Page 33 of Knotted By the Triad

I dove aside at the last second. The golem couldn't stop its momentum. Its massive body slammed into the creature behind me, and the impact sounded like two boulders colliding. Both staggered.

I was already moving. Before the nearest one could recover, I jumped onto its back and drove my sword into the narrow gap between two sections of stone at the base of its neck. The blade sank deep.

The creature roared. A massive hand swept over its shoulder. I ripped my sword free and jumped before it could grab me, landing hard enough that pain shot through my knees. I rolled away and came back to my feet.

The golem turned toward me. A deep crack now ran through the stone at its neck. Good. They could be damaged. Across the clearing, Zian's blade struck one of the glowing markings carved into a golem's chest.

Blue light flashed from the symbol. The creature jerked backward so violently that it nearly lost its footing. To my surprise, a few pebbles fell from its form. I saw it. So did Daemin.

“The markings!” I shouted. “Aim for the markings!”

Our men changed tactics immediately. Instead of attacking wherever they could land a blow, they began targeting the glowing symbols carved into the creatures' bodies. The clearing descended into chaos.

Stone fists crashed into trees. Steel rang against enchanted bodies. Men shouted warnings to one another while the horses screeched behind us. One of the golems caught an Iron Guard across the chest and sent him flying several yards through the air.

Another tore a tree from the ground and swung it toward a group of Shadow Guards. They scattered before it struck. My gaze swept across the clearing, assessing the battle.

The golems had forced most of our men away from the smugglers, and several of the bastards we'd already taken down were beginning to stir. Then I saw movement near the trees. Two of the smugglers were running.

“Don't let them escape!” I shouted.

Several Shadow Guards immediately went after them, disappearing into the darkness. The decision cost us men we needed here, but I couldn't allow our leads to vanish. Another golem charged toward me.

I raised my sword, ready to go toe-to-toe with a creature made of stone. The clean ambush we'd planned was over. No matter what happened from here on, one thing had become painfully clear...

This Dragonblight operation was bigger than we'd realized.

CHAPTER NINE

KAI

The golem barreled toward me, its massive feet pounding against the earth. I waited until it was close enough to swing before diving beneath its arm. The stone fist sailed over my head, and I came up behind it, driving my sword into one of the glowing symbols carved into its back.

Blue light exploded around the blade. The creature released a roar loud enough to make my ears ring as cracks spread outward from the marking. I twisted the blade deeper, trying to break the symbol completely.

But the golem spun around faster than I’d expected. Its arm caught me across the chest. Pain exploded through my ribs as I flew backward and crashed onto the dirt. I rolled several times before finally digging my sword into the ground to stop myself.

For a moment, I couldn't breathe. My dragon roared inside me, furious at the attack. I inhaled deeply and pushed myself onto one knee. The golem was already barreling toward me. Blood filled my mouth.

I spat it onto the ground and rose, tightening my grip on my sword. Damaging the smaller marking had hurt the bastard, but it hadn't slowed him for long. My gaze landed on the larger symbol glowing in the center of its chest.

That was the marking Zian had struck earlier. The one that had nearly brought another golem to its knees. The creature before me raised both fists above its head as it charged my way.

This time, instead of waiting for it to reach me, I ran straight toward it. The golem swung. I veered right, barely avoiding its fists before jumping onto its arm. I planted my boots against the rough stone and launched myself toward its chest.

I drove my sword straight into the glowing symbol. Blue light erupted around me. The creature froze. I hung there for a heartbeat with both hands wrapped around the hilt as cracks spread through the marking beneath my blade.

The golem's massive hand came toward me, but I ripped my sword free and dropped before it could grab me. Its fingers closed around empty air. The instant my feet hit the ground, I rolled away and came back up with my sword raised.

The golem took one step toward me and swung. I ducked beneath its fist and slashed the back of its knee as I passed. The blade struck a gap between the sections of stone. Its leg buckled. The creature dropped to one knee, bringing its chest within reach.

I spun around and charged. Before it could rise, I planted one foot on its bent thigh and launched myself upward. I gripped my sword with both hands and drove the blade straight into the crack I'd already made in the center of its chest.

A loud clap split the air. I twisted the blade and shoved it deeper. The symbol fractured beneath my sword, blue light spilling through the widening cracks. The golem's massive hand came toward me.

I ripped my blade free and pushed away from its body, landing hard on my feet before rolling out of reach. The light intensified, shining through the stone until the entire thing shattered.

With a rumble, the creature exploded. Chunks of rock crashed into the dirt. One struck my shoulder, knocking me sideways. I felt my joint pop out of place as I hit the ground.