Forsaken Kingdom (Silent Kingdom Book 2) by Rachel L. Schade

Author:Rachel L. Schade [Schade, Rachel L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dragon Shadow Publishing
Published: 2018-12-11T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Their attack came without warning. One instant we were descending the opposite slope of the hill, tracing the winding roads of Delgoth, and the next arrows were raining down on us from an invisible enemy.

“This way!” Narek shouted, diving toward a narrow alley on the left.

We charged after him, arrows clattering on the stones around us, ricocheting off buildings, and whistling past our ears. I heard someone cry out in the chaos, but there was no time to stop, no time to think as we sped for cover.

Narek led us on a haphazard path through alleys and crumbling buildings in the opposite direction of the attack until at last, panting, he spun on his heel and held up his hand for us to stop. The air had fallen quiet once more, our enemies ceasing their shots now that we were out of sight. But where was the pursuit? My heart rattled against my ribs as I pulled my bow from my back and drew an arrow.

“Who is that?” Layk demanded. “Do we run or stand and fight?”

“Nestrae,” Narek whispered. “And we are surrounded, so we don’t have much choice in what we do. We must flee. Don’t pull it out,” he added, his eyes snapping to Avrik.

Face white and drawn, Avrik was leaning against the closest building, one hand clasped around an arrow staff protruding from his left arm. Blood bubbled around the wound and he cringed, snapping the shaft to shorten it.

Jennah held both of her curved daggers as she studied our surroundings. Every shadowy corner of the alley, every empty home and shop held the threat of the unknown now. “How do you know we’re surrounded?”

Narek’s face was solemn. “It’s how they always attack.”

“If you know their tactics, then what’s next?” Layk said. “What do we do?”

“We’ll be outnumbered. We can try to hide, try to slip past them and out of the city, but we haven’t much time. They’ll set Delgoth ablaze and force us out.”

I hesitated. “And you said...the fire does not harm them?”

“Fire is their weapon.”

My hand strayed to the pendants at my neck. “Run,” I said hoarsely. “If there is no way to stand and fight them off, show us the fastest path out of here and we will take our chances trying to get past their forces.” I set my jaw. “We will not die cornered and cowering in the ruins of a dead city.”

Avrik, Jennah, and Layk nodded back at me, pressing their hands to their hearts.

“I know of a way, if we can find it quickly enough,” Narek said, and he pressed forward, his drawn blade glittering while he ran.

We dashed through shadowy alleys and across ruined courtyards; we skirted around collapsed buildings and cut through shops, some still filled with decaying goods or moth-eaten bolts of cloth; we leapt across sullied statues sprawled over our path and splintering timber, charred remnants of the fire. The streets swept on and on, curving downhill and then rushing alongside a burbling stream that wound a dizzying route through the city.

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