A bank of sand had hidden the shields from the enemy’s view, but it was too late for any of them to stop the charge now. The unlucky writhed in the sand. xxx 18 “You can thank me later,” she said, flashing a grim smile. Her mortal injury momentarily forgotten, she too stared in dumbfounded silence at the scene behind me. With my sword stuck in her gut, I couldn’t turn to parry. She cried out in pain, her mouth and eyes wide as cold steel filled her belly and the strength fled from her legs. Mia screeched in agony as she tugged at the shaft in her crotch.
