boat.


    Damnit. She wanted to call him a coward, but she couldn’t argue with his logic. She’d seen Elend struggling during that last fight. He’d nearly crashed the boat after they passed through the wall. He’d also dropped their shield too early, which was the whole reason Kalden got hit.


    Talek. What was this? It felt like her soul was being ripped apart from the inside.


    50/50.


    Oh well. She’d met enough near-sighted Silvers and Golds to know it wouldn’t be that easy.


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    No Golds? Maybe they were all dead. Now, wouldn’t that be a treat? More likely, they were too scared to show their faces beyond the mana wall.


    Focus.


    Talek. This was a trap. They knew someone might come back for Kalden.


    The forest it is, then.


    Alright, enough playing around. The clock was ticking in more ways than one. Akari charged the two soldiers, dodging trees as she ran.


    Too slow. Akari drew her blade, slashing in two quick arcs as she passed between them.


    had been. What if those dreams were memories, and she’d taken a step closer to her old life?


    Talek. Why did it have to be so warm?


    Four seconds after I pull the pin.


    Three . . .


    Two.


    One.


    Thank Talek. This was the best ninety-nine coppernotes she’d ever spent.


    Wounded, huh? She could work with that.


    Shit. Had her mana gotten stronger, too?


    Damnit, Kalden. Where are you?


    Seriously? She was wearing boots, for Talek’s sake. She’d probably break her foot if she tried to shoot a Missile that way. Still, Akari complied, fastening each one in place.


    Bastard.


    Really look.”


    Fine. Akari drew in a deep breath and began cycling her mana.


    Never hesitate, Jared had said. No warnings. No second chances. Frostblade said it himself: this wasn’t a negotiation, and it only ended one way. She’d known that from the second she’d stepped off the boat.


    Faster. She brought the currents back to her chest. For two months, this had been her only means of releasing her mana. It took more skill than an ordinary Missile, but she’d had nothing but time during her house arrest.


    Never hesitate.