Skull Gate Read Online Free PDF Page B

truly believe that, then your search for Aki should begin here."
    Her lips parted in a queer half smile. She shook her head slowly. “Thogrin's got to hang somebody for this, and since I was Aki's guardian that makes me the prime candidate. I'm not sticking around long enough to give him the chance."
    He looked up at her with his one eye. “Are you coming back?"
    She didn't answer, just swung a blanket over Ashur's back, then the saddle, and cinched it tight. That done, she lifted Tras Sur'tian's bag of provisions on her shoulder and turned to say good-bye.
    A squad of guards stood in the gateway. She hadn't even heard them approach, nor had Tras, by his expression of surprise. She quickly counted their number.
    Eight soldiers, all strangers to her. Thogrin Sin'tell's personal men, she guessed. Their weapons gleamed naked.
    â€œHold.” A young lieutenant stepped smartly forward. “You have disobeyed the order of His Highness, Baron Endymia.” A crooked grin suddenly poisoned his youthful features. “By attempting to leave Mirashai, you have proven your guilt in the murder of our beloved Queen Aki.” He called to his men over a shoulder. “Take her sword."
    One obedient guard came close and reached for her blade. She counted his steps, then swung the bag of provisions with her full strength. It caught him squarely in the face, knocking him off his feet. On the backswing she hurled it at the startled lieutenant. Apparently, he'd not expected her to resist.
    Her sword cleared sheath in one easy motion.
    The guards were young, an untrained lot. Instead of trying to surround her, they charged her from the front, further proof they were Thogrin's men and not Korkyran regulars. Experienced soldiers knew better.
    She swung, gripping her hilt with both hands, cleaving the nearest man deeply beneath his ribs. She tugged, and her weapon reluctantly came free. Still, the others would have had her had she been alone.
    Even as she slew the first one, Tras Sur'tian's booted foot smashed into the groin of another, and his massive fist took still another out of the fight.
    Then, a startling, unearthly cry sounded, mingled with the screams and shouts of four young men who suddenly beheld a monster in their midst. With a powerful lunge Ashur thrust his ebony horn through a fear-frozen sentry. He tossed his maned head, and the sentry's body smacked sickeningly against the wall. Ashur reared, and shining black hooves crashed down into the upturned faces of two more. Great, gnashing teeth clamped horribly on the last man's neck and shoulder; he screamed once and no more.
    The first guard who had fallen to the provisions bag attempted to rise, but a swing of Frost's foot spared his life, if not his nose. He hit the ground with a grunt, and if he wasn't unconscious, he wisely pretended to be.
    â€œTras?” She looked around for her old friend as she backed toward Ashur. She caught the unicorn's reins, still reluctant to sheathe her sword.
    Tras Sur'tian bent over the body by the wall. His face crinkled as he traced the gaping hole in the dead man's chest.
    â€œHow?” There was genuine fear in those old eyes when he stared up at her. “No horse..."
    She sighed. The illusion held; Tras Sur'tian would live to see another day. But there was no way she could explain, nor time.
    A crowd began to gather; she had to leave. But Tras still knelt by the fallen sentry. Imperative he leave, too: he was well known in Mirashai. Someone might penetrate his disguise.
    â€œRun, beggar! Before I skewer you as well!” She raised her sword menacingly above his head.
    A chilling mixture of fear and anger filled his gaze. He looked from her to her sword, measuring. For one tense moment she feared, in his confusion, he meant to attack her. But then his vision seemed to clear as he took notice of the mob and realized her intent. He cringed, threw up his hands as if to ward off a blow, ran, and disappeared into the crowd.