East

He wasn't even bidding on me. I had no idea what to do, if I was dragged out of here by some other asshole who wasn't going to be reasoned with the way I might a fellow time traveler.

There was a knock at the door.

"Private trade!" the owner shouted.

The person knocked once more.

Broghun motioned for the man nearest the door to answer it. He did so, and my heart sank even further when I heard the quiet voice on the other side. I wanted to be rescued - but I didn't want to witness another massacre.

"Batu!" I tried to cry through the gag.

He was already headed into the room. Before he crossed the threshold, the man who answered the door was on the floor, bleeding. The men in the room stood, and the sounds of swords scraping scabbards filled my ears.

Blood sprayed me, and I closed my eyes, not wanting to see the bloodshed. Last night, I had convinced myself yet again Batu was kind of a cool guy.

Every time sword sliced through flesh, or someone screamed, I flinched and reconsidered my opinion of the Mongol warrior. Warm droplets of blood landed on my face and exposed neck and hands. I tried to block out the sounds of murder, of men dying, and focused instead on not passing out.

Broghun threw me to the side. I hit the floor and smashed into a bucket of excrement and god knew what else. My eyes opened, and I almost puked at the lumps and dark matter before me. Shaking off my hands, I didn't dare risk getting the filth in my mouth by pulling off my gag.

Someone almost stepped on me, and I scrambled out of the way to the side of the brick hearth to watch.

I had never seen anyone move like Batu, and I doubted anyone else in all of space and time did. Power and agility, extreme focus combined with instinctive action. He mowed down the first four men in the room before one of them had a chance to strike him. The fourth and fifth made valiant attempts, but it was child's play against a master or … lambs fending off a hungry wolf. Limbs and heads went flying. This time, I couldn't look away, no matter how much blood sprayed the ceilings and walls.

I owed him my life, and I had to get out of here. Away from a man who could not only stomach committing such brutality but joke around about it.

When no one was left standing, he straightened from his position and gazed around.