Windward Shore by Sharon Hinck

Author:Sharon Hinck [Hinck, Sharon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Christian, Fantasy
ISBN: 9781621841685
Publisher: Enclave Publishing
Published: 2021-05-11T05:00:00+00:00

My opportunity arrived much sooner than I’d expected.

“Where is she?” a gruff voice called from the outer cave. “The bearer of the new victory child?”

Listless voices directed a guard toward the back alcove where I huddled beside Brantley.

“Come with me.” The man in a leather breastplate and gauntlets stared down at me and pointed toward the entrance.

Brantley squeezed my arm, eyes burning into my soul. “Promise me.”

“Until the Maker reunites us.” I wanted to scream, to shake my head, to hold him and never let go. Instead, I picked up my staff, struggled to my feet, and forced myself to leave the cave without looking back. If I saw Brantley’s weak and wounded body one more time, I wouldn’t be able to carry out my promise to him—the pledge to take the first opportunity to escape and warn the people of Meriel.

The pebbled beach was alive with fires, music, and excited chatter as families celebrated the return of captured kinsmen. The scent of roasting fish made me count how many meals I’d missed lately. Somehow another day had passed, and the primary sun drooped toward the horizon, followed closely by the subsun. As I walked, I again noticed the odd lack of movement underfoot, almost as if I were standing in the paved courtyard of the Order. Under the night sky, the shore seemed rimmed in a blue glow. Perhaps it was the reflection of stars on the black sea, but the eerie effect only reminded me how far I was from home.

I also noticed, as I had on Scavengewood, that there were very few children. Perhaps they were tucked away safely in their homes, or perhaps the people of these islands were no longer being blessed with babies. Was that what led to the strange fixation they had with me?

The guard led me farther inland toward a much larger arched cave opening carved into stone. Beyond it, rock-strewn hills rose, but nowhere near as tall as the cliffs of Rogue’s Aerie. The gravelly ground must give way to soil, because dark forests spread across the higher land.

We entered a warren of tunnels and rooms, with brighter and more frequent torches, as well as pools of light spilling from holes that pierced the roof of stone. A group of raiders sat together whittling arrows. As we walked past, Teva separated herself from the others and jumped up. “She was my prize. I’m coming with you.” In addition to her new weapons, she wore a new warm cloak, lined in fur.

My escort merely shrugged, so Teva fell in beside me. “If you offer your dancing to Ecco Cove, you’ll be well treated. And don’t worry, I’ll be sure someone brings food and bandages to your man.”

“Thanks.” My voice was terse. She’d lost no time in profiting from my imprisonment. I wasn’t about to trust Teva, or anyone else on this island. All I could focus on was finding a way to escape. “This cave is much deeper.”

Teva tugged at her gauntlets, which were bunching around her wrists.

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