His Dark Empire (Tears of Blood Book 1) by M.R. Forbes

Author:M.R. Forbes [Forbes, M.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: coming of age, Young Adult Fantasy, Fantasy, Magic and Wizards, monsters, Wizards, Dark Fantasy, sword and sorcery, dragons, Epic Fantasy, magic, orcs
Publisher: Quirky Algorithms
Published: 2014-01-12T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Silas

Silas' luck was with him. When he reached the field, the dappled mare was still there.

"Aren't you a good horse," he said, patting its muzzle. He could feel the heat of the flames behind him. The fire would consume the trees, and then move on to the grass. There was no telling how much it would burn before it wound down, but he didn't want to be near it when it did.

He lifted Eryn and laid her carefully across the horse, and then climbed up behind her. It took some effort to get her positioned to ride unconscious, but he got her secure and then ordered the horse back south. He would have preferred to head towards Elling, but she needed help - food, water, and rest. There was only one place he knew he could get any of that in a short time.

The minstrels weren't all that happy when Silas returned with their horse, since they knew he had gone chasing after the soldiers. Once Sena saw Eryn; however, she changed from a bawdy wench to a tender caretaker. She helped Silas get her down off the horse and guided him to their carriage, where they laid her out on a bench. Her breathing was shallow, and her head was soaked in sweat.

"She might have a fever," Sena said. "Where did you find her, anyway? And why is her head shaved?"

"The less you know, the safer you'll be," Silas replied. "I rescued her from his soldiers."

She stroked Eryn's cheek. "Cursed, eh? She's a pretty young thing. She looks like she's been to Heden and back. I'll go fetch some cold water and cloth."

"Thank you, Sena."

"You want something for yourself? A flagon, maybe?"

Silas felt the temptation. He always did. "No. Just some water." He watched Eryn's breathing. "I couldn't save them," he said to her when Sena left. "I'll save you."

He was standing at the door to the carriage when Sena came back, Robar trailing behind her. "I hear you have one whopper of a tale," the minstrel said. "Rescuing a Cursed from his soldiers? As far as I know, it's never been done."

"It isn't the kind of song you can sing in an Elling tavern," Silas said. "Not unless you want to be hung."

Sena pushed past, holding a bucket and a rag. "Excuse me. I have a patient to tend to."

"Maybe not around here," Robar said. "But Elling is only one province. There are towns on the other side of the Killorn where songs about rebel heroes will pay quite well indeed."

"Rebel hero? No. I made a promise, that's all."

"To who?"

Murderer.

"To myself," he said.

"Maybe you see it that way. I'm a storyteller, and I know what stories to tell to get the people to part with their coin. A story about a man rescuing a girl from his soldiers? That will pay well in Aspin, I'm sure of it. The point is, part with your story, and we'll take good care of you. We can even sneak you into Elling City, if that's what you want.

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