The horsemen dropped to the ground and joined the may lay the other two victims were stirring up.
Silu spun to a halt. She readjusted her grip on the sword that he was now positive was magically possessed. A woman couldn�t have done what she just did without help, even if she were a Shyra.
Quivern gave Darien a tug and stood. They had brought along a short sword each, the best they could find in his father armory. Quivern always carried two daggers when he left the castle, one in his boot and one in an arm sheath that he tied around his left bicep. Darien carried two long bows and three quivers of hawk arrows.
He kept his eyes fixed on Silu knowing she would be able to tell him where the other four soldiers were. So far she had done all the work. The least he and Darien could do is watch her back. Besides something told him the leader was no push over. By the way his men kept their eyes lowered and by their tone of horror tainted respect it was obvious he was a dangerous man.
�Elm tree two paces to the left MacKain.� He had been right. Darien threw him a bow and stuck a handful of arrows in the dust at his feet then picked up one of the fine crafted weapons for himself.
�Stupid girl. What if one of them gets away and tells your father you are with her.� Darien drew his bow tight.
Quivern squinted his eyes focusing on the other edge of the highway. There was only one elm tree. Tall, fat for an elm. And two paces to the left, in the darkness a man crouched, sword in hand.
The arrow found is mark, sinking itself deeply in the soldier�s right hand.
�No, Quivern. Kill.�
He suddenly saw the logic in it. She had used his name for two reasons. The first being that it would protect him. The bounty hunters would be less likely to kill the Duke�s hair for fear of punishment. The other was obvious now. All of them had to die if he was going to get away without anyone knowing he had assisted her. They had all heard.
Silu�s chest heaved with the strain of the power she was wielding. He watched as the darkness thickened around her further. So her power extended further then just sensing evil, she could use it too.
The leader drew his sword from a shoulder sheath. The blade was jagged and menacing. It looked as though he had purposefully avoided cleaning the blood from his last battle from the steel�s surface.
�Your men fell easily.� Silu�s voice was strong and confident despite her trembling limbs.
He could see the features of the leader of the bounty men now, the dawn was slowly intensifying and the eerie silence that usually accompanies the birth of a new day also brought with it a faint glow.
He was tall, taller then Quivern, who stood at six feet. Wide shoulders, but rounded with muscle, broad chest, thick arms. The man looked like a barrel with legs. Like any Fifth Kingdom officer he wore a deep red, velvet cloak, pulled back from one shoulder and fastened with a large gold emblem. Depending on the broach one could determine the man�s rank.
This one looked to be a General.
His lips were thick and burdensome, his nose was fat and bulbous and his beady eyes were an unrecognizable shape of brown. What hair he had was shaved off. A soiled brown towel was tied lengthwise around his bald head for no reason Quivern could guess. His features were not what made the General appear imposing. It was his demeanor. A sneer was fixed on his face, yellow teeth further insulting its intended victim. Everything about his posture screamed of violence. The ugly sword was only a mere reminder of the death this creature could deliver, wanted to deliver.
�These men are not mine any longer�devil take �em.� He grinned at the now quivering horse. The man was dead beneath it�s thrashing. His skull cracked nearly open. Quivern�s stomach clenched when he could sight of gray matter. �But my dear lady, yu shouldn�a fear fer their souls.� He played with his sword. Rolling it from one hand to the other. Quivern realized how provocative she really did look. He didn�t put it past any Fifth Kingdomer to be so much of a letch as to drool over a woman as the general was drooling now.
He had to admit, though. She was beautiful. Her dark brown hair never seemed to stay in one place at a time and her fitting, black armor, complemented her figure to the point of pain on his part�when he thought about it too much, that is. But standing there, all fire and strength, she seemed to be a dark angel, here on earth to bring justice to the wicked.
�Perhaps I should be more concerned for yours.� Her voice was ice on steel. A swelling of pride for her tightened Quivern�s chest. So much courage.
�Eh�hem.� Darien brought him back to earth. �Don�t you think we should��
�Duck Darien!� Silu�s screech came to late. With too solid thuds and a grunt Darien fell.
Quivern dropped to his knees, speechless, staring.
Two red-feathered arrows protruded from Darien�s back. Darien looked up, helplessly, hopefully. ��Help her?� He groaned.
An obscene cackle came from the highway. He looked up and saw that Silu had taken several steps back. Another soldier lay dead not ten paces from her. His head completely severed. The golden sword was dripping blood and plasma by now. Silu�s expression was one of tormented joy. �Well, my men aren�t as useless as I thought eh?�
Silu was on guard now, but the power she had gathered was still stiff and frightening, surrounding her.
She looked right into his eyes. He could feel her concern and her resolve. But something was wrong. �Mac Kain, behind you. Move!� Quivern wasted no time and drew his sword as he spun around. He managed to thwart the thrown dagger with a swing of his blade. Its pitcher jumped at him, knocking him flat on his back next to Darien�s wheezing body.
Just as he suspected the soldier hesitated after Silu�s reminder of his heritage. Quivern took the opening and rolled away from Darien. He pinned the soldier to the dust with a quick thrust of his sword. The blade must have severed one of the pulmonary arteries as it slid through the man�s thorax, a gush of blood soaked the inside of Quiver�s knees before he could jump off the dead body.
He felt his whole gut contract suddenly and vomit forced its way up his throat, burning the nerves in his nose. Silently he wretch next to the corpse of the first man he had ever killed.
