Heir to the Sundered Crown Read Online Free PDF Page B

one. Kaiden helped lift Alira into the saddle; afterwards he rooted in the hay bale in Heralds pen.
    “What are you doing?” enquired Alira.
    “Aha! There you are my pretty” exclaimed Kaiden as he picked up his sword from its burial place. It had been carefully wrapped in a thick cloth to prevent it rusting and aside from some dirt it was in near perfect condition. The long broad blade was a thing of beauty with a small red diamond on the pommel.
    “Hopefully we won’t need this, but I don’t trust that bastard Baron as far as I could throw him.”  With that the two rode along the road out towards the priory of Niveren.
     
    *
    The two horsemen had waited patiently for hours. Boredom was setting in as they watched the dirt road for any sign of their prey. The Baron had been explicit with his instructions. The knight was to die and the girl was to be sent back to him as his prize. A Mage was worth a lot of ransom money and the market for mage slaves had increased tenfold during the past year. No one seemed to know why, and the slavers weren’t about to ask. Rumours had spread that things were happening in the lands beyond the borders of the kingdom.
    Finally a lone horse came into view; a man and small woman were on its back. They were laughing and joking despite their haggard appearance.
    The taller of the men pulled up his cloaks hood and drew his sword from its scabbard.
    “We go now.” He snarled and with that he and his companion spurred their horses and galloped into the centre of the road. The knight slowed his horse and grasped the hilt of his own sword.
    “Stay here.” Kaiden murmured to Alira who looked at the horsemen in fear. He dismounted and raised his arm to hail the two mysterious riders.
    “Gentlemen” He began, “You seem to be blocking the road. My companion and I must continue on this route. As a knight of the Niveren I must insist you allow us to carry on our way.”
    The two riders laughed at his insolence. “Let’s kill this arrogant bastard” Snarled the hooded man. His colleague nodded in agreement. They were hired killers, born and bred in the rough and dilapidated slums of Retbit, Thugs who did anything for coin. Killing a Knight meant no more to them than roughing up a family or burning down someone’s livelihood.
    The riders spurred their horses and charged at Kaiden who had now drawn his sword. The hooded rider aimed his blade at the Knights head and with a battle cry swung it with all of his might.
    Kaiden ducked at the last second and from his crouch rose to his feet and ripped his sword through the charging horses exposed flank. The blade cut deep and blood sprayed from the now wounded beast, its rider was sent flying to crash to the ground in a heap.
    He spun about and saw the second rider charging at him. There was no way to avoid the arching swing of the man’s axe. He chided himself on his weakness; if he was at his peak he would’ve dispatched the two vagabonds with ease, but all of the months incarcerated had slowed his wits and weakened his body. He said a silent prayer and closed his eyes as the axe drew closer and closer and just as the blade would surely take his head from his body, there was a blast of sound and a strange sensation as all the hairs on his arms stood up.
    He waited for a few seconds, disbelieving that he still lived and slowly opened his eyes. There in front of him where his attacker had been, was a smouldering pile of ash. Both rider and horse had been disintegrated. Gaping at the sight he jumped when he heard Alira gasping for air. The girl still sat on his horse, but her hair was standing up and frazzled. She was breathing rapidly, steam emanated from her hands.
    “By the Gods, was that you?” Kaiden asked.
    Alira simply nodded, tears streaming down her face.
    “Taught nothing good my arse” Kaiden joked lamely. He hurried to her and held her as she sobbed.
    “I killed him. I didn’t mean to kill him. I just wanted to scare him is