Next to him, Chad easily blocked the thrust of his opponent. Lashing out with a counter thrust, he scored along the man’s side. Immediately, he launched into an attack, similar in nature to one that Tad had frequently used back at the Guild.
Riyan went on the offensive as well. The rage within him giving him added strength as he thrust, parried, and hacked. It was soon clear the cronies were not going to be able to best them.
Three more passes and Chad’s sword took his opponent through the chest.
“Assassins!” Rupert began yelling as the first crony fell from Chad’s blade. “Help!” As Riyan dispatched the final crony, Rupert turned and fled back down to the door through which he had so recently emerged. Shoving it open, he rushed inside and slammed it shut. The sound of the bar being thrown quickly followed.
Chad reached the door and tried to open it.
“Leave him,” Riyan said as he came to the door on the opposite side of the hall. Rapping hard, he then hollered, “Freya!”
“Riyan?” asked a voice coming from the other side.
“Yes,” he said. “Open the door.”
“It’s locked,” she told him. “Rupert has the key.”
From within his room, Rupert was shouting for help at the top of his lungs.
“Stand back,” Riyan yelled.
Chad immediately realized what he planned and moved into position to help. Then together, they ran for the door and threw their shoulders into it.
Crack!
The doorjamb shattered and the door slammed against the wall on the inside. Riyan stumbled into the room and was soon wrapped in the arms of Freya.
“Oh Riyan,” she sobbed, tears of happiness at seeing him running down her face.
Chad was back in the hallway. “Hurry up man,” he said. “He’ll have every soldier in the area converging on this place in no time.”
Riyan broke the embrace and gazed into her red, teary eyes. “Are you…?” he started to ask.
She shook her head. “No,” she replied. “I heard what he said and it was all lies. We aren’t married and he’s never touched me.”
Relief washed over him at her words.
“And no matter what,” she said, “I’ll not marry him now.”
“But what about your father?” he asked.
“It wasn’t long after you left that he came to realize Rupert’s true nature,” she explained. “He just couldn’t find a way to break it off. Rupert’s family is too influential. But after this…”
“That’s all well and good,” Chad said from the hallway, “but we’ve got to get out of here!”
Riyan took Freya in his embrace one more time and kissed her. It was all he could do to let her go. Keeping her hand in his, he led her from the room. Before moving down the hallway, he paused at Rupert’s door. “This isn’t over yet!” he yelled. No reply came from within.
“Would you come on!” Chad yelled from the top of the stairs.
“They’re getting away!” Rupert yelled from within the room. “Get them!”
Bart appeared as Riyan reached the stairwell. “What took you so long?” he asked. Then he saw the bodies of the two cronies lying further down the hallway. Glancing to Freya, he smiled. “Nice to see you again,” he said.
“The feeling is more than mutual,” she replied.
“Now hurry,” he said. “Kevik’s holding them off, but Rupert’s cries may bring more.”
Riyan nodded. With Freya’s hand still clutched in his, he followed Bart down the steps. Chad brought up the rear. At the bottom, they found Kevik and Chyfe. Down the hallway to their right were a dozen goo covered soldiers spanning the length of the hallway.
“What is this?” Freya asked when she saw the goo covered men.
“No time to explain,” Riyan told her. Turning into the hallway he followed Bart toward the back door. “Is that her?” he heard Kevik asked Chad. Chad’s response was lost as Riyan and Freya passed through to the outside.
Bart paused just outside the back door for a moment. “The twins went for the horses,” he told Riyan.
Above, Rupert’s cries for help continued.
“I wish someone would shut him up,” Chad said.
Scanning the area, Riyan couldn’t see anyone coming in answer to Rupert’s cries. “Let him scream,” he said. “Doesn’t seem to be doing a whole lot of good.”
Just then, Seth and Soth emerged from the trees with their horses. Bart waved to them and led the others to meet them. Once the two groups were together, those still on foot quickly mounted. Riyan helped Freya swing up behind him. When she wrapped her arms around his chest, it felt good.
Laying her head against his back, she sighed, “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Bart scanned the area one last time for hostiles before heading out at a gallop toward the forest. “Riyan,” he said, “you take the lead.”
“Right,” he said.
“Where are we going?” Freya asked.
“To the south ford,” he replied. “My mother and Chad’s family are waiting there for us.”
Looking out from his window, Rupert saw them racing away. “Riyan!” he yelled. “Kidnapper! Someone stop them!!”
“Will you shut up,” a voice behind him commanded.
Turning around, Rupert saw Daniel framed in the doorway. “How did you get in here?” he demanded to know.
Daniel ignored the question. “I’m getting tired of you,” he told the Magistrate’s son.
“Tired of me?” asked Rupert. “Little help you were.” Glaring at the man before him, Rupert took a step toward him. “I thought you and the rest were going to take care of them when they got here.”
Smack!
Daniel’s hand slapped him hard across the face. “You don’t ever question me again!” he stated. “Now that the shepherd’s back, you are no longer of use to me.”
Blood welled from the corner of Rupert’s mouth as he looked at Daniel in a new light. No longer as one who could be counted upon, but rather one of whom he should be wary.
“Sir,” his man Tox said from back in the hallway.
“Are they being followed?” Daniel asked.
“Yes,” replied Tox. “Two men are trailing them. Once they know where they’re headed, one will return to let us know.”
“Excellent,” he said. Yes indeed, he thought to himself, things are coming along nicely.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Before they saw starlight reflecting from the surface of the river, a figure emerged from the darkness. It was Paul, the leader of Raestin’s guards. “Did everything go well?” he asked.
Riyan nodded. “Couldn’t have gone better,” he replied.
Paul noticed Freya peering at him over Riyan’s shoulder. He gave her a grin before returning his attention back to Riyan. “They’re waiting by the river,” he said, pointing in the general direction.
“Thank you,” replied Riyan. As Paul melted back into the darkness, Riyan and the others continued toward the river.
Their families, along with Raestin were waiting at the ford. They had worried that their families may have been waylaid or been visited by some other form of misfortune while en route to the river.
“Mother!” Riyan called as he and the others approached.
“Riyan?” she asked. “Thank goodness.” She, Chad’s parents, Eryl, and Raestin came forward to greet them. Moving next to Riyan’s horse, Kaitlyn gazed up to Freya and smiled. “I’m so very glad he found you.”
“If it wasn’t for Riyan…” she replied, leaving the thought unsaid.
