Read Online Finder: First Ordinance, Book One by Connie Suttle - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Connie Suttle
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stood and raked fingers through thick, black hair. "Father, I don't know why you've kept him at your side all these turns—he hasn't done anything except kill servants and stir up trouble when he drinks. He killed two of my maids only this morning," Timblor added petulantly. "For giggling."
"Son, it is past time that we found a wife for you," Tamblin sighed and sat behind his desk. "No, I'm not saying that you can't dally with the maids," he held up a hand to stop Timblor's words. "Everyone does who has a mind to, and Liron knows we have few enough children." Tamblin's eyes darkened with his thoughts for a moment. "But Yevil performed a service for me once, and I haven't forgotten. Make his death quick, if you wouldn't mind."
"I'll make it quick, Father, but you must give me time to plan."
"Take time to lay plans, son. I'm not in a hurry."
* * *
They were hiding in the edge of the forest—the same one that Amlis had refused to ride through—and attacked us as Amlis stared accusingly at me. He thought the danger was fictitious as we traveled nearly the length of the bend and nothing had happened.
Now we were in a fight for our lives as swords were drawn and at least twenty men fought against our fourteen. Frightened out of my senses, I knew not what to do at first—until one of Rodrik's men died as he and the others fought off more attackers. Amlis wielded a sword with the others, leaving me at the center of the maelstrom as Stepper turned and turned in a circle, just as frightened as I.
Dump them! I shouted into twenty horses' minds and the attackers suddenly found themselves on rearing and bucking horses while Rodrik, Amlis and the remaining eleven backed up, confused by the battle between horse and rider taking place around them. Eventually, sixteen riders were unhorsed and on the ground, the remaining four or five galloping off on runaway mounts as riderless horses ran at their sides.
The clang of steel began again as Rodrik and his men dropped onto the ground and advanced on the unhorsed attackers. My eyes kept straying to the dead man on the ground even as others fell, both Rodrik's and their opponents. Still outnumbered, things weren't going well against what appeared to be well-trained and seasoned fighters. That's why I called our horses back and reluctantly ordered them to fight as well.
There was no time for my tears as the first horse fell, screaming in agony as the blade pierced his heart, but Rodrik took down the man as he pulled his blade from the horse's chest. Others, especially Midnight, were having better luck, but the sight of spilled brain after a vicious kick roiled my stomach.
Then it came—what I feared most. The hand drawn back, the dagger flying straight toward Amlis' back as he fought another man. Flinging myself from Stepper's saddle, I knocked Amlis away, only to receive the blow myself. The dagger lodged in my right shoulder and was buried nearly to the hilt. The rest of the battle I failed to see, as I was unconscious on the ground shortly after.
* * *
"Child, hold still, we have to get the dagger out." A strange voice woke me, along with excruciating pain in my shoulder. I'd dived in facing the knife-wielder and now the black handle of the dagger protruded from my shoulder, nearly forcing me to heave at the sight of it.
The one who'd spoken had thin, white hair hanging nearly to his shoulder, a lined face and dark-brown eyes. His forehead creased as he stared at me and at the dagger, creating even more lines on an already much-lined face.
"I'll hold her," Rodrik's voice spoke. I lay on a bed, likely at the inn Amlis had been so eager to reach earlier, where a fire was going in the fireplace across the small room. Rodrik came into view, staring down at me with lines also creasing his forehead. Truly, I didn't want anyone touching the dagger. My shoulder was on fire already, and pulling it out seemed a terrible idea.
"We'll have to sit her up," the old man said. That also seemed
"Son, it is past time that we found a wife for you," Tamblin sighed and sat behind his desk. "No, I'm not saying that you can't dally with the maids," he held up a hand to stop Timblor's words. "Everyone does who has a mind to, and Liron knows we have few enough children." Tamblin's eyes darkened with his thoughts for a moment. "But Yevil performed a service for me once, and I haven't forgotten. Make his death quick, if you wouldn't mind."
"I'll make it quick, Father, but you must give me time to plan."
"Take time to lay plans, son. I'm not in a hurry."
* * *
They were hiding in the edge of the forest—the same one that Amlis had refused to ride through—and attacked us as Amlis stared accusingly at me. He thought the danger was fictitious as we traveled nearly the length of the bend and nothing had happened.
Now we were in a fight for our lives as swords were drawn and at least twenty men fought against our fourteen. Frightened out of my senses, I knew not what to do at first—until one of Rodrik's men died as he and the others fought off more attackers. Amlis wielded a sword with the others, leaving me at the center of the maelstrom as Stepper turned and turned in a circle, just as frightened as I.
Dump them! I shouted into twenty horses' minds and the attackers suddenly found themselves on rearing and bucking horses while Rodrik, Amlis and the remaining eleven backed up, confused by the battle between horse and rider taking place around them. Eventually, sixteen riders were unhorsed and on the ground, the remaining four or five galloping off on runaway mounts as riderless horses ran at their sides.
The clang of steel began again as Rodrik and his men dropped onto the ground and advanced on the unhorsed attackers. My eyes kept straying to the dead man on the ground even as others fell, both Rodrik's and their opponents. Still outnumbered, things weren't going well against what appeared to be well-trained and seasoned fighters. That's why I called our horses back and reluctantly ordered them to fight as well.
There was no time for my tears as the first horse fell, screaming in agony as the blade pierced his heart, but Rodrik took down the man as he pulled his blade from the horse's chest. Others, especially Midnight, were having better luck, but the sight of spilled brain after a vicious kick roiled my stomach.
Then it came—what I feared most. The hand drawn back, the dagger flying straight toward Amlis' back as he fought another man. Flinging myself from Stepper's saddle, I knocked Amlis away, only to receive the blow myself. The dagger lodged in my right shoulder and was buried nearly to the hilt. The rest of the battle I failed to see, as I was unconscious on the ground shortly after.
* * *
"Child, hold still, we have to get the dagger out." A strange voice woke me, along with excruciating pain in my shoulder. I'd dived in facing the knife-wielder and now the black handle of the dagger protruded from my shoulder, nearly forcing me to heave at the sight of it.
The one who'd spoken had thin, white hair hanging nearly to his shoulder, a lined face and dark-brown eyes. His forehead creased as he stared at me and at the dagger, creating even more lines on an already much-lined face.
"I'll hold her," Rodrik's voice spoke. I lay on a bed, likely at the inn Amlis had been so eager to reach earlier, where a fire was going in the fireplace across the small room. Rodrik came into view, staring down at me with lines also creasing his forehead. Truly, I didn't want anyone touching the dagger. My shoulder was on fire already, and pulling it out seemed a terrible idea.
"We'll have to sit her up," the old man said. That also seemed
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