26
The girl crept to the end of the side alley and peered in the direction from which Jon had come. Suddenly she heard a noise behind her. Even as she whirled, a knife slashed down at her. She managed to dodge a lethal blow, but the blade intended for her throat struck her shoulder instead. She howled in pain. As she staggered, she glimpsed a flash of light on steel, as another blade spun out of the darkness and caught her assailant in the chest. The cloaked figure dropped to the ground.
Cassie clutched her shoulder, sobbing, blood pouring out between her fingers as she too, sank to the cobblestones. “Jon. Help me. Oh, it hurts. I’m going to die.”
Jon’s figure loomed out of the dark. He quickly glanced up and down the laneway before crouching down beside her. “It’s all right. I’m here.”
