Chapter 29 · Hold fire!

Rayne turned fast. His hand caught the front of my jacket and yanked me behind him as the first shot cracked into the stone.

Dust burst over my hair.

"Hold fire!" Vale yelled.

"They're firing on us!" someone shouted from the gate.

"Because Cole ordered it," Rayne snapped. "Nobody fires back until I say."

Another shot punched through the metal bars.

The soldiers flinched. Fear moved through them faster than any command could stop it.

Cole's voice returned, louder now.

"You see what your commander does? He uses you as shields while he protects a traitor. Drop your weapons, Ironfang. Kneel, and your families may live through the night."

A soldier near the medical wing lowered his rifle.

Rayne saw it.

"Put it back up."

The soldier shook his head. "My sister is in the east barracks."

"Cole doesn't have the east barracks."

"How do you know?"

"Because I burned his supply maps three hours ago.