The old man was peering out a crack in the barn door. Watching anxiously as the huge thugs spilled from the brothel.“I’m afraid I have to go.” He whispered to me. His eyes worried. “I can’t be caught with you. They’ll have me killed.”“And probably me.”He gave me an astounded look. “No one would dare kill you.”“Why not?”After a pensive study, he decided not to answer me. Opting to point toward a mound of fresh hay. “Dig into that and hide. I’m hoping they won’t look there.”I caught at his sleeve when he would’ve slipped out. “Where are you going?”“I’ll catch up to you when I can, Sweet Girl.” He patted my hand. “Someone should be looking after a young one as sweet as you.”His words were so kind I found myself deeply touched. Especially because I could see no ulterior motive to him helping me.Just a kindly old Skin.“Thank you.” I whispered quickly as he slipped out the crack and disappeared into the crowd that was now littering the street to watch the unfolding chaos.Kareni w
Fair point. I supposed.He can find me just about anywhere.“Why are you here, Gray?”“Just making sure you get out of the village safe. Care for a roll in the hay?” His sardonic voice made my hair bristle.I scoffed. My disbelief obvious. “It’s doubtful my safety was your priority.”Perhaps the roll in the hay.He’s not funny.“Why would you say that?” That damnable cool voice.“It’s more likely you wanted me out of the village and straight to your King.”I sensed his shrug behind me.“How’d you know I got away?”“Saw the old man creeping around all suspicious and figured there was only one person in the brothel likely to be stirring up that much of a fuss.”Me.“You paid to lie next to me, Gray. You could’ve gotten me out.”He gave a speculative rumble. “Would you have gone with me, if I did?”“No! I’d have known you were taking me straight to your king.”“Then what would’ve been the point?”“You were really going to leave me there?”“Don’t see how I had much choice.” He said a bit
“Worth a try.”“Is anything ever not ‘worth a try’ with you?” He glowered down at me. “Everything you try, fails.”That face that can make grown men cower.I, however, refused to. “That’s not true. I regularly get away from idiot captors.”My meaning was not lost on his as his face darkened. His mouth going tight.Oh...I know that look.It never means anything good.And it certainly didn’t now. Still holding my arm, he whistled through the trees. Clearly sussing out that I had no intention of answering him.Ever.“What are you doing!” I caught his armor coated arm. “Are you trying to alert all Kareni’s men that we’re here?”“Ohh, Baby Girl, they’re never going to get here before my men do.”He wasn’t wrong.It was under a minute before I saw shining gold armor topping the hill in-front of us.Gray turned sideways and pulled me along behind him as he slid down that hill sideways. Dragging me after him.Again.“Let me go.” I yanked my arm, trying to break his grip. Not really for any re
I found myself very glad for my sleep last night and for the nap this morning because it was clear we were going to continue marching throughout the night.It was so dark I lost track of where we were. Having to rely on Gray’s glinting eyes seeing our path.The rest of the Army following him unquestionably.Hope he knows what direction we’re going.I wondered if he’d really slept last night.He usually doesn’t.Which would mean that he was leading this whole army throughout the day and night with no more sleep than I typically had.He has to be tiring.I still hoped that there’d be a sign of weakness or a moment he wasn’t looking that I could try and find my way away from him.And the Pyre Army.And get the hell out of King Eternus’ reach.***Once we were clear of the villagers and Kareni’s goons, Gray stopped me and drew something silver from the inside pocket of his blue cloak. Lifting it carefully revealed that it was a long, thin, silver chain.“Giving me trinkets are you?” I kne
We’d sat down long enough for them to cook some dinner. Roasting a couple boars over three different fires. Two of which were Gray’s kills.Soon the whores caught up. Eternus ones that clearly followed the Army to service them in the tents thrown up for just that purpose. Others were human ones. I noticed the bruises on their arms and backs and knew how they were servicing the Eternus.Eternus ate normal food, walked like Skins, looked like Skins, if one didn’t know better. But they had another hunger. A virulent lust which could take them over and turn them into goblins if they let it overtake them. And their hunger for the souls, energy of other beings. When they fed they tended to grip their prey a bit brutally and were known for leaving fingermarks where they held those they fed on. There were strict laws that only allowed Eternus to feed on those that were willing.But everyone knew that all Eternus didn’t abide by those laws.I wondered if Gray ever didn’t. I looked at him sitti
With a purposeful look, he inched that hand further upward. Fully palming the inside of my thigh, perilously near where I was already moistening in anticipation of his touch. I could feel heat flooding me there and knew how my body was reacting.He sniffed the air in animalistic way. A slow, triumphant smile curving his lips in a way that told me he knew what he was doing to me. Giving me a slow wink, he leaned forward to move that hand ever so slightly…“Okay. Okay!” I stretched to snatch the meat from his other hand. Stuffing it in my mouth to take greedy bites.“Good girl.” He murmured. Slowly withdrawing his hand. Letting his rough fingers dig into the skin slightly as he showed his reluctance to be retracting it.I took several long breaths between bites. Glaring at him while I took another. And another.Until I was stuffed.Beyond stuffed.***“Good.” He clapped his hands cheerfully as he stood. Sliding me to my feet. And giving me an unreadable look before announcing. “Time to
Before I could toss my forearms over my face to protect myself, he’d whipped his cloak up and over me, raising one arm with it so he effectively put me behind him. Twisting with that arm out to move me entirely behind his shoulder blades so his larger frame shielded me.He caught Lionel by the front and back paw. Tossing him further out into the field with a vicious thump.I screeched and leapt on Gray’s back. “Jacks! Don’t hurt him.”Gray straightened. “I’m done.”He gave me a hard look over my shoulder. “You call me by name, to save your Dog?”“Lionel!” I cried. Seeing the long grass dancing in desolate field where I could just see the crumbling ramparts of an abandoned castle. I barely noticed it as I rushed forward, jerking brutally when I hit the end of the chain.Again.“Gray!” I stomped. Looking from him to the field.“He’s fine, Baby Girl.” Gray’s voice dropped. “I didn’t kill him.”He eyed me. “Yet…”I glowered at him. Nearly shaking.“Why are you so upset?”“He’s the only fr
I remembered crouching in the deep grass, watching the bodies fall. Some of them still on fire and screaming. Lighting the oil slicks that coated the water from our attempts at defense. Watching towers burn and flames engulf the outside of the walls. Climbing from the window slits in every room on the South facing wall. Everything I’d ever known had burned. Every person I’d ever loved had died. And I’d sat there, huddled in the grass, covered in soot and blood. Cowering and trembling. The only clean spots on my face were trails burned by the endless tears. Tears which had not stopped streaming my cheeks since I saw my parents bloodied bodies and then seeing Gray walking from my brother’s room with the bloody dagger and my brother bleeding out, and already unmoving on the floor behind him. I’d known what had happened before my eyes landed on Gray’s unfeeling face. Seeing no trace of emotion and realizing that who I’d thought I