backward, his nose broken and bleeding profusely. “You bitch!” he shouted, regaining his footing and swinging wildly at Hayden. Blow after blow, Hayden blocked, but the officer kept coming. His frantic onslaught drove Hayden backward until she was pinned against the cart. He brought his foot up and kicked her against the cart, pinning Hayden, then stabbed at her. A shoulder pressed into her side, knocking her away. The strike narrowly missed her chest, entering the cart behind her. As she fell off-balance, Hayden saw that one of the prisoners in the cart had pushed her with his body, and his reward was to have the saber rake his face, cutting a gash across his nose and cheek. He took the wound with a muffled groan. Hayden scrambled away from the cart and stood in time for the officer to strike again. Three quick jabs at Hayden were effortlessly parried but came too fast for her to retaliate. Filled with bloodlust, the officer coiled for a powerful jab and lunged at Hayden. She moved with the strike, pushing off her opponent’s blade with her own as he passed her. She spun with the momentum and brought her blade down with full force on the back of the officer’s head. He sprawled on the ground. Hayden stepped on his hand, forcing the hilt from between his fingers. She knelt and picked up the saber. It was still stained with the blood of the men in the cart. The officer rolled over and groaned, clutching the back of his skull. “They’re going to string you up for this.” Hayden ignored him and began cutting the bindings of the prisoners. Wynn had fallen to her knees, shocked at what she had witnessed. What she was still witnessing. “Hayden—” “Help me untie these people.” “You’re a traitor. Like father—” Hayden turned to Wynn, her stomach churning in betrayal. “What? This soldier slew an unarmed man in front of you and you call me the traitor?” she demanded. “They’re criminals, he said so. There must be a reason they were imprisoned,” Wynn said. A warm voice erupted behind Hayden, “Aye, there’s reason fer it. We came t’ steal food fer the starvin’ folks outside the Enclave. Believe it er not, ya’aren’t the only people on this planet. The Enclave didn’ take kindly t’ that.” “Stealing! You see? They should all be locked up, Hayden. Don’t you see? They’re thieves!” Wynn pleaded. “Feeding the hungry should never be a crime, Wynn. Where are your Manastash 2013
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