Reborn: Demon's Heritage Read Online Free PDF Page B

laying on the ground. Thankfully more snow had started to fall so there was a slim chance that it would help hide him.

8-4
    The snow continued to fall for three days as Ash and Allice continued to run. Ash changed his course slightly on the morning of the second day, hoping to come across one of the forts but since he was unsure of where he was at or where they were, he could only hope.
    So far they had been able to stay ahead of their pursuers, but Ash could tell that whoever was chasing them had a great deal of skill. It was only for a brief moment, but the day before he had caught a glimpse of two horsemen following his trail.
    Ash could easily keep ahead of a marching army, but men on horseback were a different story. He was human and had to rest and though he was pushing himself, he was quickly running out of energy.
    Currently Ash and Allice had taken refuge in a small grove of trees sheltering themselves from the worst of the biting wind. Allice hadn’t said much over the past few days and neither had she let Ash get far out of her sight. She had stopped crying at least and she even smiled from time to time, though it was rare.
    When Ash woke, he found that Allice had once again wrapped both her legs around him. Laughing, Ash used his knuckles to lightly knock on top of her head. “Owwww...That hurts master,” Allice said as she rubbed the top of her head.
    “Then don’t pretend to be asleep while clinging to me,” Ash said, trying to sound mad but unable to keep the smile from his face.
    Sitting up, Ash looked out and started to curse when he saw a number of horses from between the trees. They were still a little behind, but not so far that they wouldn’t catch up quickly. The grove of trees was small and all around it was nothing but open space. “How do they keep finding us?” Ash asked himself. It was at that moment that Ash wish he had learned more about the different abilities of the knights.
    The more he thought about it, the more the old saying came to mind. “Knowledge is power.” Of course there is a large possibility that even if he knew how their abilities worked, he might not be able to evade them.
    Currently Ash counted a full party of six knights and they were quickly drawing near. “Allice, I want you to hide here. If anything happens stay hidden until they leave.”
    “No master,” Allice said shaking her head fervently.
    “That is an order Allice,” Ash said, making the slave tattoo on her shoulder flare. Allice gave him a withered glare and tried to argue but the tattoo flared again and a flash of pain flashed across her face. Ash rarely used his position as a master to give orders and each time he felt bad when he did. No matter how much it pained him, it was better than Allice losing her life. Giving Allice one last apologetic smile, Ash saw the tears welling in her eyes. Turning around, Ash pulled his sword free and walked out of the small grove to meet the riders.
    When Ash walked out of the grove of trees, the riders slowed their pace and looked at him with disapproving glares. They approached Ash warily, moving at a slow canter. As they approached Ash used analyze on them. Three of the knights were in the low thirties, one was nearing forty, and the other two were too high for Ash to see their stats.
    “You are lord Ash, are you not?” One of the knight’s asked as he rode slightly in front of the others. He was a large man but little else could be told about him due to the full armor the man wore.
    “Yes, I am Ash Hawkwing,” Ash said through gritted teeth.
    “Lord Ash, let me be honest with you,” the man said, removing his helmet and showing a weathered face of a man in his late forties with sandy brown hair. “Right now the kingdom can ill afford this war. As it stands, thousands upon thousands will lose their lives. If the kingdoms’ enemies take this chance to strike at us, then even more shall die. I have come before you today to ask for your cooperation in