Secrets and Guardians: Devious Intentions, H. Chambers [android based ebook reader txt] 📗

Riding as fast as they could, which wasn't that fast considering the state of the horses, Nathe and the others headed west. After a few miles Nathe spotted the stone building Glint had described. A small cluster of trees and a large boulder caught his attention. Signalling to the rest, his mind worked frantically as he headed for the ruin.

Garth saw them veer off the road. When they reached the same spot he halted his men. The last riders on the two white horses were going through the archway. Despite there being no roof and some of the upper walls missing, it would provide them with a good defence. That same defence could also be used against them.

'Let’s take this slowly men, remember only three of them are soldiers, the rest are just circus performers,' said Garth confident in his leadership qualities.

Trotting their horses forward they stopped a safe distance in front of the archway through which Garth could see the two white horses grazing. He needed to make a plan, he had eight men; maybe he could sacrifice a couple or should he just wait and let them make the first move. Two of his men were archers, he would start by killing those two horses, then play the waiting game.

He turned around to his archers, 'You two come forward, I want you to shoot those horses, the rest of you watch those walls,' he commanded.

As he turned back the men on either side of him fell to the ground, knives embedded in their necks. Clover and Echo raised their heads and gave a snickering sound as if they were laughing, then bowed in unison. 

'What the....?' Furious Garth turned back to the archers. 'Shoot those horses, then follow me!'

The two archers moved forward readying their bows, two more knives found their targets. Garth cursed as he retreated with the others to the cluster of trees. He couldn’t believe he had just lost four men. Soldiers could not have thrown those knives with such accuracy. He had totally misjudged the situation. Cursing again at his own stupidity, he needed to think quickly.

He didn’t have time. Emerging from behind the large boulder, Breaker and Nathe charged at them. Breaker and Hugo’s size was unnerving. Wrestling with his horse Garth managed to turn, only to be faced by Aharen and Caleb approaching fast.

'Good day to you sirs, I fear we have the advantage here,' shouted Caleb.

'Nice to see you again,' said Aharen to Garth, 'this time I don't think I'll let you go so easily'.

Garth smiled, 'We seem to be back to four against four,' he said.

'Um, yes, what can we do about that?' Nathe replied.

As if on cue Ghale and Ebblin arrived on Clover and Echo closely followed by Bella. The twins had picked up the bows from the two fallen archers and had arrows aimed straight at Garth. Garth had a very strong suspicion that their archery skills would be just as impressive as their knife throwing.

'Is that better?' asked Nathe looking directly at Garth, 'will you now surrender or do we have to continue with this?'

Garth looked at his men who looked nervously back at him. Sighing, he dropped his sword and raised his hands.

'Not again,' complained Aharen, 'come on Nathe, can't I kill him?'

'Tie their hands up and then tie them together they are going to have a long walk,' commanded Nathe.

As soon as the men were tied up and out of the way Bella walked over to Nathe and began to argue about what should happen next.

'Nathe you’re not looking at the bigger picture,' she said.

'It's my job to protect the Princess,' replied Nathe knowing he had really needed their help.

'I think we have proved our worth concerning our ability to help her, you need to take these men to Riftdale,' said Bella.

The rest looked on, Nathe knew he would lose this argument, but couldn't help himself.

'Look I know Lowe is some sort of special kid and if she said jump you would all jump, but is she right all the time?' argued Nathe.

'No, most of the time she is just a normal kid, but she sees things, sometimes she doesn't understand what she is seeing, but lately, lately she's being seeing..,' Bella dropped her head and stared at the ground.

Ebblin stepped forward, 'Lowe said Eldin at Riftdale can 'trance' people so that they will tell him anything he wants to know. She also believes he can change what they believe'.

'Are you telling me that Eldin could make them believe they were, say, a bird and then they would happily jump from a tower believing they could fly?' said Nathe shaking his head; he realised he had been doing a lot of that lately.

'Actually, yes,' said Bella.

'Maybe Eldin can put the idea into their heads that they are really spies for King Hylaw and their mission is to kill Kerdred, now that would be really clever,' said Caleb.

'Talking of the king do we even know if he is alive?' asked Ghale.

The soldiers looked at each other, not sure what to say.

'I'll take that as a yes then, don't worry, I'll not ask you to divulge your little secrets,' laughed Ghale.

'We need to get moving, are you going to take the men to Eldin, while we go back for the princess?' asked Bella.

Nathe looked at his horse, none of the horses that Garth's men had been riding looked much better. He would have to rest them, at least if Bella went back they could make good time. He knew the princess would be in good hands after seeing the way Ebblin and Ghale were with their knives and Breaker looked like could probably just snap someone with his bare hands if it came to it. Reluctantly he decided to agree.

*

Glint, Ami, Lowe and Mankin crashed through the forest. Snapper had no problem because of his size. In their haste they did not