Nathaniel tore his dagger free, and his attacker fell aside to his death. He then found his second target: a grizzly man charging straight towards him. The man roared, and threw a wooden-handled axe at Nathaniel’s head. Nathaniel barely ducked aside in time, and as he brought his dagger up in defence the man was on him. He caught the hilt of Nathaniel’s dagger with both hands. They wrestled over it trying to get the upper hand. They tripped, and before Nathaniel knew what was happening they were tumbling together over the rear parapet into the town below. Nathaniel threw out a desperate hand. It caught on the parapet. He dropped his dagger and grabbed the precipice with both hands.

“Annyka!” he yelled. “Minta!”

His own voice was barely audible over the din of battle that r...

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