Broken Prince (The Broken Ones) Read Online Free PDF Page A

fighting.
    She could vaguely make out bodies scattered along the
open stretch around the keep. Hopefully no more of her boys were amongst them. She
turned her eyes to the corn and other fields. She could make out movement here
and there, people hiding or running. She could also see horsemen spread out
through the fields, tracking the people who tried to seek shelter and safety
within.
    A scream cut through the air. Turning toward it she
could see a horseman in the distance off to her left. Relief she couldn't
actually see what was happening rushed through her as the heart wrenching
screams went on and on. Watching quietly for a while longer she finally
grimaced. It appeared the enemy enjoyed hunting down those who had tried to
escape.
    Continuing through the corn, she struggled to move
both quickly and quietly. She ignored the occasional screams of others dying
until one suddenly sounded close to her right.
    She froze mid-step. Carefully she turned, searching
through the corn rows, wishing she could see above them. The sun had begun to
set though it would still be light for a good while yet. Crouching down, she
listened carefully.
    Yes, there, something moving through the corn.
    Nervously running her fingers through her hair, she
shifted, trying to see through the corn in front of her, wondering how much
farther remained until she reached the forest.
    "Aren't you going to run?"
    She spun around and looked up. A man on horseback
laughed at her above the corn.
    Springing to her feet she bolted, ignoring the
laughter behind her. Not bothering to try to hide, she simply ran, even knowing
she wouldn't be able to outrun him in the fields. He followed, yelling taunts
at her back.
    Too quickly she grew tired and her sprint slowed. She
pushed on, fighting the pains in her muscles and chest, struggling to breathe.
Sweat ran down her face and stung her eyes.
    The sound of the horse and rider persisted behind her.
She didn’t dare to look. He played with her and she knew it. There was nothing she
could do but run. Panic and fear gave way to frustration and anger.
    She thought of Prince and tried to send her thoughts
out to him, screaming them in her head, knowing he wouldn't hear, yet hoping
somehow he would. Where are you? Find me...Please! I can't get away...
    Bursting suddenly out of the corn she stumbled, found
her footing, and then lost it again in the freshly turned earth. Pain shot up
her leg when her ankle twisted and she cursed out loud. Stumbling to her feet, she
paused. Tears of frustration came to her eyes at the sight of the wide empty
field before her. Something had recently been harvested, the earth loose and
uneven. It would be impossible to run across.
    Beyond it was a narrow stretch of weeds and low brush
and then...the forest. A stone marker rose not far to her left at its edge. She
only had to get into the trees. She would certainly be able to lose the
horseman within it, if he even followed.
    "You're a pretty little thing aren't you?"
    She started off quickly and nearly fell again.
Clenching her teeth against the pain in her ankle, she set her eyes upon the
trees ahead and pushed herself forward at a limping slow jog.
    "I think there’s time to play. Would you like to
play, love?"
    She didn't look at him, merely pressed her lips
together and kept moving. His horse walked beside her now; out of the corner of
her eye she could see his leg. Her daggers would be nearly useless against a
mounted man, especially with her current injury. Still, she moved a hand to
clench one at her side. He wanted to play with her first, to do so he would
have to get off the blighting horse.
    Her heart continued to hammer in her chest, though at
least her breathing began to calm. Every step caused pain to shoot through her
twisted ankle. She wasn't going to make it. Soon he would tire of taunting her
and get off the horse, they would fight, and then...
    Prince! Kei! Where are you?
    No one answered her silent screams. It didn't