Ice surged across the floor towards the two assassins. The man in black armor hesitated for a split second, but that's all it took. Ciaran was in front of him immediately. With two swift, precise punches, Ciaran knocked him back. He summoned his Dragongift and froze the man's arm to the wall in a thick layer of ice. The woman descended on him as he did. He ducked barely in time, and her sword clanged against the stone wall.

The guard who was being interrogated earlier shifted and groaned. Still alive! I scrambled over to him. "Steady there," I whispered. "I'm going to get you out of here." He did his best to stagger to his feet, but I suddenly found myself overwhelmed by his weight. Behind us, I heard the clash of Ciaran's sword agains the assassin's. I half walked-half dragged the guard out of the guardhouse and lay him on the riverbank outside. "Are you okay?" I asked, peering over him. Underneath us, a thin layer of frost crept across the ground from the guardhouse. Ciaran's Dragongift had been lauded as one of the strongest the Kingdom had seen in ages, but even that much was a lot for him.

"You're bleeding," the guard pointed at my hand. A thin line of blood ran down the side of my clenched fist. I had been holding onto Ciaran's ring so tightly that one of the claws had cut into my skin. I cursed and tore a ribbon from my dress. I strung the ring on it and looped it around my neck, ignoring the guard's shocked stare as I did. I turned back to the guard house, but a blast of hot air pushed me to the ground. The assassins burst through the front door. Both were covered in blood and sweat. Ciaran followed close behind. Chilled condensation hung thick in the air around him. His eyes glowed blue as he summoned another blast from his Dragongift.

"Not so fast," the man in black armor's hand lashed out, and he grabbed me by the arm. He yanked me to my feet and held me like a shield between him and Ciaran. "One more, and I'll cut her open." The glow in Ciaran's eyes faded. The man laughed. "I thought so." He twisted my arm and began to drag me towards the river. "Now back into the guardhouse, if you want her to live," he commanded. Ciaran glanced from him to me, then took a slow step backwards. I flexed my fingers and began to reach for my Dragongift. Only royals were born with a Dragongift, so they probably weren't expecting anything from me. I didn't have the depth of Ciaran's ability, but if I caught them by surprise, we might gain the upper hand.

"I'm not sure what you're planning, darling," the woman in the silver armor pointed her sword at my throat. "But it's not smart idea." Ciaran took advantage of the distraction and lunged forward. He swung his sword at her. She reacted immediately and blocked his blow.

"Move again, and she dies," the man in armor yelled, pressing his blade against my side. Ciaran hesitated for a moment, but a moment was all the woman needed. Her eyes suddenly flashed yellow and she summoned a blast of fire. I felt my breath leave my body. How did this stranger have a Dragongift? Ciaran tried to repel her attack, but he was a second too late. The fire found its mark, searing deep into his chest. He stumbled backwards into the guardhouse. She wasted no time summoning another blast of fire that enveloped the entire building.

"Ciaran!" I screamed. The man in armor leveled a curious eye at me.

The guardhouse began to crumble into ashes. "Let's go," the woman turned to her partner.

"We're taking her with us," the man in black armor said.

The woman shrugged. "If you say so."

The man in armor dragged me to the river. "Hold your breath," he commanded, as if I didn't already have a very clear idea what his plans were. I barely had enough time to gasp for air before the two of us plunged into the icy rapids.