Chronicles of Steele: Raven: Episode 1 Read Online Free PDF Page A

The count continued as she surveyed the men. At the slightest provocation she needed to be ready to dance again. The first man began dragging himself back toward the woods. Raven strode over to him, counting her steps in the tempo.
    He raised his hands up in a plea as she approached. “Please don’t kill me.”
    “If I’d wanted you dead it would have already happened. All three of you.”
    “I…I’m sorry.”
    “What are you sorry for?”
    “I’m sorry we tried to rob you.”
    “I suggest a career change for the three of you. If I come through these woods again and find you still in this line of work, I won’t be so merciful.” She spoke through clenched teeth and stepped on the man’s thigh. Gripping the crossbow bolt just under the feathers, she yanked it free.
    The man’s scream ripped the night air.
    Raven turned toward the man who still had her knife. He blubbered, tears running down from the side of his face, and blood soaking the thigh of his pants. His eyes grew wide as he realized why she was coming for him. He gripped the handle of the knife himself and yanked it free with a squeal and grunt. His face grew pale as he stammered, “I’m sorry.”
    She stepped forward, accepted the knife he offered her, and started for Darius. The boy scrambled back from her, eyes wide, as she approached. Tears streaked down his face and he yelped. She pulled the night vision goggles from her face and put them on her head again. Still, the boy retreated in fear.
    The Great Dane broke from the woods across the road and trotted to the boy. It licked his cheeks. Darius buried his face in its tawny fur. “Nikki, you came!”
    Blood covered her hands, and she still held the knife and crossbow bolt. Her heart sank as she looked at them. After so many years instilling fear and respect from every man she met, when had she lost her ability to soothe a child?
    A gunshot sounded like a thunderclap in the woods.
     

The pistol is an idiot’s weapon.
One does not need to be faster than a bullet.
One only needs to be smarter than the one who holds the gun.
Distance, a moving target, light, and the gun handler’s fear can all be
used against him. Outsmart the idiot.
     
    P AIN RIPPED THROUGH Raven’s upper arm. The chestnut horse spooked and took off in a gimpy gallop back toward the city, her quiver still attached to the saddle. Raven bit her lip, grabbed her arm, and turned around.
    Viscous blood oozed between her fingers, mixing with the drying blood on her hands. The three men ran back into the woods. Part of her wanted to chase them and finish the job. Instead she ground her teeth against the pain. Luck would have it the gun toting bandit was a lousy shot.
    Darius’ eyes grew wide as worry replaced the fear that had been there a moment ago. He peeked over the dog’s neck. “Are you all right, Miss Steele?”
    “I’m fine, it just grazed me.” She used her teeth to hold the cuff of her purple jacket sleeve so she could rip the fabric from the wrist to her wound.
    It was deeper than she thought it would be. She used the sleeve to wrap around the injury hoping to staunch the blood flow. Gregory. It looked like she would be injured after all. Concentrating on slowing her breathing, Raven determined to calm herself. She’d bleed out faster if she let her blood keep pumping this hard.
    She reached over her back and gripped the crossbow, pulling it free from her corset. She took the bloodied bolt and nocked it in the bow. One arrow for now, she needed to be prepared. Just in case. The blood on the blade of her knife had begun to dry, so she spit on it as she wiped it on her other sleeve.
    The baron watched her with curiosity. “Why are you doing all that?”
    “If I don’t keep the blade clean, it will rust.”
    “Do you think we’ll get attacked again?”
    Raven bit her lip. Should she tell the boy the truth and have him worry? Would a lie be a more appropriate response? She decided that a lie would be worse.