The Chained Trilogy by Elise Marion

Author:Elise Marion [Marion, Elise]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Medieval
Published: 2020-09-06T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 12

Gwen trotted over the rocks lining the valley between Dilles Bothe and its neighboring mountain. Her lungs burned from the effort and her mouth was dry, begging for even a drop of water. Fatigue sapped the strength from her limbs, but after her swim back to Daleraia’s shore, she’d hardly had time for rest. Stopping to pour the water filling her quiver—which still held seven arrows—she took only a moment more to squeeze copious amounts of water from her now ruined braid before setting off for the valley.

It had only been a few days since her escape from Dilles Bothe and her trek through this very valley, yet it seemed as if a lifetime had passed. Every moment felt like an eternity, as she ran and prayed to the gods that she was not too late. She saw not a sign of King Rowan and the three thousand men he’d taken up the mountain, which meant they were miles ahead of her by now. She was not certain she could arrive at the keep unharmed, as she was sure to be captured on sight by any man-at-arms or palace sentinel who laid eyes upon her. She was certain all of Dilles Bothe knew of her escape by now; anyone who returned her was sure to be handsomely rewarded, which meant that Gwen was now a prize to be captured.

Perhaps that was the way. The only alternative was striding up to the gates and demanding to be admitted. Either way, she knew when next she faced Caden, she would once again wear shackles and chains.

It mattered not to her. Not when his life was in danger, as well as the lives of people she counted as friends—Lady Victoria, Esa and her ladies-at-arms. She ran until the sun rose, stopping only once to drink water from her wineskin and pluck a few berries from a nearby bush. She remembered Leofred giving her a handful when they’d come this way before, stating they were one of the few that were safe to eat in Daleraia.

The short break had allowed fatigue to set in, however, and she found it more difficult to continue. Her pace slowed until she was forced to walk, her legs screaming in protest. She’d nearly collapsed when her salvation appeared, almost as if in answered prayer to the gods.

“Oh thank you,” she whispered as she stumbled toward the horse picking at the sparse foliage growing along the base of the mountain. It was one of the mounts she and Leofred had taken from Dilles Bothe. They’d been forced to abandon them on the sandy shore when the rowboat had been sent to them, and Gwen had hoped the animals would find their way safely home. Somehow, this one seemed to have lingered, waiting just for her. “Lorimis be praised,” she cried, tears coming to her eyes as she reached for the animal’s reins. The goddess of nature had provided well.

Finding the strength to climb onto the saddle proved difficult, but once astride, she spurred the beast forward, her spirits lifted and her purpose renewed.

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