The horses were guided backward and out. A couple of arrows hit the ground, pausing when the archers didn't spot riders. Her soldiers smacked the mounts. The creatures took off.
So did she.
Dust billowed. She held a handkerchief to her face and a sword in her other hand, racing to keep as close to the animals as possible. Jerome ran beside her, a few soldiers surrounding her. Thakris would be with Castien.
Arrows pierced the haze. She couldn't worry about the others. Just run faster.
The dust cloud began to thin. The horses scattered, galloping between buildings, jumping fences, all sprinting out of the village and into open space as fast as they could.
The manor was fifty paces away. They needed to make it to the cover of the overhanging patio. Her guards moved closer.Shields locked together. Forty paces. The other squad protected her Escorts. A grunt and thump sounded behind her. She couldn't afford to look.
Thirty paces. Grit filled her mouth.Thunk. The guard to her left took a hit but kept running.
Ten.
The double doors of the manor flew open. Metal glinted.
“Crossbow! Turn left!” she called out, skidding to throw herself into a crouch against the steps leading to the manor. Bodies halted with her, shields jolting into place. She caught a glimpse of Castien and Thakris ducking behind the other squad.
Bolts shot out where they had been.
Arrows skimmed the ground a few feet away. The archers didn't want to hit their own people. Perfect.
She signaled. Shields dropped and she launched over the steps, charging the doors. Jerome was a step ahead. The crossbows had been thrown onto the floor, the enemy soldiers managing to deflect one slice from her captain. She was there to hurry things along.
Bodies fell, and they rushed through the doors.
Facing her was a bristling line of hostile combatants. Dozens on the ground floor alone. Dual stairs wove up to a balcony overseeing the lobby. Soldiers poured out of rooms to crowd the stairs and the landing above.
Jerome barked, “Drop your weapons and kneel before your rightful Queen!”
They didn't move. Anais raised her sword.
“Stop.”
A confident, feminine voice parted the soldiers. From behind the front line stepped the owner of the voice.
Zara.
She wore combat gear like her soldiers, leather and chainmail, sword and shield.
“You shouldn't be here.” She sounded perplexed. Her eyes scanned the Queen's soldiers. “Where is my Pelios?”
The Queen found and met Castien's eyes. She nodded.
“The sun drowns in sand.”
Zara went still.
Her beautiful Escort commanded, “Drop your weapons!”
Metal clattered to the floor.
But only one set.
Zara had unbuckled her belt and let her weapons fall. She stood staring at Castien, awaiting his next command. The soldiers on her side didn’t move.
“Why aren't they obeying?” Castien murmured.
