(eng) Karen Azinger - Silk & Steel 01 by The Steel Queen

Author:The Steel Queen [Queen, The Steel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

42

Blaine

Like a beacon in the dark, the distant campfire drew the knights along the lip of the gorge. Abandoning their horses, they advanced on foot. After four frustrating days of finding nothing but cold campfires, the quarry was finally within reach. Pitch-dark with only a thin crescent moon, the night was perfect for an ambush. The knights unsheathed their steel, circling the campfire. Blaine yearned for a fight, keen to redeem himself.

The twang of a bowstring broke the silence.

An arrow thunked into a pine tree, narrowly missing Blaine’s head. Startled, Blaine dove behind a boulder. He peered into the darkness, but he saw no sign of the archer. In the pitch dark, the arrow must have been a lucky shot. Regardless, the element of surprise was lost. The knights had a fight on their hands.

A stranger called from the darkness. “I respect your swords but you have no need of them. The girl is safe. Declare yourselves and come in peace.”

Blaine considered rushing the archer but Captain Tellor’s reply stayed him. “We are knights of the Octagon and we have you surrounded. Stand down and surrender the girl.”

The voice replied, “The princess awaits her escort. She sleeps by the campfire, exhausted by her ordeal. Sheathe your swords and I will join you at the camp. We are allies not enemies.”

Blaine tightened his grip on his sword, refusing to be seduced by lies.

Captain Tellor’s voice rang through the night. “Advance with drawn steel, we’ll see for ourselves if the princess is safe.”

Blaine crabbed sideways trying to get out of the archer’s line of fire. Keeping low, he dashed for the campfire, risking an arrow in the back. The archer held his fire and Blaine broke through the scrub into the circle of light. At first he thought the campfire was deserted, but then he spied a tousled blonde head asleep on one of the bedrolls. Joy leapt through him but he held his silence. Aware that the camp could be nothing more than an elaborate ambush, Blaine stood guard over the princess, his gaze roaming the edge of the forest. Other knights stepped into the clearing. With military precision, they formed a defensive ring around the princess. Receiving a nod from the captain, Blaine knelt to give the girl a gentle touch.

The princess did not move. A cold pit of fear seized Blaine’s stomach. He shook her hard. Sea green eyes, dazed from sleep, gazed up at him. A tentative hand reached out to grasp his mail-covered arm. “I knew you’d come.”

The conviction in her words struck at Blaine’s heart. There was no anger or accusation, only a steadfast belief in him. He vowed to never fail her again. Fumbling for words, he gestured to the others. “We all came for you. Forgive us for taking so long.”

Kath stared at the circle of knights. “The ones who kidnapped me are dead, you can stand down now.” Her voice carried a surety he’d never heard before.

Captain Tellor gestured for the knights to hold their position.

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