The Markings by Catherine Downen

Author:Catherine Downen [Downen, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-04-24T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

I’m not sure how much time has passed when I hear a tree crash to the forest floor. My eyelids had fallen shut, but they jolt open at the sound of the destruction. Alexander. Toby has risen from Zavy’s lap, flipping his head in confusion.

I look at Paylon and see that he has dropped my mother’s journal to the ground and jumped to his feet, drawing his sword. He turns his back to me so he’s facing the direction the sound came from.

“It’s got to be them,” I hear Codian say.

“I’m not waiting around here any longer for them to show up,” Paylon growls. “I’m going out there and getting them myself.” Paylon walks toward the other end of the clearing, turns to Zavy and says, “Guess you weren’t good enough bait. Shows how little they care about you. They were just going to leave you. Chadian, come with me.”

Chadian stands and walks to his brother. “You can keep this piece of junk to protect you.” I watch as he drops my sword at Codian’s feet and draws a much more deadly looking blade from the supply bag on the horse. Paylon mounts the horse and Chadian follows on foot. Paylon takes two of the Hounds with him, leaving three still chained here with Codian. I watch as they sink deeper into the woods, waiting as long as I dare before moving.

I hold my breath, anticipating my next move. Alexander’s plan is working. Now it’s two against one. The Hounds aren’t here for fighting so they won’t get in our way. We have the odds in our favor now. Get the necklace to Zavy and Toby and get out, I repeat in my head, and I pull off the necklace off. Once I feel like Paylon and Chadian have walked a good distance from us, I see Cooper resurface at the edge of the clearing and know this is our cue.

Cooper reaches for a sword he must have brought with him. Smart. I hadn’t thought to take any from the tents around his camp. I was too worried about getting away undetected to think they would have weapons. Of course they would. They’ve been hunting and protecting themselves for seven years. So, two against one, and we have a sword and my gift. Confidence builds in me as I weigh the scenario in my head. This is going to work.

Cooper nods to me, and I nod back, mouthing the words, “Three, two, one.”

We sprint through the clearing. I immediately run to the cage encasing Zavy and Toby. As I run toward the cage, Cooper runs from the trees and I watch as Codian jumps to his feet and draws his sword. He flips his head between Cooper and me, not sure who to attack first. The sight of Cooper, someone he doesn’t recognize seems to panic him even more. He wasn’t expecting an ambush, but he definitely wasn’t expecting someone besides Alexander to be helping me. I turn my attention back to Zavy as I hear the clashing of metal behind me.

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