Abuse of Power (Rise of the Mages 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

trail? The danger of a slip would force Emar to slow. But the same peril would face Auggie as well, with much worse consequences should a horse falter.
    He accepted that kind of risk for himself and Benj all the time. But Alaina?
    Benj drew his attention, and their eyes met. He gestured toward the path. Auggie shook his head and dashed past the turnoff.
    Over another half hour of frantic travel, the catcher and his men continued to gain. Their galloping hoofbeats sounded loud even over Auggie’s mount and the howling wind. Only a few miles remained to safety, but there was no way the overburdened horse was going to make it ahead of the pursuit.
    Blast it! Auggie would be rads-infested before he let that accursed catcher get his hands on her again.
    “Benj! Take her!”
    He looked at Auggie like he had lost his mind.
    “That’s an order! Now!”
    Benj moved his horse close, and with a wince, Auggie slowed. The catcher pulled that much closer.
    Auggie reached behind and grabbed, gripping the back of her dress and his cloak tight in his fist. At least she didn’t weigh much. He lifted her like a wet kitten.
    Alaina yelped. “What are you doing?”
    “Grab hold!”
    She clutched at his hands while screaming for him to let go. The legs of the horses churned. Dim light made the passing ground a blur.
    If he dropped her, she’d be trampled. No way she’d survive, and even if she did, Emar was right behind.
    He ignored her cries and swung her out of the saddle. Benj grabbed her waist and pulled her down in front of him.
    “Go!” Auggie yelled.
    Benj and Alaina galloped ahead of him.
    Auggie drew his broadsword in a smooth motion. He swiveled his horse around to face the enemy. With the lead guardsman mere yards away, Auggie swung.
    The rider jerked his reins to the right, and his horse darted that direction, careening off the road. Hooves slid in the mud. Over half a ton of man and animal crashed to the ground with a sickening crunch.
    The next rider lowered his head. Auggie’s sword connected, sending the man flying off the horse. The remaining three pursuers halted and gathered for a unified charge.
    Auggie spun and galloped away, opening a hundred-yard lead.
    He topped a hill, and lightning revealed Benj, with Alaina clinging to him, waiting as the iron portcullis inched upward. As soon as the gate cleared the top of his mount’s head, he and Alaina ducked and burst into the safe confines of the stockade.
    Auggie flattened himself against his horse. Not slowing from a full gallop, he darted under the iron bars and slashed at a thick rope to drop the counterweight. The gate plunged closed.
    Emar and his remaining two men pulled up shy of the barrier as Auggie reined to a halt.
    “What’s the plan?” Benj said.
    “Gather dry clothes and as many provisions as we can carry on foot.”
    Benj saluted ruefully.
    “And find out the status of the platoon the colonel was going to send after those rustlers.”
    Benj grinned. “Yes, sir.” He deposited his stunned cargo on the ground before riding toward the stable.
    Auggie turned to a stormy-faced sergeant. “By order of the crown, keep those men from entering.” He collected Alaina and nudged his horse toward the kitchen.

6.
    Water fell in a steady stream from Alaina’s dress onto a rough-hewn oak floor. Despite hot coals in a brazier and the blanket wrapped around her, she shivered, and though she was hungry from skipping supper, she pushed food around her plate with her fork.
    August perched on the edge of a low bed. His knees jutted toward his chest, and his plate balanced precariously on top of them. He cut his meat into dainty bites and chewed each deliberately.
    Why was he stalling? Better to just get it over with.
    They hadn’t exchanged more than a few words since he carried her from the camp. Silence hung over the room like an oppressive fog, and she could stand it no longer. “There are much easier ways to get much more willing tavern wenches to bed you.