Read Online Promised by Caragh M. O'brien - Free Book Online Page B

said.
    â€œI have to see what happened to Munsch and Bonner. Besides, now that I’m here, I’m curious. Aren’t you?” Gaia said. “We’ll be careful.”
    â€œStay together,” Peter said, and motioned the others to surround Gaia.
    Most of the archers were women of the cuzines who’d been shooting since they were children, though a few, like Peter, were men who’d trained daily for the past year. Now all of them nocked their arrows in readiness.
    Gaia walked up the middle of the quiet dirt road. The once familiar houses looked small and dusty, so much more weather-beaten than she remembered. She wondered if they’d deteriorated, or if they’d always been this dilapidated and she only noticed now. She was nearing her family’s cottage when a clatter came from up the road.
    A dozen Enclave guards marched toward them. Their black uniforms and hats stood out sharply against the mottled grays of Wharfton, and their rifles glinted in the sun.
    â€œGaia Stone!” called their commander.
    She came to a stop. “I’m Gaia Stone,” she said. “Who are you?”
    â€œYou’re under arrest for treason,” he said. “Tell your people to stand back.”
    Quicker than speech, Peter stepped in front of her and aimed his arrow at the captain with deadly precision. Will drew his sword. The rest of her guard packed in tightly around her with their arrows aimed at the Enclave force.
    At the same time, the Enclave commander raised his hand in a signal to his men, who spread out to either side of him, dropped to their knees, and aimed their rifles with loud cocking noises.
    â€œDon’t be foolish. We’ll shoot you to ribbons,” the commander said.
    â€œNot before half of you die,” Gaia said. “You’ve lined yourselves up like target practice, and my archers don’t miss at twice this range.”
    The commander stilled his hand and paused, plainly reconsidering the distance.
    â€œWhat’s happened to my two scouts?” Gaia demanded. “Why haven’t they been released?”
    â€œCome see for yourself,” he answered.
    â€œNot unless you put your guns down,” she said. “We’ll talk.”
    â€œYou disarm first,” the commander called.
    â€œMlass Gaia, I have his Adam’s apple, easy,” Peter said quietly.
    Thinking fast, Gaia scanned the line of Enclave soldiers with their barrels pointed toward her. She knew her archers would not hesitate to shoot, but many of her friends would die defenseless in the exchange. Her heart jumped. If she made a mistake, Will and Peter could be dead within seconds.
    â€œDisarm,” she said quietly.
    â€œNo,” Peter said.
    â€œNow,” she said, even more softly. “I insist.”
    She heard the creaking around her as bows, taut with strain, were carefully lowered. If possible, her archers tightened in even more closely around her, providing defensive cover for her with their own bodies. She had to peek over Peter’s shoulder to see. On a command, the Enclave guards put up their rifles, and Gaia took a deep breath.
    â€œI have to go with them,” Gaia said. “I need to talk to the Protectorat anyway. I might as well start negotiations now.”
    â€œIt’s a mistake,” Will said beside her, his sword still drawn. “Don’t be reckless, Mlass Gaia.”
    â€œI’m not interested in exchanging bloodshed with some trigger-happy underlings,” Gaia said.
    â€œI’m not leaving you,” Will said.
    â€œSuit yourself. But sheathe your sword. I’m not giving them an excuse to shoot you,” Gaia said.
    â€œI’m coming, too,” Peter said.
    â€œChardos,” she muttered. She glanced at the other scouts. “Tell Vlatir and the others. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Vlatir’s in charge in my absence.”
    She stepped cautiously forward, with Will and Peter beside