The first arrow took the sailor beside Talyn through the throat before their boat's hull scraped sand.
"Cover!" Ottilie shouted, dragging Cael behind a jagged outcrop of black rock as more arrows hissed down from the ridge above the beach.
Talyn rolled out of the small landing boat, blade already drawn, scanning the treeline where twisted figures moved between the rocks, faces obscured by dark hoods, but their movements unmistakably mortal, weighted, breathing hard with real exertion rather than some unnatural grace.
"They bleed," Talyn called, cutting down the first fighter to close on him. "Whatever they are, they're not invincible!"
Fira fought beside him, driving back two attackers with quick, economical strikes, years of careful survival training finally finding a real outlet. "Fo
