I sighed. “The only thing you heard was Alison and I.”
“I see that,” he said. “What happened?”
“We were captured by Elaine. She was trying to force us to lead her to the dragon, but we got away.”
“I’d love to learn how you escaped from a dragon mage when this is all over, but for now, I’d be happy to learn your plan.”
“I don’t have much of one. Get out of the forest. Get away from Elaine and the people she’s with. And go back to Berestal. We can get to the marshal and reveal what we heard and get word to the king.”
Joran looked around, and he had a deep frown on his face. “What happens if they follow us out of the forest? What happens if we get back to Berestal and they come for us?”
“I’m hopeful that they won’t be able to find us outside of the forest,” I said. “If nothing else, I have to hope they end up trapped in here.”
“What happens if they don’t?”
I frowned. “Then you will have to see if your family will protect us.”
We started off again.
Joran and Alison whispered to each other, but I didn’t pay any attention to their conversation. Instead, I watched for movement in front of me, looking for the distinction of glowing light, and listening for any other sound that would suggest to me that something was taking place that I needed to be concerned about.
The men with Elaine were still out here. I didn’t know where, but I knew they were here. When they caught up to us—if they caught up to us—we would have to be ready. We reached a small clearing. It was surprisingly open, and there were piles of rock strewn about. The stream split here, heading into different directions, weaving through the forest. I paced around the inside of the clearing, looking to see which way we should go before glancing back at Alison. She and Joran were still talking to each other, whispering silently. Now the glowing seemed to be more intense than it had been before.
“Which way should we go?” I asked.
Joran looked up, and he flushed slightly.
What were the two of them talking about?
Whatever it was seemed to embarrass him, if only a little bit.
“It goes in two directions,” Alison said.
I nodded. “I don’t know which one will take us out of the forest.”
As I looked along the stream, I could feel something changing. It was almost as if the energy in the air started to shift. The light that glowed in the distance started to intensify, and I hesitated.
Rumbling came from nearby, far closer than it had been before.
I turned to say something to Joran, when I realized we had taken too long.
Three figures approached out of the forest.
21
I ran toward Alison, putting myself between her and the oncoming figures. Even as I did, I knew that I was going to be too late. I glanced over to Joran. “If something happens to me, I want you to take her out of the forest. Run as fast as you can.”
“I’m not leaving you here,” Joran said.
“If it comes down to one of us, I’ll stay behind and try to lead them off.”
“Ashan—”
“There you are,” a familiar voice said. It was Barton, as he strode forward, he watched me. Something about his expression seemed to be more amused than annoyed. “You have caused quite a bit of trouble tonight.”
“I’m sorry I’ve irritated you,” I said.
“Oh, you have. Now it seems you will serve quite well.”
I glanced over to Joran, before looking past him to the other two. They were armed, but I thought that we might have a chance. Between Joran and I, I believed we would have an opportunity to get past them. It would be difficult. We would have to risk getting stabbed, but the alternative was going with them.
I shared a look with Joran, and he seemed to realize what I was thinking, shaking his head slightly. I frowned at him. He wasn’t willing to help?
The three men came closer, heading into the clearing.
“If that woman didn’t think that you could be useful, you would already be dead,” Barton said, looking at me.
“You’re not Vard, are you?” I asked.
Barton smiled tightly. “Who said we were?”
Barton continued to come toward me.
I positioned myself so that I would block Alison, but there wasn’t much more I might be able to do. I could delay them. Give my sister and Joran a chance to run. See if they could get a head start. That was all I hoped for.
As I prepared to attack, heat began to build in my arms. Pain started to shoot through me. I jerked my head around, looking through the forest.
Elaine strode forward. A terrible grin crossed her bruised face. Dried blood caked a cut on her forehead. “Did you really think you would be able to get away from me? You are not so difficult to follow. Seeing as how you decided to run, I think I’ll ensure that you suffer this time.”
She smiled at me, and then the pain began to roll through me. It quickly incapacitated me, dropping me to my knees. I looked up at her, and noticed her grinning at me, a dark expression on her face. I tried to fight the pain, to ignore it, to do anything that I could to withstand it, but the pain was overwhelming, more than I could handle.
She just watched me. She seemed to come closer and closer, looming over me. I felt like I could do nothing. I couldn't even move. I wanted to get up. I wanted to run or even attack them. My hands were free this time. I didn’t have to feel like I couldn’t strike her.
When she was only a step or two away from me, she leaned close. “You
