Darkblade Protector: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (Hero of Darkness Book 3) by Andy Peloquin

Author:Andy Peloquin [Peloquin, Andy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2018-06-18T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The Hunter moved before any sound passed the woman's lips. He darted across the room, clamped a rough hand on her mouth, and pressed Soulhunger to her throat. He had no qualms staining her rich robes, the royal house of Aghzaret embroidered on one shoulder, with her blood. The fewer who knew he was here, the better.

"No!" Queen Asalah's voice rang out behind him. "Do not harm her!"

He stared down at the woman struggling vainly in his grip. Well-rounded and well-formed, she barely reached his shoulder. She quivered in fear, her eyes wide, mouth open beneath his smothering hand.

The queen barked a command in the language of the Al Hani, and the tension in the woman's body drained away.

"Release her," the queen said, speaking Einari.

The Hunter shook his head. "No witnesses. She has seen me."

"She can be trusted, Bucelarii." The queen's voice cracked like a whip. "My plan hinges upon her."

The Hunter cast a questioning glance over his shoulder. The queen showed no sign of fear, only impatience. With a growl, he released the woman and returned Soulhunger to its sheath.

The queen held out her arms to the woman. "Ta-aal, Az'nii."

The word hit the Hunter like a physical blow. Az'nii. It was Her name. The dream—no, the memory—returned.

She lay beside him. The smile on Her face matched what he saw in Her eyes. She smelled of jasmine and honey mixed with the tart, rich scent of berries and cinnamon.

She kissed him. Her lips—soft as silk—tasted sweet on his.

"My love." Her velvety voice made his heart skip a beat. "This must be goodbye."

"Why?" He tugged at a strand of Her golden hair.

"It will mean death for both of us if ever we meet. It cannot be."

"We have faced death before." He smiled up at Her. "Not even the fires of Khar'nath could pull us apart, Az'nii."

A wave of sorrow and longing washed over him. He ached to find out more about Her, the woman from his memories. He'd left Voramis in search of Her, had journeyed across the face of Einan in search of…what? A scent? A face?

Something had happened back in Azmaria. The Illusionist Cleric had somehow unlocked his mind, returned to him his lost memories. He'd seen Her in his dreams in ever increasing frequency. He had no name for Her, no idea where to find Her. He only knew that Her presence beckoned him northward. In his dreams, he'd called her "Az'nii". Now, to hear the name coming from the lips of this…this creature, it sickened him.

It wasn't Her. The woman running into the queen's arms had dark skin and even darker eyes. Her unique scent—a mixture of berries, roses, and verbena—was all wrong.

Nothing more than a cruel coincidence. The Hunter tightened his grip on Soulhunger.

"Explain yourself. How can we trust this…this Az'nii?" Just saying the name tugged at his heart.

Queen Asalah glared at him. "None but me may call her by that name!" The queen stroked the weeping woman's hair, kissing her and muttering soothing words into her ear.

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