Total pages in book: 21
Estimated words: 19262 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 96(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 19262 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 96(@200wpm)___ 77(@250wpm)___ 64(@300wpm)
Their armor made my attack more difficult, since it shielded their hearts and heads, their two most susceptible areas. But I had fought armored men before, and it was not impossible.
I stepped in front of one soldier and lifted my blade. By the time he saw a sliver of me between the fabric of my cloak, it was too late. I slashed my blade, making a deep cut in his upper thigh. He cried out as he dropped to the ground, blood gushing from his wound. Though it would take some time, this wound would end him. The cut was too great to heal, and he would exsanguinate.
The remaining two men did not help their wounded friend. They knew that his time was short, and their assistance would be futile. They stood together, having dropped their bows and arrows to clench the hilts of their swords.
I closed my cloak and stepped back again, planning my next move.
“I cannot see this devil!” one of the men shouted, turning his head in every direction.
“Do not show him your fear,” his comrade replied, and I rolled my eyes. I could already see their fear. I could sense it, and I could smell it on their skin. It was intoxicating.
In a blink, I threw open the panels of my cloak and lifted my sword across my body, with the tip of the blade by my ear. In one swift movement, I sliced it through the air, burying the steel in his neck.
A gurgling noise left his lips as red liquid shot from his wound in pulses, every time his heart beat. The blade was deep within his flesh, and resisted when I tried to pull it free.
The last soldier saw his opportunity and thrust his blade forward. The sharp steel punctured my side, sliding between my ribs and settling deep within my gut. I grunted as my vision blurred and pain splintered throughout my body.
But in just a moment, the pain ebbed away and my innards clenched to push the blade out of my side as my flesh knitted together. I planted my feet on the ground and focused all of my strength into pulling my weapon from the guard’s throat.
When I freed the blade, the man tumbled to the ground in a red pool. Just as my attacker’s weapon popped free of my body, I shifted my weight towards the third and final man. With another grunt, I took my sword’s hilt in both hands and thrust upwards, piercing the tip beneath his chin, stabbing through his face and into his brain. The whites of his eyes turned red before they rolled back.
I slid my weapon free and his body fell onto the ground as well, next to his two comrades who had taken their last breaths. I wiped my blade clean on the grass before stowing it away inside my cloak once more.
I retrieved the last of the food in my pocket, a single apple slice, and looked toward the horizon. There, I saw one of the guards’ horses grazing on the grass. I closed my cloak and approached slowly so that it wouldn’t hear me.
When I reached it, I opened the fabric, and the animal jerked at my sudden appearance. But it calmed when it saw the fruit in my hand. It sniffed the air and took a tentative step forward before nibbling the apple.
“That’s right, I won’t hurt you,” I whispered as it finished the treat. “I need a ride from you.” I pet its neck as I stepped to the side and gripped the reins. I mounted it swiftly, and it remained still; it was well trained with riders.
“Quickly,” I commanded, and sank my heel into its thick stomach. The horse took off in the direction in which Leo disappeared. It was faster than any other steed I’d ridden, and followed my every command.
It galloped at top speed across a wide, grassy field until I saw my black and white horse in the distance. I cheered before quickly realizing that something was wrong. The creature was not running; it was munching on the grass. And Leo’s body was slumped forward, barely balancing on its back.
Panic seized me as I dismounted the new horse and ran to Leo’s side. My breath caught at what I saw; a lone arrow was lodged in his back, sticking through to his chest. It must have hit him when I left him alone on the horse.
“No,” I begged, praying that I had not seen what I believed. My mate was still mortal; I could lose him, and I would lose my very heart. I did not want a life without Leo, as he made it worth living.
“Leo, please don’t leave me,” I said as I climbed onto the horse to get a closer look. I had seen much bloodshed and knew how to care for wounds. I was afraid to remove the arrow and risk opening his flesh more. “I am so sorry. This is all my fault.” I pressed my fingers to his throat and felt his slow, thready pulse. He was alive, but only just. “Hold strong, my prince.” I cradled his body against mine. “I’ve got you.”