Tale of the Prophet Bearer: The Dark Queen's Reign

Chapter 22: The Coronation

(A/N):

Guess who didn't update?

*Raises hand*

That's right. Mwah here didn't update. And mwah is also sorry she didn't update. *Sigh* Guys-- or I should say guy-- I am a terrible person. I am soooooo sorry :P

Well at least I'm here now XP

~

"Where are we going?" I have to raise it to be louder than the crunching leaves. I duck under a few low branches, glad that the trees are set far apart.

"I don't know," Cody shakes his head. "Somewhere safer."

Somewhere safer didn't seem like a place that exists here. The further we run, the darker the woods got. It's hard to see more than a few yards in front of me and up, somewhere lost in the darkness, are several shadowy figures darting around in the branches. They're fast, chasing us, and we can't shake them.

I push a tree branch away, but it swings back and this me. I spit out leaves and run faster, but I hear something quiet telling me to stop, so I skid to a halt and hold my arms out to slow the others. In front of us is a ledge that falls a few feet down and I have a weird feeling about it.

"Why are we stopping?" Cody whisper, his breath ragged.

I shrug, swallow to try and moisten my dry mouth. I kneel down, and keep my gaze glued up to the darkness ahead. I peer down the ledge. The first sight is the sharp stone of an arrow.

I yelp and scramble back as the arrow shoots past me, embedding itself in a tree. I scramble up and grab Cody's arm, running in the opposite direction. "Quiet!" I hiss before Tucker starts shouting. Shadows move from the corner of my eyes and I run faster, praying it isn't Reil.

I look back and my heart jumps to my throat. Soaring towards us is a rain of arrows, hundreds, aiming at us. I look back ahead, spotting another ledge and, sensing nothing wrong, I jump over. It's deeper than the last and I hurt my ankles landing, but I ignore the pain and scramble under the overhang.

The others jump after me and huddle up safety as the arrows pelt the ground. I hold my breath, stilling my body. Once the arrows stop, I hear rustling leaves and see the dark figures bouncing through the branches. My heart thumps in my ears and my lungs ache for air, but I keep holding it.

Another noise sounds, this one coming from above us. A steady, thump, thump of footsteps. Then more joined the first. I glance up at the stringy roots hanging from the soil.

A pair of feet land in front of us. I flinch back, clasping my hand over my mouth to keep from screaming. I stare up at the tall man, dressed solely in black armor. With a quiver overflowing with arrows and a bow in hand, he looks like an assassin. Another man followed. And another. I lose track of how many there are after fifteen. I'm too scared to count.

They whisper to each other in a strange language and begin to walk away. They get further and further away and I relax.

Out of nowhere, they turn around, aiming their loaded bows at us. The quick movement makes me jump. I guess we weren't as concealed as we had hoped. They step forward, shouting something at us. From above us, I hear more footsteps and a person jumps from the ledge. I recognize the jet black hair and red armor immediately. Cold brown eyes bore into mine, glinting with rage that's barely able to be held back.

My blood boils with anger.

"Come out," Reil demands. "But know if you make an attempt to escape you be shot to death."