What will he do to me?
Would he rape her? Or worse, feast on her flesh as he did so? Her mind raced with horrid possibilities. She wiped her tears on the back of her hand.
I can’t stay here.Her heart threatened to explode.
Without waiting for a better chance, she pressed back into the hedge wall and made her way along it, under the creeping vines, and toward the only clear path in sight.
She came upon a rotting tree midway—and with a quick glance back at the horned beast to make sure he wasn’t searching for her—she moved toward it, running her body along the tree’s side until she faced the open path. Aldora counted to five, peering through the gloom to see if anything would jump out of it, or dash in. But nothing did.
Go.She twitched.
Aldora took a steadying breath and lowered her sword, and with a quick swipe of her sleeve across her forehead she—
“Female!” Pure rage vibrated the air. “Where is she!?”
She fled into the labyrinth.
Chapter Five
***
Vedikus stormed awayfrom where the female had been, filled with fury. He spotted a shape dart into the darkness to his right.
“Minotaur! You lost her!?” The chief centaur screamed, kicking his legs back. Several goblins shot across the clearing. Vedikus ignored him and ran after the girl. He was out of the sacrificial zone and at the first fork within moments, without another glimpse of her.
Where is she?There were bodies strewn about but none of them were hers.Right or left?Vedikus swayed his head back and forth, releasing steam.Which way?
Telner appeared suddenly out of the darkness from his left, galloping toward him and flicking blood off his spear.
Not left.
“Where are you going, bull? Where’s the female?” Concerned, agitated anger spurted from the stallion. “I’ll kill you for this!”
Telner charged him.
Vedikus had no time for horseshit and sprinted down the right-hand path. It soon forked again and he halted.
