Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
She worked in the garden until the eagerness to talk with her husband could no longer be ignored. After cleaning the dirt off her hands and leaving Angel to eat in the kitchen, she went to find her husband. There was much she had to share with him.
She walked through the village and not spotting him, she approached one of the Gallowglass warriors to ask, “Would you know where Lord Slayer is?”
The young warrior looked her directly in her eyes as if showing all that he was not afraid of her, unless it was because her husband had ordered his men not to turn away when speaking with her.
“Lord Slayer is beyond the gate.”
“Thank you,” she said with a smile and the warrior’s cheeks heated red and he hurried off.
Sky hurried to the gate and quickly left the confines of the castle’s protective wall. She stood still after only taking a few steps to see if she could spot her husband among the buzz of activity in the village. He would be easy to spot, standing a good head above most men. She spotted him speaking to Reed. Impatient to reach him, she kept a quick pace and had to force herself not to let others notice how eager she was to see him. He, however, had no problem turning a scowl at her. She recalled then that she was not to go beyond the castle walls without his permission. He had reiterated that order once things had settled down after that day on the practice field when she had followed others outside the castle walls. She could not wait for the time to come when such confinement was no longer necessary.
The blaring horn froze her as did the shouts of the villagers.
“ATTACK! ATTACK!”
CHAPTER 23
“Run to the castle! We have only so much time before they reach us. Run!” a woman warned the children, and they took off.
Sky hurried a glance at her husband, and he pointed at the castle. She turned and ran, heeding his command and realizing the outer sentinels had alerted to the approaching hoard, giving them time to prepare.
She had almost reached the castle wall when she spotted a frantic Glynis calling out for Oona.
Sky stopped when she reached her. “What’s wrong, Glynis?”
“Oona, she was out here playing with some of the children, and I cannot find her. Oona!” Glynis cried out again.
“I will help you find her,” Sky said.
“We haven’t much time,” Glynis warned.
“Then we shouldn’t waste it. I will search this side. You search from the other side.” Sky squeezed the woman’s hand. “Worry not, we will find her.”
Women and children rushed past her going in the opposite direction. A quick glance showed that her husband and his warriors were gathering weapons and preparing to take a stance. Why did he remain outside the walls instead of seeking their safety? The answer came easily enough. He was Gallowglass and they feared nothing.
Sky turned her attention away from the scene, needing to continue to search for Oona. She worried for the little lass when another horn signaled that the attack was imminent, and she saw her husband and some of his men mount their horses. There was a huge group of warriors, and they were a remarkable sight with their weapons drawn and their faces raging with fury. Only fools would battle them.
“Hurry!” a woman shouted. “The gate closes.”
Sky looked to see that Glynis was still frantically searching and she did the same. When she thought all was lost, she spotted a piece of cloth peeking from behind a large rock. She hurried over and found Oona huddled behind it, tears flowing down her cheeks. She scooped her up and the little lass wrapped her small arms tightly around her neck.
Glynis spotted them and came running, tears flowing down her cheeks as well.
Sky handed the lass over to her. “The gate is closing, hurry.”
Glynis took off and Sky went to follow when she was suddenly grabbed from behind and dragged backward.
Glynis turned, and her eyes went wide with fright.
“Run!” Sky urged. “Run!” When she saw Glynis hesitate, she cried out, “He’ll come for me!”
As Sky was dragged into the woods, she watched Glynis and Oona make it through the gate doors just before they closed shut.
It was not until they were further into the woods that the man let go of her and two other men joined them.
“We don’t have much time,” the man who abducted her said. “That troop that attacked will be defeated soon enough and once he discovers her gone, he will search for her.”
The man was right about that. Her husband would come for her, and she needed to survive until he did.
“Did Olin escape?” another man asked.
“I’m here,” a voice was heard before a man emerged from the woods.
“Good job, Rory,” one of the men said with a laugh.