Asgoleth The Warrior: A Modern Tale of Sword And Sorcery (fantasy fiction books) Read Online Free PDF Page A

father and she would bear him strong sons to carry on her line. She would live out a life of duty and obligation to the people of Torr as a high born woman of the house of King Aractus should.
    For a moment she felt a fierce stirring of rebellion in her heart and wished that he would change his mind and carry her off with him to share his life of wild adventure. But the moment passed and she sighed, she knew that she could never share his kind of life no matter how much she wanted to. She was a royal princess and must live as such; there was no other path for her. She looked up into his eyes and said,
    ‘You are right, of course, I must return. Come, let us go now. This evil place makes me shiver.’
    She cried out in surprise as he suddenly gave a sulphurous curse and swept her off her feet, drawing his huge sword as he did so.
    ‘What are you doing? Put me down at once!’
    ‘We must go quickly girl, there are many armed men coming towards us. Now be silent and hang on to me, I can move faster if I carry you.’
    Such was the tone of command in his voice that she unthinkingly obeyed. He carried her easily in his strong arms and moved as silently as a stalking tiger through the menacing gloom. Behind her now her city bred ears finally picked up the sounds of pursuit that he had heard so long before and she stared into the darkness behind them with frightened eyes.
    He slipped into the concealing gloom of a side alley and placed her on her feet.
    ‘Be silent,’ he whispered and together they stood and listened to the sounds of approaching men. Dark, furtive shapes slid past their hiding place and she felt sure they must hear the rapid beating of her heart. In all, she counted six armed forms, saw the moonlight glinting off their steel, and then they were gone into the night, not knowing how close they had been to their prey.
    For a time they stood where they were to let their pursuers get well away. Amira, as she stood there with his strong arm protectively around her, was amazed to find that in the company of this huge barbarian warrior she felt a delicious sense of security. Something primal within her was responding to his fierce masculinity and her head whirled in confusion. Her breath came in quick little gasps and her heart was hammering within her bosom though not now with fear of her enemies. Never had she felt anything like this before. She was frightened and yet wonderfully alive, all at the same time. She gazed up at him and found herself wanting desperately to go with him, wherever he might take her.
    If he noticed her agitation he gave no sign. He released her and whispered,
    ‘Follow me now girl and be as silent as you can, come.’
    He turned and led her off down the dark, evil smelling alley and the princess Amira, proud heiress of five hundred years of royal wealth and power, followed him as humbly as a slave girl would her master.
    Through many such filthy lanes he led her and she marveled at the gliding stealth he displayed so naturally. She had always been deemed a graceful and elegant child but beside this man she felt like a clumsy tavern trull.
    They encountered no more enemies during that stealthy journey and finally they saw ahead of them the lights of the eagle Road, the broad thoroughfare that led to the palace. Asgoleth halted, still within the protective shadows and peered out warily. The road was alive with people and wagons and horses and brightly lit stalls and shops all along its great length.
    From behind his broad back Amira peered out in fascination at the busy milling throngs of people. This was the first time in her pampered life that she had been outside the palace walls without a squad of armed soldiers to protect her and she was amazed at the life that filled everyone. The delicious aromas of meat being roasted over charcoal fires reached her; so too the smell of strange spices and wines and freshly baked bread and her mouth watered.
    She saw lovers walking arm in arm and she