Page 21 of Sword of Desire
Ackley wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. If word reached Melenia that Ackley was in Landania, Lyle might figure out what Ackley intended to do and try to stop him. That, or Ackley’s army would be in danger of an attack. Either option was not acceptable. So, if he had to avoid the Landania soldiers, he would. “Brodek, get us out of here. Now.”
Brodek nodded and went down the hallway to the right. When he came to a door, he paused, listening. Satisfied, he cracked it an inch. After a moment, he pushed it open and stepped outside.
Ackley followed him into the crisp morning air. The thick fog still hung above the ground concealing everything in sight. There could be someone standing three feet away, and he wouldn’t know. Sticking close together, the five of them silently headed south. After about a quarter of a mile, they reached some trees, and the fog thinned. Brodek continued, leading them deeper into the forest.
“Do we need to wait for Tarnek?” Ackley whispered.
“He’ll catch up,” Ridek replied. “Eventually.”
Gytha’s stomach growled, and Ackley glanced over his shoulder at her, smiling. She smacked him. “I’m too cold and hungry to deal with you right now,” she mumbled. “I should have stayed with everyone else back at camp. This is not turning out how I thought it would.”
“And miss the chance to meet the empress?” Ackley asked. Gytha rarely complained, which meant she must be hungry.
“That’s the only reason I’m still here. Otherwise, I would have left your sorry arse by now.”
“You’re a soldier in the army?” Ridek asked Gytha.
“I am. Do you have women fighters?”
“No, we do not.”
“Why?” she demanded.
He shrugged. “The thought never crossed my mind.”
Ackley chuckled as Gytha’s fingers curled into fists. She managed to restrain herself from hitting Ridek…this time.
* * *
They spent all day traveling by foot along the edge of the forest. At night, they slept under a tree with low hanging branches. Not having the luxury of time, Brodek suggested they “borrow” horses from a field they passed on the second day. It meant riding bareback, but Ackley didn’t complain. At least they weren’t walking.
The group continued to follow the edge of the forest, hunting for food and avoiding cities and villages. The farther south they went, the lusher the landscape became. On the fourth day, Tarnek caught up with them carrying a bag with additional provisions.
After about a week, Ackley’s patience began wearing thin. Now he understood why Knights couldn’t marry—he’d been spending far too much time and energy worrying about Harley rather than preparing for his meeting with the empress.
On the eighth day, Ackley’s four male companions began joking and laughing with one another.
“Are we almost there?” Ackley inquired.
“Why do you ask?” Brodek said.
“Things feel…different.”
“We’re in Romek, which was the northern part of Emperion before Landania, Fia, and Kricok joined in.”
Which meant they were in the heart of Emperion now. These four men had to be at ease since Landania soldiers wouldn’t be patrolling this land. “Are we going to the empress’s castle?” From what his spies had gathered, there were two royal residences, one in the south toward the ocean, and another in Lakeside in the middle of Emperion. Given the direction they’d been traveling, he guessed they were closer to the one in Lakeside.
“No. We’re going to stop some place safe and wait for further instructions.”
They traveled away from the forest and over low rolling hills. The thick grass became a deep shade of green. Dark clouds covered the sky hinting at rain. At a dirt road, Brodek led the way toward a simple manor with smoke billowing from the chimney.
“Another inn?” Ackley asked wryly.
“Not quite.” Brodek pulled his horse to a stop in front of the house and dismounted, his men following suit.
Ackley scanned the area, not seeing anything of concern.
“Where are we?” Gytha asked as she climbed off her horse. A low fence surrounded the right side of the manor, a few sheep roaming in it.
