Why was the man defending me? Did he sense the ominous vibes too, notice the lack of adequate transport? Was he feeling guilty?
“I’ll say it again. Step. Aside. Mayor.”
The horses spread, the knights forming a blockade.
Bracing for an attack.
My clenched fingers trembled, my shadows begging to be free.
Tommins shifted to step forward, but I placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’ll go,” I said, my voice ringing true.
An outraged sound echoed behind me.
Tommins met my gaze. His jaw clenched. “Are you sure?” he asked, hesitant.
I nodded once.
He watched my face for a long moment. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly.
I nodded again. “You did what you had to do to protect your town.”
“If I would have known?—”
I cut him off. “What’s done is done. Don’t put your people at risk. I will leave without a fight.”
He looked around the crowd, at the drawn swords. “As you wish. I do hope the King is fair to you. And if he intends to kill you…” he trailed off, glancing at me meaningfully.
I nodded. “I do not intend to let him take me out.”
“Good. Perhaps we will cross paths again.”
“Let it be so.”
I stepped forward.
“Halt!” the knight yelled, thrusting his sword in my direction.
I took another step. I held my hands out, palms forward. A threat or a supplication, they could decide. “I’m coming willingly,” I shouted.
The Kings men coalesced around me, surrounding me with men and horses.
Shouting ensued. My arms were grabbed and wrenched behind my back. And then a puff of bitter smelling powder was blown in my face, snuffing out my senses.
The last thing I heard was the sweet sound of Ginger shouting my name.
CHAPTER 48
Ginger
We made a horrible, terrible,awfulmistake.
The Kings men manhandled Shade’s body like he was a sack of flour. They hogtied him on the back of a horse, before tromping off back through the Barren Lands.
The whole display was dreadfully violent. I fought the urge to vomit.
Chaos was left in his wake.
After the show of defense, how Shade willingly sacrificed himself to protect the town, and how the knights handled him so roughly even though he was clearly submitting…
