Winter Queen by Amber Argyle

Author:Amber Argyle [Argyle, Amber]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Tags: Young Adult, Fantasy
ISBN: 9780985739447
Amazon: 0985739428
Goodreads: 15829917
Publisher: Starling Books
Published: 2013-06-19T07:00:00+00:00

13. Falling

The clan-house door cracked against the river-stone wall as Ilyenna streaked through. Metha cried after her, but she didn’t stop or slow. She flew down the path, the trees shadowed blurs as she passed. At the river, she paused to catch her breath and listen. Nothing. But he would come.

She ran until the path disappeared. Not much deeper, the forest grew too dense to move through, forcing her to run parallel to the river. Dodging a boulder, she splashed in, soaking herself to her knees. A little farther down, the trees crowded so close to the bank she had no choice but wade in the water up to her waist. Water that terrified her. But Darrien terrified her more.

Suddenly, she felt the slippery stones shift beneath her. She slid and went under. Immediately, she was ten again, drowning under the ice. She clawed at the water. Her braid came loose and her hair flared around her like a dark sheaf of wheat.

Fighting the current, she finally managed to get her feet back under her. The river had carried her downstream to where the bank wasn’t as steep. She scrambled out and ran.

The water grew swifter and the crashing sound louder. Just as she was starting to wonder what it was, she leaped over a log and her ankle gave way. With a cry, she crumpled to the ground. She was soaking wet, her dress clinging to her. Now her ankle throbbed. But over her frantic panting, she could hear them. Dogs barking. She lurched to her feet and began hobbling as fast as she could.

The river narrowed and deepened. The air was thick and heavy with the smell of moss. With a sense of foreboding, she climbed up the bald expanse of a flat boulder and looked down.

A waterfall crashed down a cliff, hurtling into a deep pool. Rocks and boulders ringed the pool like the teeth of a hungry maw. An updraft blew against her. For leagues in either direction, the cliff went on. She had nowhere to go. The dogs were very close now. She was trapped.

She stared at the pool, her whole body screaming to live.

The dogs crashed through the trees, baying happily when they found her. She turned. Darrien was astride his gelding. What would he do to her?

He rubbed the back of his head. “That’ll cost you.”

He was going to take everything she held dear. By the time he finished, she wouldn’t be Ilyenna anymore. Yet if she didn’t bend to him, he’d destroy her clanwomen. Only one choice remained for her now. She peeked over the edge and looked down.

“Come here now,” Darrien said softly.

She turned. From the look on his face, it was clear he knew she planned to jump. She closed her eyes. Drawing every ounce of courage, she inched backward. She was the clan mistress. She protected her clan, no matter the cost. With each step, she expected to feel nothing but open air beneath her.

“Ilyenna, no!” Rone came crashing through the trees, his face white with fear and exertion.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.