Roads of the Righteous and the Rotten (Order of Fire Book 1) by Kameron A. Williams

Author:Kameron A. Williams [Williams, Kameron A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2016-07-20T22:00:00+00:00

16

Zar breathed deep as guards charged through the gate. With shield on his back and head tucked low and close to Dancer’s mane, he turned the stallion around and made off in the opposite direction. There were woods nearby, about two miles south of the city, and that’s where he wanted to fight them—not on the plain where he’d be easily surrounded, and they could shoot Dancer full of arrows and hack him into the dirt. The woods, however, would limit their space and break them up into smaller groups. That’s what he needed.

He didn’t bother turning to the sound of the thundering hooves storming behind him. Dancer was galloping his fastest, and there weren’t many horses that could pass him, let alone keep up, but these tall steeds, long- legged with nimble frames, were royal bred for hard running, and didn’t seem to have any trouble staying on the stallion’s trail.

Zar knew the company had gained on him when the clapping of hooves grew louder in his ears. He kept his head tucked low. Arrows were difficult to fire at such speeds, but his pursuers would still likely attempt it. A few flew far over his shoulders and lodged into the ground ahead. Before he had time to get nervous about one of them catching him in the back of the skull, he reached the woods.

Zar slowed Dancer as they entered the trees, cantering a short while in the woods before hopping off and giving him a smack on the rump. Dancer trotted off gingerly and Zar heard the soldiers entering the wood. He drew his sword and hid himself behind a tree, his back against its bark, his elbows tucked in, his sword in both hands against his chest with the blade extending up in front of his face.

Dancer wound his way between the trees away from him, and the rustle of guards traveled in the same direction. They were fast approaching the tree where he stood tucked away. One rider broke past first, racing after the sound and distant sight of Dancer in the woods. Zar could hear the nearing hooves and feel their vibration, and peeked out to see the lean, muscular legs of royal horses charging forward. He slashed at one of them and brought the mount crashing down, throwing its rider into the dirt. Zar promptly struck the fallen man, splitting the Snowguard’s helm, and the other horses stopped sharply at the commotion, two of them spooking and rearing up. Zar wasted no time running between them, and struck a guard who was struggling to stay on his horse after it spooked. He left the man’s thigh open and bleeding and took off running between the trees.

The horses crashed through the wood, their limbs snagging branches as Zar darted away, making sure to curve around the trees. An arrow struck a tree directly to his right, so close to his face that a piece of bark chipped off and stung him on the nose. Zar looked back.

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