AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Left foot, right foot. Keep going, Beth,” I panted, each breath painfully searing my lungs. The thought of Dyf’s charred body, trampled under the monster’s hooves, made me want to hurl. I forced the images away and kept going. The forest closed in around me, and branches were clawing at my face and clothes as if they wanted me to stop and go back.
As I put more distance between me and the roaring fire, the night felt so much colder than before. Shivering, I stumbled over the uneven terrain, my body aching, covered with more cuts and bruises. But the pain was nothing compared to the searing ache of losing Dyf.
He’d sacrificed himself so I could get away. Just like Than. I’d only known him for a day, but his loss hurt so much, I didn’t know if I could carry on. I raised my face to the sky and screamed my anguish into the forest, the pain so acute, I felt like my heart was being cut out.
When my vocal chords were raw and my tears had run dry, I pushed onward, guided by instinct and fueled by my growing anger at the unfairness. As the first light of dawn broke through the canopy, I finally crossed the forest’s edge and promptly stumbled into a stream of water.
I yelped in surprise, but then bent down, washed my sooty, dirty hands, and splashed some water into my face. The stream was cool, soothing the cuts and scrapes on my feet and legs. My lungs still burned from exertion and smoke, and I took a sip of the refreshing water to rinse my mouth and quench my thirst. I was alive, which was more than seemed possible a few hours ago.
I clung to that thought, even though I was dressed in rags, had no money and no allies in Gwerin that I knew of. Than and Dyf were dead because of me, and I was all alone.
The weight of my situation grew so heavy, I couldn’t carry it a moment longer. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the pebbled bank of the stream. I lay there, panting, tears mixing with the water dripping from my hair. How was I to do this alone?
As the adrenaline seeped from my body, a bone-deep exhaustion took its place. My eyelids grew heavy, the babbling stream a hypnotic lullaby. Just as I drifted off, a splash jolted me awake.
I sat bolt upright. Had the hart tracked me here? Or were the palace guards closing in? My heart pounded as I scanned the water. Then I saw him. Breaking the surface in a graceful arc, water streaming over moon-pale skin and hair.
“Dyf!” I cried out in relief.
He turned toward me, a tired but triumphant smile on his handsome face. I’d never been so happy to see anybody in my life. I scrambled to my feet and waded into the stream, throwing my arms around Dyf’s broad shoulders. His skin was cool and slick against mine.
“You came back,” I murmured into his neck.
His arms encircled my waist. “Of course, I came back. I promised I would protect you, did I not?”
I drew back to look into his ice-blue eyes, overcome with gratitude. “But the dire hart, the fire... I thought for sure...” My voice hitched.
Dyf brushed a wet strand of hair from my face. “No overgrown deer would finish me off.”
His tone was light, but there were burn marks marring his chest. Guilt stabbed through me. He’d risked everything for my sake. I traced a finger over the red marks on his skin.
“You’re hurt.”
“Just superficial wounds. They will heal.” Dyf tilted my chin up. His eyes flickered with an emotion I couldn’t read. “Do not look so sad, little flame. We both made it out alive, thanks to you.”
I blinked back more tears. “I owe you everything.”
“Hush now, Beth.” Dyf pressed his forehead to mine. “I said I would stay with you and see you to your destination.”
I closed my eyes and leaned into him. He’d called me by my name for the first time. That had to mean something. Even though he'd avoided my gaze as he’d said it.
Chapter nineteen
BLEDDYN
Itdidnottakeus long to catch their scent. Beth and her human companion were not adept at hiding their trail through the wilderness, and soon we caught up to the guards who were pursuing the escapees.
Half of them had peeled away from the main group, and as I pushed through the throng to speak to their leader, it became obvious why. A large human male lay motionless on the forest floor, his body covered with so much blood, it hid the gruesome wounds the hounds had inflicted.
“What happened here?”
The weasel who was in charge of the guards knew my name and reputation. As I waited for an answer, he puffed up his chest and proclaimed proudly, “We followed the kingslayer and her bastard lover. We got him first. I kept some men behind to drag his body back to the palace, but fear not. My men are well capable of tracking the little butain.”
I clenched my fists, working hard to keep my face neutral and not run him through with my bidog. That was what Prys would have done.
Instead, I pinned him with my glare until he paled. Then I asked so quietly only he and my handler could hear, “How long ago was this?”
The male gulped and said, “Not long ago. My fastest men are after her. They will bring her head back before sunrise.”
