Vengeance of the Hunter by Angela Highland

Author:Angela Highland [Highland, Angela]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-04-21T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirteen

Marriham, Kilmerry Province, Jomhas 30, AC 1876

Kestar had expected many things once he, Celoren and Father Enverly were taken under guard out of Arlitham Abbey. That the patrol would confiscate Cel’s and his weapons and amulets and deny them control of their own horses were both inevitable. Likewise, the patrol had permitted them no more than the barest minimum of personal items. No mentions were made of ropes or chains to bind them, and for that Kestar was grateful. Even if their comparative ease of movement meant only that the Hawks and other guards had them under constant watch at all times, and that if any of them showed the slightest sign of resistance, they would be shot on the spot.

Not that he could hope to run very far regardless, not when his fellow Hawks’ amulets could track him relentlessly down.

All of this Kestar accepted with numb resignation. But not in his wildest flights of fancy had he anticipated that their journey would take them into range of someone else’s fomenting rebellion—or that half their patrol would suddenly abandon them, taking Father Enverly along with them.

Amarsaed, with Wulsten and Yerredes flanking him, came for them in the morning. The Hawk captain was visibly seething, but to Kestar’s surprise and disquiet, he interrogated them only briefly, just long enough to determine that they’d seen nothing more than Follingsen coming to liberate the priest. Then, finally, he ordered them both chained at the wrists before they took to their horses.

No one offered Kestar or Celoren the slightest scrap of information, not while they were in earshot. And with the captain’s thunderous countenance scowling at them all, neither of the other two Hawks spoke more than the absolute minimum. They traveled swift and light out of Marriham, and only when their route began to reach disturbingly familiar roads did Kestar finally call out, “Captain, this isn’t the road to Shalridan.”

“Well spotted.” Amarsaed didn’t bother to turn in the saddle as he called back, his voice crackling with contempt. “In light of recent events, we’re taking a brief detour. We require reinforcements and suitable motivation to ensure that the two of you aren’t suddenly going to vanish out of our custody like the priest. We have orders to take another prisoner.”

Riding beside him, where the other two Hawks could keep them both in easy sight, Celoren went white-faced. “Oh gods, Kes, no,” he whispered.

Kestar’s spirits plummeted further, straight into his road-worn boots.

They were on the road to Bremany, and if Captain Amarsaed felt they required leverage to make sure he and Celoren wouldn’t escape, that could only mean one thing.

They were going to arrest his mother.

* * *

Vaarsen Hall put up no resistance, in no small part because a party of four more Hawks had preceded them and confined Ganniwer Vaarsen to her chambers until the captain’s patrol could arrive. Only grudgingly, and only with Wulsten and Yerredes to accompany them, did Captain Amarsaed permit Kestar and Celoren to be unchained so that they could go up to meet her.

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