Where Shadows Lie by Kim Stokely

Author:Kim Stokely [Stokely, Kim]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781546575030
Published: 2017-06-26T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

When Push Comes to Shove

We galloped through the last line of trees and out to the muddy shore of the river we’d crossed by raft only a few short weeks ago. Horses thundered behind us in the forest.

“Can you find a passage while we ride or do you need to be still?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t done it any way but standing. Keep moving and I’ll try.” I reached my thoughts out to Kennis, following the gold thread that linked us together. But before I could get a good feel for the current of air that flowed between us, my mind went blank. I didn’t know whether it was because of the horse or if my family was now in the palace with Braedon.

“Well?” Kyran called.

“Let me try again.”

Kyran glanced behind me and his eyes grew wide. “Hurry!”

I followed his gaze. A stream of Black Guards galloped toward us. I tightened my hold around the dark man’s waist. “I can take you to the tavern.”

“What?” He pushed Braga to go faster along the water’s edge.

“You’ll never outrun them,” I yelled over the wind that raced past our ears. “I know I can get us both to the tavern where we met!”

“Then do it!”

I closed my eyes, pictured the place and tried to find the passage to take us there. The fact that we were already moving made it more difficult. Finally I got the right current and pushed with my mind. Kyran moaned and tried to twist out of my arms, but I held on. A moment later we tumbled together onto a wooden floor. Shouts and screams accompanied our arrival.

Kyran landed on top of me, but I pushed him off. I couldn’t manage much else. It was as if I’d stepped off the Tilt-o-Whirl at an amusement park–the room spun at odd angles and my brain felt like mush. Several large men pulled us up from the floor. In a moment they were slapping Kyran on the back and laughing.

“Look what’s come in from the cold!”

“Welcome back. We thought the Black Guards had gotten you for sure!”

“When did you come in, you sly fox? We never saw you.”

As if on cue all the men turned their focus to me. I’d lost my kerchief somewhere along the way. My hair had fallen out of its braid and spilled down my back.

“Well now, Kyran. We can see why you couldn’t wait for a romp.” One of the men reached out and brushed his fingers down my cheek. I smacked his hand away.

Yaren, the little gnome of a tavern keeper, pushed through the men until he stood in front of Kyran. He waved a gnarled finger at him. “You! The last time you were here, the Black Guards blasted through my walls trying to get to you.” His stubby arms waved toward the hole in the stones behind him. “You’ve not brought such trouble with you this time, have you?”

The younger man’s eyes flickered to me before turning back to Yaren with a roguish grin.

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