Vengeance of Arthur by Tracy Cooper-Posey

Author:Tracy Cooper-Posey [Cooper-Posey, Tracy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stories Rule Press Inc.
Published: 2013-07-12T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Saraid woke when the rest of the camp did, and found that she was dry and warm beneath the leather. It added considerably to her comfort. The ache in her bones had receded somewhat, too. It made rising and moving about, packing and saddling Llud far less difficult than it had been yesterday.

She ate two whole oat cakes and drank a cup of hot wine. The warmth of the food and wine radiated from her belly as she combed out and re-plaited her hair, this time with only a few winces.

The day was bright and cloudless, just as yesterday had been. But in all other respects, the day was completely different from yesterday. Saraid only needed a little help from Adrivete to climb upon Llud’s back, and the old war horse joined the company on the road with very little direction from her.

The chatter among the men was light, peppered with laughter and jests. There was some groaning as Lancelot selected the outriders, who must gallop ahead of them to scout the land and make sure it was safe to ride through.

Llud seemed happy to keep up with the other horses no matter what the pace—the oats she had fed him this morning at Adrivete’s suggestion had clearly been more than welcome.

Just sitting upon the horse did not make Saraid’s body hurt the way it had yesterday, either. She felt almost carefree as the company cantered easily along the road.

That was when the other horses galloped out of the woods beside the road, their shabby riders giving great war cries and bellows. The riders held knives in their teeth and swords thrust through their belts, the exposed blades slapping their knees as they rode.

They’re sawing at the reins, Saraid thought, disjointedly. Her heart was pounding even though fear was yet to shoot through her, for this attack was so sudden, and so unexpected. And there were so many of them!

She stared at the attacking men on their horses, as they streamed around the short file of king’s men.

Finally, the fear made itself felt. There were many more robbers to every man in Lancelot’s company…and despite the company drawing swords and knives, Saraid knew they would be overwhelmed.

Some of the horses carried more than one man. As they galloped alongside Lancelot’s men, the second man leapt upon the company, his knife in hand, and either knocked the soldier off his horse, or grappled him and attacked him with the knife.

Adrivete and Saraid were suddenly surrounded by fighting men, some on horses, some on the ground. Blades clashed. Riderless horses reared and whinnied, adding to the noise.

“Saraid, quickly. Come close to me,” Adrivete said. “Get out your knife.”

Saraid used her right knee to direct Llud closet to Adrivete’s stallion. The two horses knickered and pranced, their shoulders together. They wanted to fight, Saraid realized.

She got out her little eating knife with its bowed blade. It would be next to useless against these desperate men, but it was better than simply sitting there with nothing in her hands.

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