Escape by S.L. Carlson

Author:S.L. Carlson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: swords hatchet and magic, feral dragonraised princess, friends family and arch enemies, mountain palace and court life, rescuing captured family, unicorn and unicorn keeper, wilderness survival in fantasy world
Publisher: BWL Publishing Inc.

* * *

Ricky ran behind, shouting for Gwen to stop. She ignored him. The noise would draw the Spikes towards them, if they heard. The quilt had come off her shoulders and flapped on the galloping stallion’s rump.

“Flame,” Ricky called out to the stallion with his most commanding tone. No response. The horse’s ears remained flattened to the top of his skull as he ran past Drake. Ricky whistled, then yelled, “Whoa, boy. Whoa!”

At last the stallion slowed to a trot and then to a walk. Ricky grabbed hold of the bridle. Gwen was smiling and leaning over the horse’s neck. She still seemed in her own world, but no longer looked terrified of everyone and everything around her. Perhaps it was more about the connection between two abused victims than horsewoman and horse.

“Don’t stop!” Drake yelled.

Ricky was once again surprised with his brother-in-law’s stamina.

Drake and Ricky ran beside the stallion. The poles tossed wildly behind them. They burst into Johnston sooner than Ricky had expected. He guided them to the blacksmith shop and helped Gwen slide down, holding onto the chain ball. Gwen stood motionless, except for her looks darting to the left and right. He wished he could have left her atop the horse.

“Is this your capital city?” Drake asked. “Farhner sure is a small country.”

Hadn’t Drake been with the Spikonian army during either attack on Nimrock? Maybe not.

“The mill has some oats,” Ricky said, pointing out the building. “For Flame. And I want to get rid of this band.” He bent over with his hands on his knees, breathing hard.

“If they catch us, I’ll say I captured you,” Drake said.

Ricky squinted at him. Was his brother-in-law really thinking of turning Gwen and him in to save himself? He chose to ignore the suggestion. He took Gwen inside the blacksmith shop. He kept the doors flung wide open for morning light. He prattled on to Gwen as though she were a wild animal which he was trying to calm. He found what he wanted: a hammer and chisel. He took Gwen to one of the anvils and hung the chainball over it. He gently pushed her head down to the side. Gwen didn’t take her eyes off of Ricky. She also didn’t blink, which he really wished she would do.

“Close your eyes, Gwen.” She continued to stare at him.

He took part of the quilt and threw it over her face to protect her. This way he also didn’t have to see her unblinking eyes. A few more smacks and the chainball broke loose from the band still bound around her neck, with about a hand-span of chain still bound to it. Ricky tried to figure out how to get the neck band off when Drake appeared in the doorway with Flame.

“Rest break over.”

Ricky took Gwen’s hand and towed her outside. “On the horse,” he said, and boosted her up. Aldric and Drake wrapped their arms over the horse’s back and clung to each other’s forearms. They raced over the open plains toward Nimrock, or what was left of the city.

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