it sank into John's ribcage.
John screamed, staggered, dropped his sword. The knife was still protruding from his side.
Narses stepped back.
The bucellarii bellowed, raised their swords, and took a step toward the eunuch.
One step. They got no further.
Ajatasutra slew the three bucellarii in as many seconds. Three quick blows from his dagger into the bodyguards' backs. Each blow—powerful, swift—slid expertly between gaps in the armor, severing spinal cords. Ajatasutra's victims died before they even realized what had happened. The bodyguards simply slumped to the floor.
John of Cappadocia had already fallen to the floor.
John screamed, staggered, dropped his sword. The knife was still protruding from his side.
Narses stepped back.
The bucellarii bellowed, raised their swords, and took a step toward the eunuch.
One step. They got no further.
Ajatasutra slew the three bucellarii in as many seconds. Three quick blows from his dagger into the bodyguards' backs. Each blow—powerful, swift—slid expertly between gaps in the armor, severing spinal cords. Ajatasutra's victims died before they even realized what had happened. The bodyguards simply slumped to the floor.
John of Cappadocia had already fallen to the floor.