Traitors (The Traitor King Saga Book 1) by A.M. Hickman

Author:A.M. Hickman [Hickman, A.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Twin Oaks Publishing
Published: 2017-01-28T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

9 Days After the Trial

The fire sizzled in complaint while Blaze poked it. The evening had progressed silently as Theoverus lead them back into the woods to set up camp. After building a fire, she volunteered to take first watch, arguing that he stayed up over the past two days and needed to rest. While he was reluctant at first, she ignored any other reply except his concession. He went to bed before the moon was up, and the moon was now at her peak. “Theo?” she whispered. No reply came.

With maximum stealth, Blaze picked up Lily’s saddle and hobbled over to the sleeping mare. She set the saddle next to Lily and waved a dried water chestnut under the waking horse’s nose. Lily gladly accepted the treat as Blaze quietly saddled her. A low nicker from Destan made her jump. Spinning around, she cringed as she landed too hard on her right foot.

Destan stood there, stretching his head toward her for his treat. “I’m sorry, boy,” she breathed. “That was the last one.” He sneezed and shook his head, as if refusing to believe her. “Shh. I am sorry. It really is.” She rubbed his soft nose and guessed he wouldn’t let her leave quietly. Sneaking to his tack, she checked every pocket until she found the prize: a small stalk of sugar cane. Blaze hobbled back to the horses and mounted Lily. Destan reached out again, smelling the sweet plant. Lily also looked back in longing. Grabbing the reigns, Blaze pulled Lily’s head back and then tossed the sugar cane away from her. As Destan chased the treat, she nudged Lily away from camp toward the lake.

Even in the waning moonlight, the water shimmered. Blaze didn’t know how much farther Krute was, but they had to be close. As the night grew later, the crickets and frogs eventually faded away, forsaking her for sleep. With her heavy eyes and Lily’s low-hanging head, the two progressed into dawn.

Straightening up and focusing her eyes, Blaze leaned forward and wondered if she was dreaming. The first blossoms of the morning were shining from behind the distinct outline of a town. Lily plodded along the open shore of the now skinny lake, its grandness narrowing steadily into the Thundrum River. “Lily! On the horizon! We are here. Please, just a little further, and you can rest for days, I promise.” Lily sensed her excitement, picking up her head and pace. “That’s it, girl. We’re almost there.” Relief grew with the town as Blaze saw her refuge grow in the dawn light.

Torches smoldered at each post of the stone bridge spanning the mighty Thundrum River. The whoosh of racing water warned her of the river’s unbridled power as she crossed. The graveled crunch of Lily’s hooves announced their arrival into the still sleeping town. Unlike Srift, where each wooden shop was divided by dirt paths or gardens, the larger town of Krute had shops sewn together as a patchwork of wood and stone.

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