Destroyers and the Dragons

Page 39

     "You don't have to do it," he says.

     "It will be the quickest way in and out. Jump into the trees, from the trees over the wall. Once over the wall open the back gate to the few that will be there. Help them open the main gate and take the keep in the ensuing chaos," I recite. Evergreen leans down and kisses me like he's starving and the kiss is food. I melt against him and hang onto the heat for this coming mission. Pine comes and leads me to the area he wants me to use. I study the trees and then jump into them. I carefully leap branch to branch until I'm at the tree closest to the castle. It is obvious that they don't expect someone to come over through the trees. I make a quick leap after the guard has passed and land lightly on the stones. I let my eyes adjust to the semidarkness and then make my way across the wall to the back gate. I carefully open the door in the gate and let in the men that are waiting. They melt into the shadows as I retrace my steps and hide under a tarp as the guard passes. I duck out of the tarp and work my way to the front gate as the distraction starts. I hear the yell to arms and hide in an archway as several guards run to try and stop those that I've already let in. I slide down the arch to the wheel house and smile. They've left the poor donkey attached to the wheel. I pull my sword after checking the direction and smack the poor animal on the rump it begins to run and the front gates start to open. I help by turning the wheel along with the donkey and soon we are pouring into the keep. Now comes the tricky part, trying to find Evergreen and protect him from harm. I jump into the fray and take down one man. I pull one of my knives and let it fly taking out another man. I hear a scuffle and turn catching a child no more than twelve under the chin with my sword. He freezes as he stares at me.

     "Go home and hide until we are done," I hiss turning and blocking a sword aimed for my back. "Bad form," I taunt as I block another blow and then stab the man in a weak spot with my knife. "I have worse form," I say pulling the blade free and slitting his throat. I finally find Evergreen and come in on his right taking out two more from behind.

     "What took you so long?" he teases.

     "I got lost," I say blocking a sword and countering. After a few hours we've finally found the leader. He refuses to bow to the King. I look at Pine and shrug this is not my area of expertise.

     "Well what do we do now, he refuses to bend his knee?" I ask.

     "We do what we must," Pine says. I watch as he beheads the man in the middle of the courtyard.

     "You will all bow your knee to your King or you will be labeled as traitor and hunted down accordingly," Pine bellows. A girl no more than fifteen years old comes forward and kneels in the dead mans blood.

     "There is no need for more violence," she says as she bows her head. "Not all of us were as blind with grief as my father. Evergreen is our rightful King and we will acknowledge him," she says. I watch as the rest of the keep bows down. "I can say I will not miss my sister Meadow, or my foolish father."

     "Why not?" I ask feeling a little paranoid.

     "They supported that vile upstart," she says. "He had ideas that I did not like such as harems. He would marry Rose, and then take other lovers. He wanted me to be one of them and my stupid family was happy to send me off." I am unable to hide my disgust and turn away.