I tried my hardest to stay upright as the loop was slipped over my head and tightened. Despite the fabric that covered it, the rope bit into my slender neck. I kept my eyes closed, but I could feel the excitement that filled the air. The assembled Resistance fighters roared, the loud cheers deafening. Ryon struggled against those who held him, keeping him from getting to me. It took three of them to hold him in place, and even then he was winning the battle.
After what felt like hours, a strong presence could be felt behind me. The crowd hushed. All that could be heard was heavy boots against the wood. It took all I had not to open my eyes. "Today," a voice boomed. "We destroy our greatest threat! Today, we send a warning to the False King! We aren't backing down! We won't rest until each and every one of his followers are felled, and their heads are cast into the sea!" The crowd took advantage of the pause and cheered once more. With a wave of his hand, they quieted.
His hand whipped over to me as he pointed in my direction. "And we start with this boy right here." Shouts and the sound of stomping feet filled the air as anticipation and excitement drowned out all order. Tristan moved to the side and flicked his wrist toward a man.
"No!" Ryon yelled. "He's too young!" Of course, his pleas were ignored. I felt the floor drop out from under me. As I fell, I thought of Lani and Mason. My family. How I would never again get to see them. Several moments passed. The crowd was dead silent. It was as if they had disappeared. Then I understood why.
There had been no snap as my neck broke, nor was there any sensation of dangling. I dared not open my eyes. I could feel wind rushing under my feet, a thin barrier protecting me from death. The harder I concentrated on keeping it strong, the weaker the current got. I was running out of energy, and fast.
I wiggled out of the sloppily tied restraints that bound my hands. I used one hand to hold myself up by grabbing onto the rope, and the other to loosen the knot that threatened to either cut off my airways or snap my neck in two. I finally was able to slip my neck out of the loop. The moment my feet touched the dirt, the Resistance warriors were jolted out of their awed stupor and charged.
"Death by wolves!" they chanted. "Death! Death!" As if on que, their beasts howled. I wasn't touched by any of the men, for they all knew how weak I really was. After all, I had barely made the short journey to the river, and even then only because I had to.
I sat on the ground, bravely facing my fate. The crowd parted before what must have been three dozen enormous creatures. I knew from experience that this was only a fraction of the Pack. There were at least two hundred of them when assembled The largest and most majestic of the group led them. Taking advantage of the fact that everyone was paying more attention to the wolves than me, I opened my eyes to get a good look at the beasts that would tear me limb from limb. The one that I had felt was a pure white, the same color as the clothes I wore. Had I been standing, the top of its head would have reached my shoulder. Its eyes were a brighter blue than Mason's.
The moment the creature saw me, it stopped, as if in disbelief. It didn't take long to figure out that it was the one that had caught me in the tree two nights before. The other wolves stared at me along with the first. The men watched smugly, waiting for the beasts to end my life.
The creatures surrounded me. They made no moves to kill. As attention turned back to me I swiftly shut my eyes again and shifted to my inner vision. I felt myself growing weaker by the second. Although using my power had kept mt from hanging, it couldn't stop the men from killing me in my sleep. I couldn't pass out. Not so close to the enemy. The white wolf closed the space between us.
Strangely enough, I wasn't afraid. I just... knew not to be. Out of nowhere a name popped into my head. "Kian." I muttered. The wolf bobbed her head in agreement. All who were present, including those who watched from above, were stunned into silence. Kian lay down with her head on my lap. The other wolves dropped their heads to the dirt in a deep bow. All humans backed away, fearful and confused.
YOU ARE READING
The Blood in Our Veins
Fantasy(Book One in the Storm Trilogy) Sindri Willow is next in line to become High Queen of Arkenon. She accepted this responsibility with a heavy heart, though she may need to rule sooner than she wanted. Her uncle, Lord Gallahein, plans to take the thro...
