The Prince of Exiles (The Exile Series) Read Online Free PDF Page B

voices raised in cheer; another noise followed it, the sound of clanging metal, thin and distant. The whole troop stopped what they were doing and turned to look out over the cliff, down the mountainside, to the castle of Roarke, where a tide of figures was sweeping through the gates.
     
    It was the sound of Kindred victory.
     
    “Congratulations,” said Raven slowly, emotions tangled and knotted inside him. “It would appear you’ve taken the city.”
     

Chapter Two: Death Watchmen

 
    A series of loud cries came from behind them and Raven turned to see the Kindred cheering as they slapped each other on the back.
     
    “Come now,” Robbit said, turning to Davydd. “Surely there is no more need to fear. Let’s go to the city – now! We can make it back to the main road with the dying light and use the stars to guide us the rest of the way. There will be feasting and dancing tonight – you know we cannot miss it!”
     
    For a moment everyone held their breath, and then Davydd smiled and they knew they’d won.
     
    With cries of excitement, they all went to their horses, mounted, and began to ride off, Davydd not far behind.
     
    “Davydd,” Leah said, “I don’t think this is – ”
     
    “Come on!” Said her brother with a huge, infectious grin, leaping astride his own horse. “We’ve had week after week of misery, let’s celebrate!”
     
    And he was off, leading the column of Kindred.
     
    Leah made a sound of annoyance, but mounted her own horse, a sleek roan that matched her own grace, and was off before Tomaz and Raven could do so much as say a word.
     
    Tomaz and Raven both looked at each other, and then moved slowly to their mounts. Raven knew the big man was just as eager as the rest of them to celebrate, but galloping his way to Roarke on the recalcitrant Mary seemed no doubt unappealing. Raven, on the other hand, was trying to think of a way to get out of joining in any kind of celebration – his twisted loyalties were difficult to navigate as it was.
     
    There was a rustling behind them, the barest sound. Raven felt a strange brush of life against his mind and turned to see what it was, thinking one of the Kindred had left something behind and was returning to claim it.
     
    What he saw were two large, skeletal forms wearing black armor, unlimbering razor-sharp weapons made of enchanted onyx, their eyes the only things about them still living, green and glowing with unholy zeal.
     
    For a brief moment, Raven didn’t understand what was happening – and then the two Death Watchmen, the undead Imperial assassins, converged on him with grating cries of excitement that spurred him into action.
     
    “TOMAZ!”
     
    The cry was equal parts warning and plea – the first construct ran at him, lifting a long, wicked scimitar and Raven reacted on instinct, seizing the hilt of his sword and taking a step back, drawing the first of the Watchmen in as the second veered away toward Tomaz. The lean corpse construct rushed forward.
     
    Raven unsheathed the steel sword at his side as the first Watchman rushed forward; he feinted left, then stepped forward and reversed the blow like Tomaz had taught him. The blade looped around the scimitar and sliced through the Death Watchmen’s hands, severing them at the wrists.
     
    For a brief moment, the Death Watch construct just stood there, dumbly staring at its stumps. A foul, green ichor oozed from the dead veins, hissing and burning when it hit the ground. The Watchman gathered itself and roared in Raven’s face, unleashing a sound and smell that could only come from beyond the grave. It lunged at him, trying to kill him even without weapons.
     
    Without any further need of encouragement, Raven hefted his blade and threw his weight into a horizontal swing that decapitated the creature. The Bloodmagic spell holding it together broke and the creature fell to the ground in pieces, where it began instantly to decompose.
     
    “Well done!” Roared