The beastkin screamed as the tree threw a bearded axe in a short arc at his head. As the axe split his skull, the beastkin’s eyes popped out of their sockets. He launched his spear in a final death spasm, throwing it wide to bounce off the tree's bark.

  Dugan pulled himself from the tree's surface; his skin, clothing and hair were the same texture as the bark, acting as camouflage and armour. He walked past me and jerked his axe from the beastkin's head. With single-minded focus, he executed the female and unconscious male beastkin. Isla walked up to my side, the colour draining from her face.

  I choked, and it almost got me killed.

  Dugan walked up to me and held out his hand. I took it. He lifted me to my feet, motioning forward with his axe as he disappeared into the night.

  "Have you ever killed anyone?" Isla asked.

  “No…”

  She looked from the bodies that littered the camp to the direction Dugan ran off.

  "It looks like you'll get your chance."

  She held her staff tight to her body and ran after Dugan.

  I stood alone in the camp, the dagger heavy in my hand.

  I failed… again.

  Is this why Sin disappeared after the fire? What utility was there in a weapon that couldn’t kill?

  I took a deep breath and then another.

  Isla was right. There would be more chances tonight, and next time I wouldn’t hesitate.

  Gripping my dagger tighter, I ran into the forest after Dugan and Isla.

  # # #

  Beams of moonlight pierced the tree canopy, lighting the edge of Isla's blue cloak.

  I stalked to her side, kneeling beside her.

  She gasped.

  “You scared me!" Isla whispered.

  "Sorry. Where’s Dugan?"

  Find this and other great novels on the author's preferred platform. Support original creators!

  "Just ahead." I strained my eyes and made out Dugan crouched behind a tree; the combination of low light and natural camouflage made him difficult to spot.

  "What are we waiting for?" I whispered.

  Loud oinking and rustling underbrush answered my question.

  Thor burst through a shrub with five beastkin on his tail. He was covered in tree bark like Dugan, protecting him as beastkin's spear thrusts bounced off his hide.

  Isla summoned another ball of water. I tightened my grip on my dagger. Dugan leaned to the side, pressing his hand on the ground.

  The underbrush writhed, wrapping around the legs of the two leading beastkin. They slammed face first onto the ground, tripping the three beastkin that trailed after them. Dugan stood up and went to work, severing flesh and bone as casually as one chopped wood.

  I think Castille undersold Dugan’s skills.

  Rustling from the left announced three more beastkin charging our flank. Dugan met the first beastkin with his shield, using his smaller stature to duck low. The shield cracked into the beastkin's shins. Dugan lifted his shield and sent the beastkin cartwheeling over him. Ignoring the thrown beastkin, he ran forward to meet the other two.

  Isla and I turned to each other, understanding passing between our eyes.

  It was now or never.

  I charged the beastkin getting to its feet. Isla stood up, crystalizing the ball of water into ice and breaking off shards to pummel the beastkin approaching Dugan. He used the distraction to swing his axe low, hacking off the legs of one of the beastkin just below the knee.

  I threw my dagger at the beastkin Dugan tossed. He shrugged his shoulder, letting the dagger sink into the meat of his deltoid. I willed the dagger back to me. It materialized in my left hand a second before I tackled the beastkin to the ground.

  We rolled in a mass of limbs, coming to a stop with me on top. I held the knife over him and stabbed down. He caught my wrist, keeping the weapon just above his face. With a scream, I slammed my forehead into the pommel of my dagger. The momentum carried through the weapon, biting into the beastkin's face. I repeated the motion again and again until the hand around my wrist slackened and fell away.

  The beastkin’s bloody, ruined face stared up at me, long canines bared in a rigid smile.

  My stomach lurched.

  There… I am a weapon.

  Why didn’t I feel any better?

  A strong hand grasped my shoulder. I turned, dagger raised, my eyes meeting Dugan’s measured stare. Whatever magic he used was wearing off—the bark peeling off his face and leather armour. He patted my shoulder and walked back to camp, Thor waddling up to his side.

  A moment later, Isla approached.

  "Was that all of them?" I asked, panting between words.

  "Thor seems to think so. Can you walk?"

  "Yeah."

  A different kind of exhaustion washed over me when I got to my feet. I had been warned about the sudden drop after an adrenaline rush. My mind was unfocused, and my limbs were heavy as we walked back to camp, bloodier and wearier than when we left.

  As Dugan dragged away the dead bodies, I walked to my tent.

  Finally, some sleep.

  “Wait…” Isla said.

  She looked around, her eyes wide.

  "Where’s Castille?"

  All 100 chapters of book one are available right now on . If you want to read another great story, checkout: