“No,” I muttered, though I could not seem to fish oxygen from the air. I tried to rise to my feet, but there was a long cut on my thigh. It burned fiercely, and I stumbled. “NO!” I yelled.
And he heard it. He found me in that mess of bodies, fallen and battered. His eyes welled. His jaw pulsed.
And he shifted his eyes away again. “Leave now,” he said again. “And my soldiers will lay down their guns—”
“No, Pat!” Gunner shouted, blood seeping through his fingers.
“—and they will vacate this square.”
“PATRICK!” I shouted.
“They will not try to stop you from taking me.” His hand shook. His chest quaked. “But hear this! I will gladly shoot myself now if another of my own is struck down. Don’t think I won’t use this second to do it. Stand down.”
There was confusion from soldier and Crafte
