Easing out from the tapestry, we started towards Mahmood.
"Do not leave, ugly one!"
If anything, the warning spurred me on. A flash of steel soared in front of my face and planted itself into the wardrobe on the wall nearest me. I froze, horrified by how close it came to nipping my nose.
"Stay, ugly one," the prisoner ordered once more.
I faced him, uncertain how he was able to keep an eye on me and the men he fought simultaneously. He managed to angle himself to do so and glanced at me with large, almond-shaped eyes of dark brown set in a heart-shaped face. There was a savage beauty to him, a combination of flawless features and ferocity that was absolutely terrifying to behold.
The princess was crying. She hugged me once more. Mahmood crept from his hiding place towards us, but I signaled him to stay out of sight. The prisoner had wicked aim; I didn't want my nose or Mahmood's head gone.
I watched the fight for a distraction to give us space to run. The prisoner turned his back on us, and I darted forward, all but dragging the girl with me.
Mahmood ran out to help us.
Suddenly, he snapped to the side, a sword piercing his chest and pinning him to the pole of the large bed at the center of the chamber.
Unable to register what happened, I stared dumbly at his form as it sagged. The light in his eyes vanished, and he went completely limp.
The sounds of fighting behind us stopped. I wasn't able to look away from Mahmood's lifeless body or really understand how he was here one moment, pinned to the bed the next. It happened so fast, I hadn't even seen the blade that claimed his life. I was splattered with warm droplets of his blood.
Halloween haunted house. The best ever special effects on a horror movie …
A sword swiped the air in front of my face, breaking the spell. I backpedaled automatically, the girl clinging to me.
"You must learn to listen," the warrior from the basement chided me. The cool tip of his sword lifted my chin.
I stared at him, my senses slowly catching up. He was even bigger than he appeared seated on the stool with bulging biceps and hands that looked strong enough to crush someone's skull. He watched me closely, breathing hard from the battle yet fully in control.
I stepped back until I hit the tapestry and pushed the princess between the wall and me. He moved with me, the tip of the sword pricking the skin of my neck. I was trembling out of fear and horror and had the urge to breakdown and fling off my blood speckled clothing.