Seized (Mates for the Raskarrans Book 6) by Heather Fox

Author:Heather Fox [Fox, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Prospect and Raven
Published: 2022-09-10T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Dazzik

It does not take me long to pick up my old tribe’s trail. They have done their best to confuse it, sending runners out to the sides and doubling back and laying all manner of false paths. But I know these tricks. I learned them from the elders just as those who taught Arztal did.

They have quite the head start on me, and I am forced to stop, to gather a few roots to chew to stave off hunger, to give me strength. When I run, I push as hard as I can, forcing as much speed out of my limbs as I can muster. I am a warrior trained, slower, heavier than a hunter, but my tribe will have sent warriors to attack Walset, and they are likely more burdened than me. My near empty pack bounces against my back, full of useless stones and shells, but I do not discard it. I have so very little with me - my pack and Arztal’s knife. I would not lose half of the things I have, and any advantage that they might provide me with it.

By the time the sun rises, my skin is slick with an almost feverish sweat, but I have gained on my old tribe, come close enough to need to steal into the trees to track them more carefully. They run through a stream to hide their trail, and the splashing of the water covers my sounds as I move from branch to branch with more haste than silence allows, desperate to see that my Sam is not among the things that they have stolen from Walset’s brothers.

Let her be back with Walset’s brothers. Let this chase be a pointless one. I send my prayers out as strongly as I can, hoping that I can soon drop back. Let my old tribe disappear along the river and return home, gather my things and go to Walset to find my Sam.

She will be frightened, perhaps a little in shock, but safe and protected and…

One of the males ahead of me shifts, and as he steps left to move around one of the others, I see that the male he passes is running slower because he cradles something in his arms.

Then I spy a flash of colour. My Sam’s bird nest hair.

I nearly snarl to see her cradled against another male’s chest, but at least they carry her. At least they do not force her to run. I move faster, risking a foot breaking a weak branch, or raising so much noise that I am discovered. Neither happens, and I can only think that Lina guides my feet. That she could not stop my Sam from being taken, but lends what strength she can to me so I can save my mate.

I count the raskarrans as I move. Seventeen altogether, a few I recognise. Jortan is at their head, leading the way. A warrior a season older than me. We fought many times in our youngling days, him my instructor, as we sought to learn our warrior skills.

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