Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 91636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 367(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
“Do I get a weapon to defend myself?”
“You expect me to make it easy for the warrior twin? Be grateful I give you a chance to run before the wolves descend on you. Worry not about Tarr, he will follow you into death.” He laughed. “Now run. Run for your life.”
Fiona sprinted into the woods, her first thought to put distance between her and her enemy, time later to fashion a weapon. She heard the crack of a branch a distance behind her. The wolves had been let lose; she had no time to spare for thought. She put all her effort into running.
Raynor had dismounted a few feet ahead of the column of men and examined the ground when suddenly he jerked his head up.
Tarr caught his abrupt reaction and rode over to him; Aliss close behind him.
“What is it?” He asked dismounting.
“Someone is close by.”
Tarr signaled his men for attack when suddenly one of Odo’s men ran out of the woods, blood dripping from his head, and dropped on the ground in front of Raynor.
Aliss dismounted, prepared to go to his aid but Tarr stopped her, shoving her behind him. Another wave of his hand had his men off their horses and spreading in a protective circle around them.
“Odo needs help.” The man took deep breaths, grasping for air. “The Wolf clan attacked.”
“Fiona?” Tarr demanded.
“Odo saw her safely to the woods and ordered her to run,” he gulped for another breath.
“What brought Odo here?” Raynor asked.
“I follow orders, I know not his plans.”
“Take us to where he fights,” Raynor instructed.
“The woods,” the man said with a wave of his hand. “The wolves give chase through the woods.”
A scream pierced the cold air.
“Fiona!” Aliss yelled and took off, bursting through the circle of warriors before she could be stopped.
Tarr followed in quick pursuit along with several of his men.
Aliss was far lighter on her feet and was soon out of sight, fearing not that they would lose her trail. Besides, if she could reach her sister sooner it might make all the difference.
She sprinted over fallen trees, ducked beneath branches, and avoided holes that could tear at the ankles until in the distance she spotted her sister’s green wool cloak on the ground. She was traveling in the right direction. She picked up speed.
Fiona knew the man was almost on top of her. He would catch her soon; she had only one choice. She dropped like a felled branch to the ground. Her pursuer could not halt soon enough; he tripped over her hitting the ground hard. Fiona picked up a thick rock with both hands and, with a shrilling screech, brought it down with a heavy thud on his head, knocking him out cold.
She hoped her painful scream would convince at least one or two of her pursuers that she had met her demise and they would wait for the victor’s return. By then, she would have put farther distance between them.
She got up to run and caught a movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned, and there in front of a boulder stood a man draped in wolf fur. His large size warned her he would not go down easily.
Her only chance against him was to keep her distance and flee if she could, though she had the dreadful feeling this man would not be easy to outrun.
Another sudden flash of movement caught her attention that for a moment Fiona thought was a giant bat descending on the man. Until she realized it was her sister, her dark green cloak spreading out like wings as she jumped off the top of the boulder, landing directly on the wolf below.
She hit her mark, sending his head flying back against the boulder; he hit the ground with a solid thud.
Fiona helped a dazed Aliss up and as soon as she saw the unconscious man, her eyes turned wide.
“Yes, you did that to him and, no, you are not going to see if he is all right,” Fiona said. “There are more of them and we need to get out of here.”
Aliss nodded, her breath short.
“Are you all right? Is Tarr close by?”
Aliss nodded and pointed in the direction she had left them.
“He could not keep up with you, could he?”
Aliss shook her head.
“I should have warned him that you are light and fast on your feet. I do not suppose you thought to bring a weapon?”
Aliss’s eyes rounded.
“I did not think so.”
Aliss looked around her and pointed to large stones.
“Their weight will slow us down and we need to reach Tarr as fast as we can. Odo plans to kill him.”
Aliss made ready to sprint but Fiona grabbed her arm.
“Do not outrun me; we need to remain together and keep alert. There are more wolves around.”
Aliss nodded and they took off.