Subject:  CHAPTER 74 |
Author:
KK
|
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
Date Posted: 20:33:55 11/29/05 Tue
CHAPTER 74
Nicadea tried to retreat, but she was too late. Before her foot even had the chance to land behind her, a cruel hand clamped down tight over her mouth. As she struggled against her attacker, his arm banded around her waist, crushing her. She could feel his breath against her neck and smell the heavy scent of woods on his clothing.
“Let’s go inside,” he whispered, as he half-pushed, half-lifted her across the threshold. Once they were within the four walls, he released her mouth and replaced his arm with a thick rope, binding her arms against her waist. When he was sure she was secure, he tied the end of the rope around her legs, destroying any lingering hopes she might have regarding escape.
“Who are you?” she managed to croak, her voice barely audible. At first, she thought he wasn’t going to answer, and her legs began to shake with reaction. She could hear him behind her, over to her left and puzzled that he could see when she couldn’t. When he’d first grabbed her, she had thought of the General, but now she wasn’t sure. The thought that it could be someone else, was terrifying. “Please, let me go.” Her plea was met with more silence, and she twisted her body to look in his direction.
“Stand still.”
The voice was muffled and unrecognizable. The man was a stranger. Her heart sank, and she couldn’t control the stream of tears coursing down her cheeks. What was going to happen to her? Suddenly, the weight of it all was too much for her, and she felt herself begin to sink to the ground. The last thing she remembered before closing her eyes was the smell of musty earth beneath her head.
Anthony reined his horse and looked toward the horizon as the first rays of the new day were beginning to blaze across the land. He heard a loud rustling in the brush to his right and felt for his sword. Seconds later, a winded horse and rider broke through the cover of trees at a steady gallop.
“Whoa,” the rider yelled, while attempting to rein in the excited animal. By the time they reached Anthony, they had slowed down to a walk. “Any sign of her?”
Anthony scanned Mikelle’s disheveled appearance. “No. You?”
“I tracked her into the woods, but lost the trail a way back. She could be anywhere by now.”
“There has been a lot of activity in the woods as of late, and I suspect the local overlords are planning an attack. They would make short work of such a comely lass.”
“I did not ask for your opinion on the matter, and I would appreciate it if you held your tongue. The gods do not need any ideas or suggestions to reek havoc on mankind.”
“Then, you suggest we talk in whispers to keep them from using our thoughts against us?”
Mikelle cut his friend an unreadable look. “Dare you mock the gods?”
“No, you mocked them when you declared to take their priestess for your wife.”
[
Next Thread |
Previous Thread |
Next Message |
Previous Message
]
| |
Feedback: 