The Dawn of the Raven Omnibus 1: Episodes 1-5 Read Online Free PDF Page B

himself.  He
gave up trying to figure her game out.
    “So, turn a
touch to the north and continue onward then?” asked the captain.
    “Yes.”
    “Very well,
my lady.”
    As the troops regained their formation and marched onward,
Kiella noticed that Raveena’s behavior had changed considerably.  Now, her head
was on a swivel, sweeping around them in the forest at all times.  Kiella’s focus
was back on the captain and the men before her when she suddenly realized she
was being summoned from the cage.
    “ You! 
Girl!  Kiella!  Was that your name?  Kiella?”
    Kiella turned and saw Raveena staring right at her, her beautiful
dark eyes now big as saucers.  Her voice was frantic as she urgently whispered.
    “ Please! 
You’ve got to release me!  You’ve got to give me a weapon!  I will protect
you!”
    The guard in front of Kiella heard the whispering and turned
back to give a dirty look.  Kiella kept her gaze straight forward, and once the
guard had turned back away from her, whispered back.
    “ There’s
no way I can go against the orders of the captain or my king!”
    “ Then you
will die!  All of us will die!”
    Kiella grew outraged.
    “Why? 
Are you admitting it?  A trap?  You’ve set a trap?  You’re offering to spare me
if I sell out my own people and arm you and release you?  What kind of person
do you take me for?”
    “Damn
it!!!”  The gorgeous
warrior maiden finally gave up her attempt.  She sat back down and stared out
the back of the cage.  Kiella watched her carefully, searching for any sign
that Raveena might be signaling any cohorts hidden in the woods, but she saw
nothing.  Nothing but contempt and apprehension in the fearsome warrior’s eyes.
    As the party reached the edge of the forest, Captain Vol
motioned for them to stop.  Feeling more and more certain that a trap was the
most likely scenario, he sent his three best scouts ahead to try and get a view
into the clearing, and to check the perimeter.  He knew that his men were up to
any challenge, but it made no sense to purposefully march them right into an
open ambush.  He valued every one of his men; had fought and won many battles
with each of them.  He knew they were the best and the brightest his kingdom
had to offer, and just as each were loyal to him, he would be loyal to them,
ensuring that no man’s life was spent foolishly because of poor strategy or
bravado on his part.  The rest of the party waited patiently for the scouts,
with several men stationed around them, swords drawn and at the ready, just in
case an attack were to come early.  The captain approached Raveena once more to
see if she would give him any clues as to what truly lay ahead.
    “If this is
a trap, this is your last chance to save your people.  I can assure you, I am
taking all precautions.  We will not be taken unaware.  Your people will not be
victorious.  They will be slaughtered.”
    The gorgeous warrior did not change her tone.   Her eyes held
so much menace that the captain felt his spirit waver in their gape. 
    “No,
captain.  This is your last chance” spoke the warrior maiden coldly.  “Your
last chance to save us all.  You’re a fool.  We are lambs to the slaughter, all
of us, due to your recklessness.  Due to your foolish king’s plan.  I came to
warn you to guard the gate, not to have you lead us all right to the enemy.  We
need more men.  We don’t stand a chance.  Please, for the last time, unshackle
me.  Let me out, let me fight.  At least unshackle me and give me a weapon
here, in the cage, so that I can defend myself when they come.”
    The captain gave up trying to reason with her.  The Gekken
being here made no sense.  She was like a child telling ghost stories.  The
only thing that made sense was a trap.  He knew that his scouts were the best. 
They would discover the treacherous plans of the Typhorians, and would come
back undetected.  Then, the captain and his men could plan a perfect