Legacy 2: Vengeance-Price by Baltas D. N

Author:Baltas, D. N.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Flintlock
Published: 2024-08-10T00:00:00+00:00

24

REUNION

The moon cast a lurid reflection upon the surface of the shallow river that ran the length of the southern wall. On the far bank, beyond the reach of the shadows of the age-cracked battlements, tall reeds shifted gently, driven by the breeze and the passage of small animals. Even the dusk cicada songs had ceased, and the air carried only the occasional trill of a roosting bird. It was a time of silence and sleep. A rare interlude of peace.

But not so for her.

Fighting to control her breathing, Ariadne climbed, using moonlight to guide her hands. The ascent would have been impossible without it, and even now she was forced to keep to the illuminated patches of rock, avoiding the deeper crags and crevasses that hid the path upwards from her searching eyes. These smears of thick black were impassable even for her daring. Passing over an abandoned nest home only to scattered eggshells, she reached gingerly for the top of a small escarpment thick enough to allow a momentary rest. Drawn by the opportunity for reprieve, she grasped the rim of jutting rock and hauled herself up, ignoring the invasive stab of sharp stone into her body and the tension in her muscles. As her hips came level, she twisted about to press her back against the face. Perched safely, legs dangling, she sucked in large breaths and massaged her shaking limbs.

From her newfound height the rooftops below looked ridiculously small. Beyond the furthest walls and hard by the main gates there was a temporary camp of wagons lit only by the odd fire. It resembled a nomad encampment, not unlike Kharfa’s, but strangely, this one was silent, devoid of a bonfire. Curious, but now was not the time. She massaged her arms. Time to keep moving.

Driven by the prospect of reunion, Ariadne resumed her climb. Tracing the rocky crags above for obvious handholds, she climbed quickly, swallowing the remaining distance to the base of the fortress wall. Very soon, the solid black rock gave way to large stone blocks that marked the base of the fort proper.

The bobbing torch of a sentry appeared along the battlements above. She pressed herself tightly against the rock and held as still as she could. It was not the first time she’d noticed the appearance of a patrolling sentry. Left and right the torch would bob, moving slowly, methodically, once or twice with the passing of the hour, the angle of the walls working with the darkness to keep the bearer hidden from her view.

As she marked the torchlight, a sound carried from an unexpected source. She kept still and looked down. Something in the darkness below had caused a sound. A roosting bird, perhaps. Above, the drifting torch came to a stop in the centre of the wall-walk.

Cursing, Ariadne kept her eyes down, lest the shine of light in her eyes betray her. Steadying her breath, she told herself that the typical sentry didn’t expect fools to climb cliffs in the middle of the night.

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