Read Online Hers to Choose by Patricia A. Knight - Free Book Online
Authors: Patricia A. Knight
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watching as Captain Biron gently laid Petrina on a blanket. Adonia and Layna immediately attended her injuries. The two women worked quickly, frequently glancing up to the ridge separating them from the Haarb. Slowly, one by one, the rest of the group drifted in and stood guard.
Eric grimly exchanged a speaking glance with his captain. We don’t have time for this. Biron nodded.
“Hurry, we must put some distance between us and the Haarb.” Jon’s tense whisper increased the sense of urgency, speaking aloud what they all were thinking.
“ We can’t move her in this condition. We are working as fast as we can,” Adonia hissed back. “We’re aware of the danger.”
A healing poultice was laid over Petrina’s savaged breasts. The shriveled strips of hanging skin were trimmed away and the raw flesh poulticed. The women then bound her entire torso in clean cloth. Adonia held each wrist while Layna pulled her dislocated and broken fingers straight and splinted them. Petrina moaned when her fingers were tended to, the pain reaching through even her unconsciousness.
When they had done what they could quickly do in the ill-lit space, the women snugged Petrina tightly in the blanket. One of the cavalrymen handed her tenderly up to a mounted Captain Biron. He cradled her to his chest and nodded to Eric. Eric turned to his ride and Sophi’s flight with a brief, quiet, “Form your groups, then move out.”
His eyes scanned face after familiar face. Tears sparkled on several cheeks. Even his hardened cavalry swiped surreptitiously at their eyes.
He pressed gently against the ache in his groin. His hand came away bright with blood. Ah, hells. It will just have to keep.
They rode back to L’ago Mistero in solemn silence. Even more than the death of twenty-four of their brethren, the torture and mutilation of Petrina weighed heavy on the survivors. When one set of masculine arms tired, another stretched out in offer. The entire cavalry ride shared the burden of her slight body with an air of sacred privilege.
When they arrived at the mouth of the cave entrance to L’ago Mistero, everyone dismounted and led their horses through the narrow passage into the opening of the oasis. The side cavern that had functioned as a hospital ward now contained only one, small form.
Sophi joined Eric as he un -tacked his horse and turned it loose to drink and graze.
“ Adonia and Layna are with her. I will stay long enough to stabilize her for travel, then I and my flight will return to Sh’r Un Kree .”
Eric stood loosely relaxed , watching his animal crop grass. “You surprise me. I spent the better half of the ride back here forming an argument I thought would sway you to return to Sh’r Un Kree .”
A small smile played across her face. “You will be traveling fast to Sylvan Mintoth on a well-marked road with no attempt to conceal your presence. You don’t need us for that.”
He turned to her and gently moved stray hair from her face. “When we have dealt with the Haarb, however long that takes, I will come for you.” He paused and examined her intently. “If you are willing.”
He prepared himself for her rejection . Her lovely aqua eyes held his for long moments. She took a breath to answer him. “I—”
“ Flight Leader , Petrina is conscious and begging for you!” Layna called urgently. “ Flight Leader !” The woman ran up breathless. “She insists on speaking with only you.”
Sophi flashed him a helpless look and allowed Layna to grab her hand and pull her toward the cave mouth. He closed his eyes. Triple hells. Bad timing . He followed a moment later.
Sophi knelt next to Petrina, mummified by her blankets. Sophi’s arms braced to either side of the woman’s shoulders. Petrina muttered hoarsely, floating in and out of delirium.
“ Wants you. Krakoll. Attack Sh’r Un Kree . You. Hostage.” Petrina’s hoarse voice rose hysterically. “Told—not Sh’r Un Kree . Desert. Never where. Never told.
Eric grimly exchanged a speaking glance with his captain. We don’t have time for this. Biron nodded.
“Hurry, we must put some distance between us and the Haarb.” Jon’s tense whisper increased the sense of urgency, speaking aloud what they all were thinking.
“ We can’t move her in this condition. We are working as fast as we can,” Adonia hissed back. “We’re aware of the danger.”
A healing poultice was laid over Petrina’s savaged breasts. The shriveled strips of hanging skin were trimmed away and the raw flesh poulticed. The women then bound her entire torso in clean cloth. Adonia held each wrist while Layna pulled her dislocated and broken fingers straight and splinted them. Petrina moaned when her fingers were tended to, the pain reaching through even her unconsciousness.
When they had done what they could quickly do in the ill-lit space, the women snugged Petrina tightly in the blanket. One of the cavalrymen handed her tenderly up to a mounted Captain Biron. He cradled her to his chest and nodded to Eric. Eric turned to his ride and Sophi’s flight with a brief, quiet, “Form your groups, then move out.”
His eyes scanned face after familiar face. Tears sparkled on several cheeks. Even his hardened cavalry swiped surreptitiously at their eyes.
He pressed gently against the ache in his groin. His hand came away bright with blood. Ah, hells. It will just have to keep.
They rode back to L’ago Mistero in solemn silence. Even more than the death of twenty-four of their brethren, the torture and mutilation of Petrina weighed heavy on the survivors. When one set of masculine arms tired, another stretched out in offer. The entire cavalry ride shared the burden of her slight body with an air of sacred privilege.
When they arrived at the mouth of the cave entrance to L’ago Mistero, everyone dismounted and led their horses through the narrow passage into the opening of the oasis. The side cavern that had functioned as a hospital ward now contained only one, small form.
Sophi joined Eric as he un -tacked his horse and turned it loose to drink and graze.
“ Adonia and Layna are with her. I will stay long enough to stabilize her for travel, then I and my flight will return to Sh’r Un Kree .”
Eric stood loosely relaxed , watching his animal crop grass. “You surprise me. I spent the better half of the ride back here forming an argument I thought would sway you to return to Sh’r Un Kree .”
A small smile played across her face. “You will be traveling fast to Sylvan Mintoth on a well-marked road with no attempt to conceal your presence. You don’t need us for that.”
He turned to her and gently moved stray hair from her face. “When we have dealt with the Haarb, however long that takes, I will come for you.” He paused and examined her intently. “If you are willing.”
He prepared himself for her rejection . Her lovely aqua eyes held his for long moments. She took a breath to answer him. “I—”
“ Flight Leader , Petrina is conscious and begging for you!” Layna called urgently. “ Flight Leader !” The woman ran up breathless. “She insists on speaking with only you.”
Sophi flashed him a helpless look and allowed Layna to grab her hand and pull her toward the cave mouth. He closed his eyes. Triple hells. Bad timing . He followed a moment later.
Sophi knelt next to Petrina, mummified by her blankets. Sophi’s arms braced to either side of the woman’s shoulders. Petrina muttered hoarsely, floating in and out of delirium.
“ Wants you. Krakoll. Attack Sh’r Un Kree . You. Hostage.” Petrina’s hoarse voice rose hysterically. “Told—not Sh’r Un Kree . Desert. Never where. Never told.
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