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@denali-christianson it made me like Yila, so, score.

 

Quin

Assassins were all around him. there was no escaping them in this cage of rock and death.

he felt panic rising, cold and sure. He looked around desperately. It’s a terrible idea to show fear, especially if there are people around who know the easiest way to kill you…

Basil was turning into a disaster beside Misu, and Misu was looking at him in surprise and sorrow.

“You too?” Basil nodded.

Quin felt the cold reach toward his heart.

Klein started shouting, and everyone turned to look at him.

“My full name is Klein Mattias Gray. I’m a gunnery sergeant in United States Marine Corp, part of the Marine Raiders special forces detachment. I am a biologically enhanced soldier. I am trained as a scout sniper and shock trooper. I’ve been deployed to Iran, Afghanistan, Mars and the Asteroid belt in nearly ten years of service. I have 89 confirmed kills with nearly as many unconfirmed.”

Quin felt sick. Is everyone here an assassin?

He looked toward Leytera. Her big, scared eyes met his. She was trembling.

Not her at least. he looked around, half expecting them to all draw knives and run at him. Then he caught Locran’s eye, and his hand tightened on his one crutch–the makeshift one Locran had built him.

He’s okay.

his gaze wandered to Niarok, who stood a few feet away from the new man. The man’s leg was bleeding, through the bandage Niarok had wrapped it with.  Niarok’s shoulders were slumped with anger, hurt, and exhaustion.

He seems more intent on saving life than killing it.

then he saw Aydin. For the first time the shuffling demeanor had vanished from his stance. He stood tall, ready for anything. He even stood like an assassin–more like Locran than Niarok.

Quin swallowed. I don’t even know him. he squeezed his hand into a fist.

He looked back at Klein. He looked less frightening now that he had his helmet off, and was sitting.

Still…

he caught Basil’s eye, and could almost hear his voice again, blaming them for the potential of getting sick. He doesn’t like anyone here–he’d obliterate us in a heartbeat.

He looked down and found that he was squeezing Leytera’s hand. She wasn’t even trying to let go. Her hand was cold and trembling.

His eyes drifted back to the group of assassins. Aydin was recounting his history of blood and deception. Quin shivered. Then his eye fell on the man with the bleeding leg.

he was pale, and looked ready to fall.

“Leytera,” Quin whispered. “Do me a favor. Will you get me that stick over there? the one by the fire. No not that one, the one further to the left.”

She got up and brought back the stick, and he began breaking it down to size. He pulled a rag out of his pocket and wound it around the top.

Now I have two fake crutches. That ought to be interesting.

He stood up stiffly and winced. I didn’t need to have bruised ribs on top of everything.

He swung over to the man with the injured leg, casting an uncertain glance at Aydin.

“Here.” he held out the new-made crutch. “You look like you could use this for a while.”

His eyes were looking far away, and his face was pale and sweating.

“Hey…” his voice was low, and he reached out a finger and brushed the man’s arm. As soon as he touched him, the man’s hand shot up and gripped Quin’s wrist so hard he almost cried out.

His heart started racing.

This was such a bad idea. Now he’s going to kill me. he looked back, but Leytera was looking at him with big, frightened eyes, and Qatar was ignoring him.

he cleared his throat and tried not to let his voice shake.

“I’m Quin…Miller.”

Nothing changed.

“Could you–let go of me?”

That was a bad thing to say.

The man’s sword was glowing fiercely. Quin closed his eyes and waited.

 

@mamaauthoress, go ahead and change anything. I have a haunch this isn’t how Ruan would react…