AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I let the others go in front of me, bringing up the rear. I happen to glance behind me to see two mercenaries coming up the road toward us fast. I recognize them as friends of the demon Kal sold the Harbinger to last evening and wonder what they want with us. When they see that the Gate is open and that we’re leaving, there’s a shout, and they begin running toward us, drawing their swords.
I don’t hesitate, passing through the Gate. When I get to the other side, it’s full day, and I draw my sword, turning back to the Breach in case they follow us through.
‘What is it?’ Grey asks.
‘Some sellswords were coming up behind us,’ I say just as a hulking figure materializes in front of the Gate.
I don’t have time to ask him why he’s following, though, because there’s a knife suddenly sticking out of his forehead. He thuds to the ground, and I scowl at Kallum.
‘What did you do that for?’ I snarl.
He shrugs, and I hear the Gate closing behind me.
‘He had his sword drawn. You’re welcome.’
My eyes narrow. ‘I wanted to know what he wanted.’
Kal gives me a long-suffering look and gestures to the sword in the merc’s hand. ‘To kill us and take our slave, obviously.’
Grey scoffs. ‘Doubtful. She’s hardly worth the effort.’
I glance at her, my traitorous eyes involuntarily seeking out those nipples I spied earlier, but I can’t see them through the ragged cloth when she’s standing.
As I watch her, she sways a little, and her hand grabs at the trunk of a nearby tree as she leans over and wretches in the bushes.
Gray snorts. ‘See? The human slave girl is hardly a prize, and no one knows what she truly is.’ He turns and takes off down the path, leaving us to follow him. ‘Let’s get to the next Gate while we have the light.’
I glance at the Harbinger and shake my head as she brings up the contents of her stomach again. ‘If you get with child, it’s your own fault,’ I say. ‘I have no more of that potion.’ I glance at Kallum and roll my eyes. ‘You deal with her.’
CHAPTER TEN
I spit the sourness out of my mouth and close my eyes as the trees around me spin, wishing the vertigo would pass quicker.
I was hoping it wouldn’t happen this time but going through the Breach too many times with not enough rest in between takes its toll. The others don’t seem to feel it, but I was told on my way through seven years ago by the apothecary that I saw that humans often feel it worse. Breach Blet, he’d said it was called, and then I’d had to give the fucker all my money so he wouldn’t tell anyone the truth when I’d had to reveal to him that I wasn’t really a troll.
I straighten and glance around. Trees and hills as far as the eye can see, and one lone path stretching past the gate in two directions. I don’t know this place. In fact, so far, I haven’t come through any of these worlds. I suppose the Breach must have changed a lot in almost a decade, so there are different routes through the circles now.
I notice Kallum watching me, the rope still in his hand, and I grimace.
‘It’s not as if I can go anywhere,’ I mutter. ‘There’s one Gate out of here, and it’s hours away.’
His eyes move over my face slowly. He takes in my hand that’s still on the tree trunk.
‘You could still run and hide in the wilderness, at least until something got you.’
‘Got me?’ I ask, straightening and taking a long breath in through my nose.
‘Aye, there are dangerous creatures all through these forests, dark things that would make a little human girl’s blood run cold.’
I attempt to roll my eyes at him. ‘I’ve spent my life in the Dark Realms, Kallum, and I’m hardly a little human girl.’
‘You might as well be with Dane’s conjures keeping you subdued,’ he sneers. Then he steps closer. ‘But I like my name on your tongue, Harbinger.’
I stare at him. ‘I don’t understand you,’ I finally say, wondering why I’m suddenly so close to tears. ‘You sold me for a silver coin. Then, you killed the demon you sold me to, but you don’t want the others to know. Then, you spent this morning making sure they saw you hurting me every chance you got. Why?’
He shrugs. ‘Time to go, Harbinger.’
He pulls me with the rope, but gently like he’s suggesting I come with him.
