Chapter 7

The dwarf swung her heavy pike, trying to sweep Lucien’s legs. He nimbly danced down the length of the counter, tossing his dagger into the air, catching it by the pointed tip, and then hurling it with deadly speed at the dwarf’s dominant hand, shards of ice following. The blade and shards struck true, then were drawn back by a gust of Lucien’s magic and dispatched again to slice across the halfling’s throat.

The pike clattered to the floor, an arterial spray hitting the wounded dwarf as she flailed for her weapon, disarmed. Through the blood, Lucien saw a shape like a black shadow slide down the stairs.