"How the hell did you get that." James pointed at Bow-Breaker, anger bubbling in his chest. He reached for his power, but it was spent; he poured it all into Nera, into saving her. That only fueled his anger more. This man had hurt her, and now he wanted to hurt him.

  "It found me, and I found you." The grey-eyed Stranger shifted his grip. James could hear the frustration in his tone. "Wasn't easy. Something is keeping this little down safe. Not until I found her. She led me right to you, unwilling as she was to give you up."

  Nera had led this stranger to him, to Oakwood. Why?

  James' breath caught in his chest. He moved like the wind; James barely had time to react. Bow-Breaker slammed into the stone floor, shattering it. Max reached out his hand, ancient words spilling from his lips as a ball of fire formed. The Stranger's gaze snapped to Max, his eyes glowing as he stared at the growing flames. They began to sputter and die. Max's good eye grew wide as the spell dissipated, and a look of confusion flashed across his face before turning to terror. He clawed at his throat, a silent scream on his lips.

  James launched himself forward in the distraction, sword making a swooshing sound as it slid for its sheath. He came in fast, forcing the Stranger to focus on him. James stabbed, shooting for the exposed chest. The grey-eyed man reached for the stone wall to his left, the bricks there seeming to flow over his hand and forearm in an instant; where there had been flesh and bone was now a thick armor of stone and rock. He blocked James' attack, the blade gliding uselessly. The Stranger only smiled as Max collapsed, gasping for air.

  "I'll tear the power from you and leave you to die, toss your body into the river like you did his. Then I will take from you all that you took from me." The backhand to James' face sent him sprawling; he could taste blood in his mouth. James rolled as he hit the ground, his body coming up against something warm, Nera. Swiftly, he crushed in a protected position, rising to meet his attacker's eyes. Familiar eyes. But the Stranger was moving; he had dropped Bow-Breaker in the alley, proving too small to wield it effectively. Both fists now covered in stone, James blocked the first jab, the bones in his arms screaming from the impact that pushed James back, his heels coming up against Nera's unconscious form.

  I have to keep him away from her.

  James ducked under the following sequence of blows; this man's movements tickled at James' mind, Jab, Jab, Cross, Hook. He knew these sequences; he had been taught them. James could see Ser Edwin's smiling face as James practiced against the bag of sawdust the older man had hung outside the forge. One, One, Two, Three. The distraction proved nearly fatal as a stone-covered fist caught him under the jaw, snapping his head back. James saw stars as his feet left the ground. He twisted, barely managing to stay upright, and his vision swam. Duck, pivot, James threw a cross with his right; Stanger couldn't get his arms up to block the blow slammed into Stanger's side. James threw all his weight into the punch—years of blacksmithing, hard labor, and rage behind it. He felt the ribs bend, then break. The Stranger staggered back, spitting blood and phlegm onto James' face.

  The Stranger squared his shoulders. James saw each blow before it came, the right, left, and uppercut, and knew to dodge, duck, and step out of the way. James' fist landed again on an exposed rib. The Stanger was good, but James was better, Right, Cross, Right, with each blow coming harder than before. He was on the attack, forcing the stranger back. James saw the opening of a raised arm, a little too high, the footwork too sloppy. He struck and realized too late it had been a feint. The counter slammed into his temple. Pain exploded through his head, and the edges of his vision darkened. Nausea rose in his stomach, and the world spun.

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  That's when the first shouts and blown whistles could be heard, followed by hard hammering footfalls. The Stranger looked over his shoulder and back to meet James' eyes.

  "Next time, boy." Then all the pieces fell together: the broad shoulders, the grey eyes, the way he boxed, even the rhythm of his speech. He was just like Ser Edwin, but he couldn't be. This person was barely older than James.

  "Edwin, you're dead." The words were half whisper, nearly drowned, but the yells of the approaching guards. The Stanger spit at James' feet and pushed past him. Knocking James hard against the wall.

  "You would know, wouldn't you?" His voice was laced with anger. "You let him die."

  Then he was gone. The stranger's final words hit like a punch to the gut, leaving James sick and dizzy. The world was muffled. A familiar blur of ruby-red hair staggered to a stop before him. James couldn't see her face or hear her words until she grabbed him by his shirt and pulled him upright.

  When had I fallen down?

  The thoughts were slow as if he were thinking through partially frozen mud. His head pounded. His magic was slowly trying to knit himself back together. Hunger pooled deep inside him. With a shake of his head that sent the world spinning again, her words finally registered. She was pointing down the alley with her free hand.

  "You two after the big fellow, I'll handle James." Two uniformed soldiers took off around the corner after Stranger. Her expression softened as the other uniforms disappeared from sight. "Sondia's blade, James. Every time I see you, you're half-covered in blood and causing problems."

  James could see Max over her shoulder, a look of —what was I supposed to do— on his face. James only rolled his eyes and met Sophia's green ones.

  "Picked a fight with something bigger and stronger than me for no other reason than existing, of course." James shrugged. "That or I was protecting my friend here."

  James pointed to where Nera had been lying, only to find the spot empty. Panic rose in his throat, and he looked to Max, who shook his head. Sophia only glared and let James go as the guards she sent after the Stranger returned.

  "Sorry, Ma'am. We lost him over the river wall. It looks like he jumped in, "the first guard said.

  "He disappeared beneath the water and did not come up on the other side." The second added.

  "Search the bank. He will have to come up somewhere."

  "Ma'am." The two clicked their heels together and were gone. Sophia stared at James for a long moment, those green eyes digging into him. "You know if Max handed come and got us. You would be in a lot bigger trouble. Don't think I've forgotten about the rumors."

  James swallowed, his mouth going dry. "Sophia, you know those aren't true."

  "True or not, James, you got many good people scared, and now you are fighting people in alleys. Think for a second about how that looks. I can only cover for you with the Bishop for so long before we require you to lock up." She socked him in the chest. "Come on, you can buy me a drink and tell me what in the hells is going on. I'm praying you weren't involved in what happened to the temple this morning."

  James shared a look with Max, and Sophia cursed. "Lady Arttrusi, have mercy; why would I ever be so lucky."

  Sophia spun on her heel and began walking to the Rusty Kettle. Max fell into step next to her, and the two began speaking in hushed tones. James looked around again, trying to see any sign of Nera or where she had gone. A small trail of blood led deeper down the ally. He could follow the trail into the setting sun, but he wondered if she would let him find her. The last few minutes seemed to blur together. He wanted to chase after her. James turned toward the blood trail. He could chase her, but something felt... off. With a long sigh, he turned away, dragging his too-heavy feet toward the Rusty Kettle.

  "Hey, wait up, I could use that drink," James called after his friends.