Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“Isn’t that exactly what someone is trying to do to us… weaken the clan with doubt?” Varrick asked, hearing Argus put it that way making it seem more probable.
Argus halted the tankard he had brought to his lips, his brow puckering.
“You said it yourself. Does it not make sense?” Varrick asked.
“It does, but why this way? Why not just meet you on the battlefield?”
Argus asked the very question Varrick had posed to his wife when she had suggested the possibility.
“When we discover the answer to that, then we discover the culprit,” Varrick said. “So, I believe we look at both possibilities… someone who wishes me ill will and a visit from the God of Death. Now I intend to walk through the village and remind everyone that I am in command and intend to stay in commend.”
“Then I walk at your side, for I will forever stand with you just as we have always done for each other,” Argus said and saluted Varrick with his tankard before downing the remainder of the ale.
As soon as they stepped outside Varrick spotted Sinead circling the sky in an area just outside the castle walls. He had neglected to spend time with her this morning, too busy making love with his wife. He would make it up to her and make sure he did not neglect her again.
Argus was looking elsewhere, squinting his eyes as if he wasn’t sure of what he was seeing. “Is that Lady Fia running through the village?”
Varrick’s glance followed Argus’s and sure enough he spotted Fia running as if the hounds of hell were chasing her, and she was headed for the castle’s entrance. She couldn’t possibly be headed beyond the castle walls. He had warned her that she was never to go there without him.
“Something is wrong,” Varrick said and ran to follow his wife. She had given her word to him, though had let him know that if it were necessary, she would not hesitate to do what she must. With how fast she ran, something was seriously wrong.
Argus followed him, and Corwin and Marsh saw and rushed behind them.
“Open the doors! Open the doors!” Fia screamed as she passed under the gate and the guards were startled by her forceful command, or they feared her, she cared not which one it was only that they obeyed her without hesitation and open the doors… and they did.
The snow was not easy to get through beyond the castle walls, but she pushed through it. She had to get to Sinead, she had to. She had barely stepped out of the healing cottage, finished for the day, and was looking forward to seeing her husband when the voice alerted her.
Sinead is in danger. Get to the woods. Now!
She hadn’t hesitated. She ran. She trudged through the snow, finding the least deep path while casting worried glances at Sinead. What was it? What danger was she in?
Sinead finally began her descent toward the feast she had targeted.
Arrow.
Fia didn’t bother to look around. She needed to stop Sinead from flying too low.
She swung her hands in the air screaming, “Nay! Nay! Take flight!”
The hawk was so intent on its meal that it ignored her.
Fia grabbed a handful of snow, packed it in her hand, and began throwing snowballs at the hawk while screaming, “Go! Go Away!’
Fia gave a quick glance around as Sinead dipped lower and, spotting a fallen tree that did not quite hit the ground completely having been caught in the branches of another tree, she hurried as best she could up along it, slipping now and again but managing not to fall.
“FIA!”
She heard her husband call out to her but there was no time to respond. She was only a short distance from the highest spot, and when she reached it, she launched herself off it, waving Sinead frantically away as she shouted, “FLY AWAY! FLY AWAY!”
Varrick watched in horror as an arrow hit his wife and sent her tumbling off the fallen tree and Sinead squawking loudly as she flew high, escaping the danger.
CHAPTER 24
Varrick roared with rage. “FIND HIM!”
Corwin and Marsh rushed off as Varrick and Argus ran to Fia.
“Listen well, God of Death, you cannot have her! She belongs to me! Show yourself, you cowardly fool, and battle me!” Varrick shouted.
“There has been no howl from the hell hounds. Death does not want her,” Argus said, seeing the tremendous pain in his friend’s eyes and hearing the fury and heartbreak in his voice.
“Seeing her tells me differently,” Varrick said, standing over her, afraid to touch her, afraid to learn if she was dead, gone from his life when he never got a chance to tell her that he loved her.
He wanted to rage to the heavens, cry out at the pain that tore at his heart as he stared at her lifeless body lying face down in the snow, her cloak spread out around her as if she had attempted to take flight and failed. There was not the slightest movement in her. But there was a spot of blood beginning to pool by her hood. He finally was about to crouch down beside her when she moved.