Shadow Moon by Elysa Hendricks

Author:Elysa Hendricks
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: ImaJinn Books

Chapter Eleven

The back of Raf's neck tingled with the hostile gaze of unseen eyes as he searched the rocky cliff for the hidden entry to the Shakar valley. The sound of an arrow being notched kept him moving past the well-concealed opening. Several lengths away he slipped behind a large boulder. If the Shakar were intent on his death, it wouldn't protect him for long, but it might allow him enough time to declare his peaceful intentions before they slaughtered him.

"I come in peace with a message from your brethren, T'Mal,” Raf shouted into the silence.

After a lengthy pause, a rough voice commanded, “Throw down your weapons and step out, human."

Reluctantly, Raf tossed his sheathed sword and dagger from behind the boulder. If the Shakar turned ugly, the small knife tucked inside his boot would be scant help, but he refused to go meekly to his death. He squared his shoulders, stepped forward and found himself facing a dozen suspicious and hostile Shakar warriors. Cold sweat trickled down his spine, but he let none of his fear show.

He placed his clenched fist against his chest and gave a shallow bow. “Greetings. I am Shadow. I bring you word of T'Mal.” Fixing his gaze on the grizzled Shakar, the obvious leader, who stood at the head of the group, he related what had happened to T'Mal's village and his warning.

Throughout his narrative the Shakar kept their arrows and spears aimed at his heart. Though he enjoyed life, never before had the thought of death filled him with such dread. To die now, meant to never again hold Dale. But if he survived, how was he to find her?

When he finished, the Shakar leader lowered his spear and motioned to his warriors to do likewise. “I am R'Ken, leader of our village. For your kindness to our brethren you are welcome. Come.” He spoke in his own language to his warriors, then turned and headed toward the opening.

One young warrior picked up Raf's sword and dagger. Another motioned with his spear for Raf to follow R'Ken into the opening.

Within moments Raf was lost. Apparently, T'Mal's trust was limited. He hadn't mentioned the maze of pitch-black tunnels just beyond the entrance. Without the Shakar to lead him Raf would have blundered around in the dark until he went mad and died.

For what seemed like hours they moved downward. The air grew cold and damp, smelling of things best left unknown. Eyes burning with the effort to see, he struggled to follow the Shakar. They moved like silent wraiths, with only the occasional scrape of a spear against rock to give him any indication he was not alone.

Time lost meaning as he moved through the darkness. Light and reality became an almost forgotten dream. He struggled to control the scream building inside him, knowing if he gave voice to it he would plunge into moonless insanity. The memory of lying beaten and bloody, moaning alone in the darkness, haunted him.

As his hold on reason started to slip, the tunnel slanted upward.

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