The Four Kingdoms Box Set 1 by Melanie Cellier

Author:Melanie Cellier [Cellier, Melanie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Luminant Publications
Published: 2017-12-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

Ava quickly dropped back to the ground and looked around wildly, wondering where she should run. Before she could make up her mind, Hans materialized out of the crowd. He grabbed her hand and without a word pulled her between two fires and into the darkness beyond.

Running at nearly full pace, Ava twice tripped and would have fallen but for Hans’ steady grip. They were quickly through the wagons and into the surrounding forest. He didn’t pause but led her on until they were out of sight of the caravan. Only the faintest glow from the fires reached them.

Finally, he stopped and took up a position between her and the distant wagons, his hand on the sword hilt at his waist. Ava hadn’t previously noticed his sword but felt relieved that he had thought to include it in his dancing outfit.

For a moment, there was silence except for her gasping breaths and the distant sound of shouting from the caravan.

“How, how did you find me?” she finally managed to get out.

Hans swung his head around to look at her. Her eyes had adjusted sufficiently to the low light for her to make out his expression. He looked confused.

“What do you mean?” he asked.

“It was chaos at the dance,” she said, “even before the guards arrived. I couldn’t have found you if my life depended on it.”

His face tightened in a wince, and Ava wondered if it was possible her life had depended on it.

“I never lost track of you,” said Hans simply.

Ava shook her head in wonder. The man had an uncanny sense where his job was concerned. She could only be grateful for it.

The more time that passed without any sign of pursuit, the more Ava felt herself relax. It was unlikely anyone had seen them flee, and they had no way of knowing what the guard was even doing at Caravan Hargrove. There was every likelihood it had nothing to do with her.

Hans, however, remained tensed. His eyes stared back through the trees, and his hand clenched and unclenched on his sword hilt.

Eventually the sound of conflict quieted. Ava began to stir restlessly, anxious to know what was going on, and Hans glanced back at her. She could see from his gaze that he was torn.

“Not this again,” she said. “Go, find out what’s happening. I’ll be fine.” When he didn’t move, she bent down and flipped back the hem of her skirts. The tip of her dagger could be seen above her boot.

“I never go anywhere without it.”

“Stay here,” he said. “I won’t be long.”

He moved so quietly through the trees that Ava wondered when he had received forest training. It definitely hadn’t been in the five years he had served as her personal guard.

In the long minutes they had spent waiting in the forest, neither of them had voiced the question that must have been foremost in both of their minds.

What was the Royal Guard doing interrupting the dance of a prominent merchant caravan? For

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