entrance hall. It was more dangerous here!

When she got there, she saw even more opponents than before. No... No! Some of them were on the stairs. Shit! With Tamir in her arms, she...

A Shield suddenly sprang up from behind her, stopping the swords dead in their tracks. A shiver of magic. Turning her head, eyes wide, she saw Lev. In armor, wearing his horned helmet, he was still emerging from a portal.

- Shoot those dogs! he roared.

Soldiers from both sides of Flavia surged into the wasteland with furious war cries. They were covered in demon blood. They were exhausted from the night's fighting. Still, they charged at the enemy with roars that shook the fortress. Lev jumped from the top of the stairs, only to fall in the middle of the battle. Unleashed.

-Flavia, are you hurt!?

Eleazar.

The Magus took her by the shoulders. Worry marked his features.

-Sorry, he said. We couldn't come right away. It's a good thing you had the sense to touch your earring to warn me. I... Tamir? Shit, are you okay?

Under the shock of the relief, Flavia let herself fall on her knees on the ground. Down below, her husband was solving the problem. Hugging the boy, she allowed herself a sob. Not knowing what to do, Eleazar called the other Protectors who had stayed behind to finish fighting the demons. He told them that the situation was under control. That all was well.

- I'm so sorry, Tamir, she hiccupped. I'm sorry you had to see all this...

He put his arms around her neck.

-It's okay, Auntie. You know, it's not the first time.

-Q... What?

Stepping aside to look at him, incredulous, she was stunned to see him smile. Behind him, Eleazar was nodding, looking serious. Oh.

-Tamir!

Running through the gate, Cara screamed when she saw the blood on her son's clothes. Flavia didn't have time to reassure her as she took her child from her arms. For Lev's helmet bounced off her side, just before Lev embraced her with the force of desperation.

-Flavia! My love, everything is fine!? Flavia? Flavia!

She really didn't think she was the type of woman to faint after a battle. But between the wastelands and here... She had never been so afraid of demons.