Priestess

Chapter 30

Lodan spun, digging for a purchase on the smooth cobblestones. Ara looked for way to escape. But a wagon and more men blocked the side streets. They only road left was the one that led deeper into Ahdlyn. Her Gift flared hot inside her. A trap?

“They’re herding us!” Bomin warned.

But even if they were, what choice did they have? Lodan leading, they took off. She leaned low over his withers to make herself a smaller target. The echo of pounding hooves reverberated loudly off the stonewalls.

Ara cursed under her breath. “Surely every thug in this place will hear us coming.”

“Traps will be set,” Lodan answered.

“Let’s hope we see them in time to avoid them.”

In the midst of a cluster of tightly packed buildings, armed men pushed a pair of wagons into their path.

Skidding to a halt, Lodan scrambled to keep his feet under him. The moment he gathered himself, he veered between two buildings. Ara had to tuck in her toes to keep them from scraping along the sides.

Rounding the corner, with Jarrer and Bomin close behind, he returned to full speed.

More bandits appeared on the forsaken streets. But they misjudged the speed of their quarry. The city gates loomed before them. Ara begged Lodan to hurry.

Just as he put on a finally burst of speed, Ara heard a scuffing sound. She glanced up to see a man leaping from a rooftop. She barely had time to duck before he collided with her.

She fumbled for her dagger. The man pressed his hand against her forehead and then hard, cold metal against her neck. “Stop now or you die!”

Fury flashed within her. He had no right to take her life! Pushing his arm with all her strength, Ara slammed the back her head into his face. He grunted but managed to stay on.

She gripped the horn tight. “Lodan, buck!”

Planting his forelegs, Lodan launched his back end into the air. The man sailed overtop of Ara and slammed into the street.  

Unfortunately, he landed directly in front of Bomin. Unable to veer around the man, his horse pushed off and tucked his legs. One of his hooves smacked her assailant’s face before it hit the ground.

Bomin hurled forward, his crotch landing abruptly on his horse’s neck. He howled, his face turning a magnificent shade of green.

He began to tip precariously. Jarrer jerked him back by his cloak and set him in the saddle. It took Bomin a few tries before he managed to find his stirrups, and he’d completely lost his reins. Still his horse faithfully followed them.

Ara turned at the sound of the city gates swinging open. They closed moments after they were through. She pulled Lodan to a halt and looked back to make sure Bomin was all right.

Hunched over his horse’s neck, he didn’t look up.

A man strode purposely toward them. He sized up Ara and her companions—his eyes lingering curiously on her. “You’re lucky to have made it. After the populace evacuated, the thieves moved in. It’s dangerous to be out without at least fifty armed soldiers.”

The awful scenes she had witnessed flashed before Ara’s mind—dogs fighting over human flesh, murder bright in the eyes of her own people . . . she clung to Lodan’s mane, willing the memories to leave her.

Casting her a concerned look, Jarrer moved Brive forward. “We have news that must be shared with Nonae’s First.”

The man studied them suspiciously. Then shrugged and called for a soldier to bring him a horse. “Follow me.”

He led them down streets lined with houses made of a cream colored stone that gave the city its ‘golden look.’ Soldiers came out to stare at them as they passed.

The second set of gates was wide open, with only half-awake sentries standing guard. As they worked their way steadily upwards, the castle spires loomed overhead and homes grew larger and more ornate.

At the closed gates of the castle wall, their guide gestured for them to wait while he spoke with another set of guards. After arguing back and forth, it seemed that their escort had finally won, for they were finally allowed through.

There were two main entrances to the castle. Approaching the lesser one, their escort spoke to another set of guards. But his arguing didn’t seem to do much good. Their escort returned. “They both insist that they won’t let you through.”

Ara clenched her fists. She’d come too far and seen too much to be brushed aside now! Sweeping aside their escort, she stormed toward the sentries. “I will speak to the First. Now!”

A guard with fiery red hair poking out of his helm rested his hand on his sword hilt. “He doesn’t see uninvited guests. Even if they are Fairones!”

Before she knew what she’d done, Ara pulled her sword and attacked. Between her training and the sheer surprise of her attack, the guard never stood much of a chance. Before he’d even pulled his sword free, she knocked him into an unconscious heap.

And then she realized what she’d done. No going back now.

With a look of supreme exasperation, Jarrer vaulted off his horse and engaged the other guard. Bomin half-fell, half-jumped off his horse and ran after their escort.

Her mind Shield firm, Ara stormed into the building, up the stairs, and flung open the ornate double doors.

She sensed a sword arching toward her. Pivoting to meet it, she felt the strike vibrate through her, heard the clang of the metal. But then her arms lost all strength. Slipping from her hand, her blade clanged loudly to the floor. Her voice caught in her throat, “Coen?”

~Thanks for reading! If you can't get enough, I have lots of books up for sale on Amazon, Smashwords, and Barnes and Noble. http://www.amazon.com/Amber-Argyle/e/B004YE1BR4/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_3

Join my street team for amazing opportunities, like having a character named after you, mention in my acknowledgement page, free books, etc. https://www.facebook.com/groups/857943497557771/ 

And don’t forget to add all my books to your Goodread’s shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4629065.Amber_Argyle