Capture by Annabelle Jacobs

Author:Annabelle Jacobs [Jacobs, Annabelle]
Language: eng
Format: epub

Chapter 9

THE RIDE back through the forest seemed to take forever, and Nykin’s head ached from being upside down for so long. When they finally arrived at the castle, he was tired and thirsty, but the soldiers just dragged him off his horse and marched him into the castle. He was a little unsteady on his legs from being draped over his saddle, and he stumbled as they hurried him along the passageways.

“Get a move on,” one of the soldiers said.

He shoved Nykin hard in the back, making him stumble again. He lost his footing completely this time and fell to the stone floor, his tied hands banging painfully against the hard surface. “I’m trying,” he mumbled under his breath and earned himself a cuff to the head.

“Try harder.”

They hauled Nykin to his feet, and he managed to stay upright this time. His wrists were sore where they’d chafed against the rope binding them, and Nykin winced each time he was tugged along. They took him through several different passageways before arriving at a large open room, empty except for a chair in the middle of it.

They pushed Nykin toward it and forced him to sit down. There were dark stains over the wooden arms and on the floor around the legs of the chair. They looked suspiciously like blood, and Nykin’s stomach roiled with thoughts of what might have gone on in here before.

He slumped back and lifted his head, taking the opportunity to look around the room. One window stood high up on the far wall, and the afternoon sun shone brightly outside. Only two of the Rodethian soldiers remained in the room, both of them leaning against the door and watching him curiously.

Nykin heard footsteps and murmured voices out in the passageway, and the two soldiers immediately snapped to attention. Moments later two men appeared, one walking slightly behind the other. Nykin had no idea what Seran or Hatak looked like, but judging from the way the soldiers by the door reacted, the two newcomers were either one or both of them.

“Who’s this?” The taller one of the men snapped. His green eyes narrowed as he walked closer to Nykin and circled around him as he spoke. “A Torserian Guard?” He turned to one of the soldiers, who nodded.

“Yes, sir. We found him just over the border in the forest.”

The man frowned, his eyes raking over Nykin from head to toe. “His uniform is that of a high-ranking officer in the king’s personal guard.” He gestured to the markings on Nykin’s chest. “What was he doing out there?”

Nykin kept quiet as they discussed him like he wasn’t even in the room. He tried not to make eye contact with any of them, not wanting to attract attention to himself. “He said they were looking for Ryneq,” the soldier replied.

“They? What happened to the others?”

Nykin could feel four pairs of eyes on him, and he couldn’t resist the urge to look up. They were all staring at him, and he shifted uncomfortably in the chair.

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