Calliope couldn''t help being exasperated. Seriously? Now they remember us? Couldn''t they have kept at it until one side was wiped out before turning their attention this way?


    With a resigned sigh, she motioned for Rowan and the others to follow her lead. They stepped out, hands raised in surrender.


    "We''re over here!" Calliope called carefully. "What can we do for you, gentlemen?"


    One of the men shouted, "We found these people first! Don''t tell me they''re your spies!"


    "That''s crap! You probably sent them yourselves!"


    "We''re taking them with us! Cease fire for now!"


    "Says who? We''re not agreeing to that!"


    "Damn it, if you don''t back off, we''ll kill you all! You''re the ones crossing our turf today. Sure, there''s a peace agreement, but our boss said anyone who crosses the border dies! If you want a war, let''s have one!"


    "Oh, you think we''ll back down? You think our general can''t steamroll you?"


    “Please. Your general''s nothingpared to ours!"


    The shouting match heated up, and before long, gunfire erupted again. More men fell. This time, the skirmish got even bloodier.


    Calliope shot Rowan and the others a sidelong nce. At this rate, they could be stuck here forever, and she was running out of time-Mavis''s life depended on her.


    "Boss, should we go for it?" Rowan asked, reading her silent cue. If things got any worse, they''d have to force their way through.


    “Yeah. Let''s do this," Calliope said quietly. "Watch yourselves."


    the fired


    She flicked her gaze in warning, and as the two sides screamed and fired at each other, her group quietly` retrieved the weapons they''


    stashed in the truck.


    Calliope grabbed a pistol herself. Moving in formation, they crept forward along both sides of the vehicle.


    Neither squad gave them a second nce they were only merchants, after all,


    right? Nobody suspected they were armed and dangerous.


    In a single, well-timed instant, Calliope''s group struck.


    Chaos erupted. The leaders of both factions were their first targets. Calliope, her aim unerring, shot one leader in his arms and legs, sending hit crashing to his knees, unterly Helpless.


    "You-!" The man gaped at her, disbelief etched across his face. "Who the hell are


    you people? I knew you weren''t just bystanders!"


    In a single movement, Calliope was already at his side, wrenching him up and


    jamming her gun to his temple.


    "Call your men off!" she barked.


    At the same time, Rowan had tackled the other side''s leader, pinning him as well,


    his weapon pressed hard against the man''s skull.


    "Stop firing! All of you, drop your guns!" Rowan shouted.


    With both bosses in a bind, the remaining soldiers faltered, guns wavering uncertainly.


    then


    "Tell your men, both of you-drop your weapons. Now," Calliope & warned, voice cold as steel. "Don''t test me. I''ll put you down first, run through the rest of your crew One by one


    "No, please don''t!"


    "Stop! Everyone, drop your weapons!"


    Fear overrode the urge to fight. One after another, the soldiers let their guns tter


    to the dirt, hands raised in surrender.