Gliding through the air, Haku braced for another landing. Her boots connected with the roof tiles on the other side and she kicked her legs to keep from falling into a heap.

She ran, jumped across another space, her eyes darting about for any sign of bloodthirsty swordsman pursuing her.

He was there. Bellow her, running and cursing and laughing as he gave chase. The Sword of a Thousand Suns didn’t possess the same arcane abilities as she did, which meant he was pursuing her through the streets as she jumped across the buildings.

No one can keep up with me!

Her sword was sheathed now. Haku had no use for a blade while she was evading capture. Trying to evade capture, she corrected herself.

She jumped.

“How is he keeping up?!”

She landed, her white boots skidding across the roof tiles, one of which came out from under her. She stumbled and nearly fell.

Normally she moved as gracefully as the wind, as light as a feather as they said, but now she was fleeing. Fleeing for her life.

And she was scared.

She had never felt fear like this before—like a cornered animal trying to escape the jaws of death, some predator’s prey.

And then his voice came from bellow. She heard the words “white feather” shouted at her. She realized she must have looked afraid as she ran for her life, all her grace gone.

She almost felt ashamed that she was sullying her reputation.

It won’t do me much good if I’m dead!

She grunted, jumping high into the air and gliding over a building completely. She used her martial skills to maintain a soft landing. It was slower, but having skipped a structure entirely, she could afford it.

At least she thought she could.

But then the Sword of a Thousand Suns was on her from below again, his pursuit relentless. She would continue to evade until she lost him so she could escape the city and call for aid.