Of Shadows and Blood: A sword and sorcery adventure: A Tale of the Dwemhar (Shadow Elf Chronicles Book 1) by J.T. Williams

Author:J.T. Williams [Williams, J.T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-20T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Unlikely Alliance

The moon had reached a pinnacle above them. It was sometime near the midnight hour. Kealin wasn't sleeping. Ordak snored loudly beside him, but Kealin had been working to loosen one of the bolts on the bottom of the gate. He wasn't getting anywhere fast, and there was much more activity in the fort than before.

Sordall emerged out of the darkness with two dozen of his men. They opened the cage, and Kealin immediately grabbed the closest, pulling him off balance and leaping at the next. Ordak was up in a chaotic stir, pushing through the men before both he and Kealin were grabbed and forced down.

"Nice, elf," Ordak said as his face was shoved into the ground.

"You are too valuable to sell for such a price," Sordall said. "We leave with haste. Bind them, put them in the cart. We ride as planned."

Kealin was dragged from the cells and thrown onto a simple cart. The entire fortress had been packed up in a sloppy fashion. There were only fifteen or so horses from what he could see, and even more distressing, he saw that his daggers were being worn by one of the Wardis men.

Ordak was thrown into the back of the wagon with him, and two of the Wardis Clan climbed up with them. Kealin's hands and feet were bound, and though he struggled, he could not loosen them.

"Wait," said Ordak. "Just wait. These men are fools."

One of the two guards stomped Ordak from behind. "Quiet, beast!"

They were moving within just a few moments. The horses pulling this cart and another led the way as Sordall and some of the others rode horses. The remaining men were following, but on foot and much slower.

"They are taking us south," Ordak said. "They are trying to get away from Falacar land, and this would be a less likely route for the clan to take. We're outside the reach of the empire, but we are not unwatched. The Falacar are not so naive."

The clanks and shakes of the cart rolling over rocks and uneven ground highlighted the abruptness of this decision, making for a jarring ride, and even as Kealin still attempted to loosen the binds on his wrist, Ordak nudged him.

"I can break these," he whispered, referencing his own binds. "They did not take the time to use a stronger material. It will be their folly. But there is another part of this. Look."

Ordak motioned for Kealin to look up.

As he looked up, he saw what had to be a thousand stars and a black sky. There was a single silhouette flying above them. Its wings were flapping silently as it circled every few moments.

They turned course again, cutting into the hills and riding into the mountains.

"The old dwarven road. They seek to enter empire territory through the White Pass. It is guarded but well away from here."

The two guards riding in the cart were watching their flank.

One of the other clan members fell back. He rode beside the cart.

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