Lorik The Defender (The Lorik Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page B

of Lorik. She put one hand on his shoulder. “You have a home in the Wilderlands with forest elves. You have a desire to protect the people of Ortis. I say that makes a very good candidate to be king.”
    “I have no noble heritage. Someone else surely has more claim to the throne than I do.”
    “No,” Issalyn said. “Everyone with a claim to the throne went south with Oveer. None have returned and if what your wizard friend said is true, none will. So that leaves you.”
    “First we must ensure that we have a kingdom, then we can worry about who should rule. In the meantime, you should get some rest.”
    “You don’t like having me here with you?”
    “I do like it,” Lorik said honestly.
    He felt his face blush with Queen Issalyn standing so close to him. He was glad it was dark so she couldn’t see it.
    “Do I make you nervous?” she asked.
    “Yes, my lady.”
    “Why? Am I not just a woman?”
    “No,” Lorik said more firmly than he meant to. “I mean, you are the Queen of Ortis. I am a simple man. I’m afraid I might offend you.”
    “You have come to my rescue,” she said softly. “You will not offend me, Lorik. How would you treat me if I weren’t the queen?”
    “I would—”
    He was cut off in mid-sentence by the sound of shouting.
    “What is it?” Issalyn asked.
    “Shush!” he said, listening.
    There was shouting and cries of terror, but also the distant sound of humming wings.
    “It’s the monsters,” Lorik said. “Go, my lady. Return to your people.”
    “I feel safer with you,” she said.
    “I must go and face this threat.”
    “Don’t leave me,” she said, suddenly throwing her arms around him.
    Lorik wasn’t sure what to do. He liked Issalyn; she was beautiful and alluring, but he couldn’t do what he needed to do with her clinging to him like a frightened child.
    “Lorik!” came a shout from the camp.
    “Come on,” Lorik said, pulling Issalyn by the arm.
    He had to force himself not to think of the fact that he was dragging the Queen of Ortis behind him as he ran. He needed to get to the source of the commotion and if Issalyn wouldn’t leave him, he would have to take her with him.
     

Chapter 4
    “What is happening?” Lorik shouted as he came to a clump of his volunteers.
    The people in the camp were near panic.
    “The monsters are coming,” said one of Lorik’s men.
    “I can hear that. What’s the commotion about?”
    The men all looked ashamed.
    “Alright, so we’re a little jumpy,” Lorik said. “But the monsters haven’t reached us yet. Get your horses and your weapons ready.”
    “What can we do?” Vera asked. She was out of breath from running with Stone from their place in the camp to the point of the commotion.
    “I need a fire,” Lorik said. “A big one, right here,” he pointed to the ground. “Get the people here to help you. We need to keep everyone calm until we know what we’re dealing with.”
    “How can we know?” Issalyn said. “It’s too dark to see.”
    “Stone and I will scout the situation,” Lorik said. “My volunteers will form a line on this side of the fire.” He turned to the men nearest him. “I want three men with fire arrows stationed here. When the enemy comes in sight, have them shoot the arrows up. That should give us enough light to see by.”
    “Yes, my lord,” said one of the volunteers eagerly.
    “And keep everyone else on the far side of the fire,” Lorik told Vera. “They must stay together. We can only protect them if they stay together.”
    Lorik turned to Issalyn. “Go with Vera. Keep your shieldmaidens close.”
    “I would feel better if you stayed,” she said.
    “I must do my part. Now is the time for you to do yours.”
    He didn’t wait for her reply. He guessed that Issalyn wasn’t a woman who was used to being told no. He turned to Stone, who was waiting patiently, and with a nod they dashed out into the darkness.
    Neither man spoke. They knew what needed to be done. The sound of