The Prince of Ravens by Hal Emerson

Author:Hal Emerson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: magic, redemption, epic, empire, prince, exile, rebel, talisman, empress, prince of ravens, hal emerson

Chapter Fourteen: What You Use It For

He yelled in surprise before he could stop himself, but the cry was cut off short as the sword pressed deeper into the skin of his neck.

“None of that now, little Exile,” the Defender breathed into his face, smelling of garlic and rancid meat, a combination so disgusting that the Prince almost emptied his stomach right then and there, sword or no sword. But he swallowed and was able to steal a glance to his right and left, trying to see where Tomaz and Leah were.

It was just past dawn, the shadows of the forest still long and cool about them. The campsite was just as they had left it, fire banked and food stashed close by. All three bedrolls were present, but where were the Exiles?

“Don’t worry, your friend is here too.”

The Defender grabbed a hank of his hair and, careful to keep the sword close as a warning to the Prince against doing anything foolish, pulled him upright. The Prince looked frantically around the campfire; he saw Tomaz, and as his gaze fell on the giant, the Prince felt his heart lurch and momentarily stop dead in his chest.

The big man was sitting calmly on the ground, though he was neither tied nor bound and no sword or dagger was being held threateningly to his throat. Instead, a man dressed all in black, with a head shaved bald and arcane symbols tattooed into his skin, stood over him, holding a blood red crystal into which Tomaz was staring helplessly.

A Soul Catcher. A Bloodmage.

“NO!” the Prince roared, heedless of the blade at his throat, caring only for the safety of Tomaz. The Bloodmage threw up a hand, and immediately three Defenders were on him, all equally unwashed and dressed in the notorious Brown and Red, with insignias of the triliope on their chests.

“how … how?” He asked no one in particular.

“Came on you in the night, we did,” said one of the Defenders, apparently in answer to his question. “Samson there, our Bloodmage, he sensed you a ways off and said we’d wait for dawn, and then he’d come and hypnotize the guard and we’d have the other two of you no problem. Happened just like he said.”

“Quiet,” said a deep voice, and the Prince knew it was the Bloodmage speaking, for the voice had the raspy quality all of those cursed fellowship carried.

“Sorry, Samson,” the Defender said with true deference and contrition.

The Prince was thinking hard and fast, trying to find a way out of this situation. Where was Leah?

“Is the girl secured?” the Bloodmage asked, mirroring the Prince’s own thoughts.

“Yes, sir,” the Defender holding the sword to the Prince’s throat responded. “We tied her up and sent her back to Formaux. Captain Toraine is seeing to it himself.”

The Prince felt confusion and panic fighting inside him - why had they taken Leah? Had the orders changed about him? Was he to be killed here, by the Bloodmage, and his soul harvested

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