We see no one on the road save for the odd merchant or farmer on their way to neighbouring villages.
Toward dusk I see I a cloud of dust in the distance. Soon I can make out a pair of armoured figures.
"Halt! State your business for travelling." one of the soldiers demanded.
Talib instantly reaches to take my hand in his as a warning to leave the talking to him. I let him considering my record.
"Me and my wife are travelling to the capital for our honeymoon." he explains calmly.
"She's a pretty one ain't she." the second one comments as he brings his horse next to mine, implying something that's become common since Tamarack took over.
"Maybe we should stop and have proper talk," the first one that spoke adds but the way he said it implies anything but.
I tense ready to draw the dagger hidden in my sleeve. Talib squeezes my hand in warning.
"Look we should really be on our way, my cousin is expecting us and we're already late." the lie rolls easily off Talib's tongue.
"I'm sure they won't mind if your late." the second soldier replies as he puts his hand onto my knee.
I can't take it anymore.
"Remove your hand from my knee or you will regret it," I say stiffly.
"And if I don't?" he leans in closer
"You have three seconds," I warn.
"Oh really,"
"1..."
He slides his hand from my knee to just above it.
"2...."
He leans so close to my face I can feel his hot breath on my face.
"3...." in one swift motion I insert the dagger between his chest plates into his heart. Blood soaks his body.
"Time's up," I whisper into his ear as his face registers surprise before withdrawing my blade and letting him topple from his horse.
Talib dispatches the other soldier with ease and catches the reigns of the soldiers' horses in the space of few seconds.
I raise a questioning eyebrow.
"Make it look like a robbery, makes it look less suspicious." he explains.
We gallop off intending to put as much distance between us and the dead soldiers as possible.
In the next town we drop the guards' horses with a couple of men who will smuggle the horses back to Falynn. Several days later we finally arrive in the capital.
Cendryk is about the same size as Falynn and just as busy. Forcing our way through the heaving masses we search for the inn we are supposed to meet Ethan in.
Finally arriving in our meeting place we spot Ethan in the corner of the tavern and make our way over, dodging patrons and tables.
"There's a huge underground network beneath the city that we will be staying in," Ethan says quietly, without bothering to greet us, "This way."
He leads down into the cellar after surreptitiously checking the room to see if anyone is paying any attention to us, once he's satisfied we duck inside.
Huge barrels line the stone walls with bottles of wine lying in racks creating corridors. Lit lamps are hung every few feet to light the way.
Ethan takes us to the back of the cellar and stops in front of one of the huge barrels. He turns the tap attached to it three full turns clockwise and one half turn anticlockwise before pulling it and it slides out an inch. The front of the barrel swings open accompanied by a faint grinding noise.
We climb in just before the door of the barrel shuts behind us.
YOU ARE READING
Discovering Freedom
Fantasy12 year Tamarack has conquered and ruled the country with an iron fist. For 12 years Kyra has hidden. Now she's had enough of his terrible reign. She leaves the stone hallways within the mountains and embarks on her fight for freedom for her country...
