Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103333 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 517(@200wpm)___ 413(@250wpm)___ 344(@300wpm)
Dar kept a steady pace, his eyes always sweeping ahead, his movements sure and cautious. Elara followed in silence, but her thoughts were restless. The further they walked, the heavier the air seemed to grow, thick with unseen watchfulness.
Her step faltered and she drew a quick breath. Suddenly the forest felt too still and the wind too soft, as if holding itself apart from the world.
Then came the sound.
Not to her ears, not yet, but inside her. A rhythm, distant but distinct… the steady pounding of hooves. The vision flared so sharply she gasped, clutching at the nearest tree for balance.
“Elara?” Dar’s voice snapped toward her, sharp with concern. “What is it?”
Her lips parted, but the sound came again, louder now, echoing through her skull, stopping her. For a moment, she saw them, black shapes moving through a misted hollow, their horses restless, eyes gleaming like embers. The flash of blades, the harsh creak of leather.
“Riders,” she whispered, breathless. “They’re close.”
Dar turned instantly, scanning the trees as he hurried to her, seeing she appeared unsteady and needing the tree for support.
His arm shot around her. “You heard something?”
“I saw them,” she said, pressing a hand to her temple. “Three—maybe four—riders. In dark garments.”
“Hunters,” he murmured.
“I’m not sure, but they are close.”
The first real sound reached him. They were not far off. He scanned the area for a place to hide, but saw nothing, not even a place he could tuck her safely away. And if they ran, they would be seen and no doubt followed. He had no choice.
He pushed her behind him. “Stay there and don’t say a word.”
Four riders appeared moments later, cutting through the morning mist. They wore no black leather, their garments more a mix of leather, fur, and plaids. It was their faces, heavily worn and scarred from endless battles, that warned they were mercenaries. Warriors who fought for the most coins or took what they wanted from those they found traveling along the road.
Elara’s pulse hammered in her throat and her stomach turned. One man and a woman was no match for the four of them.
They brought their mounts to a halt not far from Dar and the largest of the four grinned. “What have we here?”
“A husband and wife who want no trouble,” Dar said.
Elara was surprised at how calm Dar sounded, as if he had no worries or fear.
Another fellow leaned forward in his saddle and grinned. “No trouble as long as you share that beauty of a wife with us.”
Elara watched the way Dar’s shoulders drew back and his body grew taut.
“That’s not going to happen,” he said with such strength and confidence that Elara believed him.
The four men laughed.
The largest man spoke again, laughter lingering in his words. “You think you and your puny dagger can stop the four of us from taking what we want?”
“Ignorant men fall easier than most,” Dar said, his eyes darting at each man.
All laughter stopped and grins vanished.
“Let’s see how you feel when you watch us have fun with your wife before we slit both your throats,” the large man said.
“You’ll not put a hand on my wife. I promise you that,” Dar challenged.
Again, his confidence was strong, but to Elara, the odds were against him.
One of the men said, “Go, Brinley, and hurt him enough that he can’t bother us, but he can watch while we enjoy his wife.”
The large man laughed and dismounted.
“And be quick about it,” another fellow called out. “It’s been too long since I had a woman.”
“I get her first since it’s me who puts the husband down,” Brinley said, approaching Dar.
For a moment, Elara thought to flee, but the other men would only chase after her and something in her just could not leave Dar on his own, no matter the circumstances. Whatever way she looked at the situation, it seemed hopeless. Yet Dar stood there prepared to fight even if his only weapon was a dagger.
She hastily glanced around and spotted a slim branch on the ground. The forest had provided her with a weapon. She hurried and scooped it up.
Brinley laughed along with the other three men.
“She thinks a branch will stop us,” one said with a laugh.
“Hurry and be done,” another shouted. “My shaft’s as hard as a rock.”
“I’m first,” Brinley reminded as he lunged toward Dar.
Elara stood shocked, seeing how fast Dar’s dagger left its sheath and was thrust in Brinley’s neck. Blood squirted out when he pulled it out and Brinley grabbed his neck, but the blood surged between his fingers. His eyes went wide, he gurgled, then fell to the ground.
The three men stared in shock. Dar didn’t hesitate, he rushed at them. He jabbed one man in his thigh and blood gushed out. He caught another man in the stomach before he could draw his sword. The third jumped from his horse and headed for Elara.