Odnośniki
|
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
her up and tilted her face in the lamplight. One of Talon s eyes was already beginning to swell shut, and
she didn t seem to have the strength to stand on her own. Kumire gave a satisfied grin and ran his hands
down Shasta s sides, tracing the indentation of her waist, the curve of her hips, the sides of her thighs and
calves. When he reached the hem of her nightshift he slid his hands beneath it, retracing their way back
up beneath the shift to her waist.
Shasta cringed at the feel of his fingers against her skin, still tender from the poison rash, and gave a little
gasp as Kumire clawed at the waistband of her undergarments. He pulled, stripping the fabric from her
body and leaving her naked beneath the thin cotton shift.
No, wait& Talon gave a cry, and Shasta again twisted her head to look at her guardian. She was
startled to see a tear fall from one of the dark eyes, trailing over the bruised and bleeding flesh of her
cheekbone. Talon s face was swollen and streaked with blood, and she stared at the Princess with a
mixture of desperation and excruciating pain. I have it. The signet. I ll give it to you.
Kumire s head came up. You expect me to believe that?
It s true, just let me Talon wiggled to free her arms and received another blow to the face for her
efforts. The chancellor gave a hard, cruel little laugh.
It s rather sweet, the way the two of you would say or do just about anything to protect one another.
Disgusting, but sweet. Don t worry, boy, there will be plenty of time to search your pockets when her
Highness and I are done here.
Talon thrashed again. Shasta
Shh. Talon, it s all right, the Princess murmured quietly.
Another tear fell down her guardian s face, and Shasta kept her eyes fastened on Talon while the faint
clank of metal told her that Kumire was unfastening his belt. She would not look at him, would not give
him the satisfaction of making her cry or scream. Kumire grabbed her behind the knees and pulled her
down the bed toward him. As he forced her legs apart, his men began to chuckle raucously.
Shasta gave a deep shuddering breath, and at the same time she and Talon both squeezed their eyes
shut, tears sliding across their faces simultaneously. Kumire lifted her legs to surround his hips, and Shasta
felt the heat of his body, the hardness of him brushing against her inner thigh, his breath coming in quick,
eager spurts. She gritted her teeth, but just as his weight began to descend, a crash and the roar of men s
voices made him freeze. Shasta s eyes flew open just as Kumire was wrenched from between her legs.
The room suddenly filled with uniformed royal guard, swords flashing, and Shasta felt gentle hands at her
Page 163
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
shoulders, lifting her into a sitting position.
Your Highness, are you all right? He didn t&
Lyris! Shasta cried out, clinging to her friend for dear life. Tears streamed down her face, and she no
longer tried to hold them back.
The priestess patted her back, but said urgently, Come, Highness, we must get you out of here.
Another hand touched her shoulder, and Shasta turned with indescribable relief to see Captain Vaughn
surveying her worriedly. Princess Shasta, I m so sorry we couldn t get here sooner. The room rang
with the sound of clashing swords. Shasta saw Chancellor Kumire sidling out the door and pointed.
Vaughn grunted and moved to intercept the chancellor but was turned aside by a huge, grizzled ruffian
wielding an axe. With a few quick flicks of the sword Vaughn managed to slit the enormous man s throat.
A spray of blood fell over them all as the thug slumped to the floor and Kumire fled from the chamber.
Shasta thought she might be sick, but Captain Vaughn caught hold of her. The palace is overrun with
barbarians, Highness, and many of the royal guard have turned against us. I don t know how long we ll
be able to hold them off. You must escape the castle, now.
Shasta rushed toward her guardian, crumpled on the floor. Talon&
I ll get her, come on. Vaughn cleared a path through the flailing blades and lifted Talon from the
carpet, supporting her as they made their way out the door. Once they were in the hall, the fighting was
not in such close quarters, but there was a roar from beneath their feet. More of the barbarian army was
filling the lower corridors, making their way to the upper levels.
Lyris reared back as a loud clang sounded to their left and one of the smelly intruders fell to the stone
floor. Erinda stood over him with a metal washbasin in her arms. The chambermaid gasped as she caught
sight of Talon on Vaughn s shoulders. Captain Vaughn, what s happening? Who are all these men?
Vaughn regarded her grimly. Kumire is a traitor and this barbarian army of his is taking over the palace.
You need to come with us. His gaze moved to Shasta. Highness, where s King Soltran? We have to
get him out of here as well.
Shasta s eyes spilled over again and she shook her head.
Talon gave a weak grunt. The King is dead. Kumire killed him.
Vaughn s eyes grew the size of saucers, but it took less than a second for him to regain composure.
Then it s even more important to get the Princess away from here now. Erinda, Your Grace, take
Princess Shasta into Ardrenn and find the cabinetmaker known as Roald. He s a friend of mine and will
hide you until we can arrange for transport out of the city.
But what about Talon? Shasta protested.
Vaughn and Talon exchanged looks.
With these wounds I would only slow you down, Talon said. Besides, I can t leave without Bria. I
have to go after her and get her away from Kumire before it s too late.
Page 164
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
Shasta shook her head adamantly. Then I m coming with you.
Vaughn put his free hand on Shasta s shoulder. Your Highness, when it s safe we will both join you at
Roald s. I will take responsibility for Talon myself, you have my word.
Shasta scarcely had the chance to look back over her shoulder before Lyris and Erinda steered her to
an indentation in the wall.
The dumbwaiter? she said incredulously as Erinda climbed into the cubbyhole, onto the wooden
platform that was raised and lowered by pulleys to allow the quick transport of food and bedchamber
supplies between floors.
The stairwells are too dangerous, Highness, come on. She held a hand out and Shasta took it. She
climbed onto the platform as well.
What about you? Shasta said to the priestess.
Lyris shook her head. There isn t enough room, or enough time. Take this. She pulled a small knife
from her belt and pressed it into Shasta s hand. Just in case. I m going to take the stairs. These men may
be barbarians, but few would dare lay a hand on an Ithyrian priestess while in the Goddess s own lands.
I ll meet you on the grounds, by the servant s stables.
Hang on, Highness. Erinda gave her an encouraging smile. This may be a bumpy ride.
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pldoc.pisz.plpdf.pisz.plblacksoulman.xlx.pl
|
