Curse of The Seventh Sword: The Gauntlet of Feona Read Free

before crashing back down to the ground.  Jaynea looked Vannera over.  She was still alive.  She then ripped off a piece of Vannera’s garment and placed it under Vannera’s left palm, which she placed on the wound.  Finally, she took Vannera’s crown and placed it on her head.  Garreth could be heard screaming as he battled countless assailants helplessly. 
    “Someday I hope you for give me.”  Jaynea said as she climbed out of the carriage.  She looked up and saw the huge humanoid figures of the monsters that had set upon them in the forest.  They gnarled at her through lizard like faces and razor-sharp teeth.  Their scaly flesh made her skin crawl.  But through her fear, Jaynea smiled in defiance and pulled out her dagger.
    “You came for me.  Well… take me if you can.”
    The monsters descended on her at once.
     
    Davydd crept silently through the forest with cat like grace.  Stealth had been a skill he had honed as a hunter, and as a thief.  He weaved his way through the thick vegetation and crouched down a few paces away from his prey – a deer drinking some water that had pooled together in a clearing in the forest.  Davydd pulled out an arrow from the sac strapped around his shoulder.  He placed it on the string of his bow and pulled back till it was taut.  He steadied his breathing, his coiled finger muscles ready to fire, and his aim true.  In that moment, the deer’s ears shot up and it raised its neck looking around anxiously.  Soon after, it darted away, disappearing into the bushes.  Davydd, putting back the arrow in his sac, was visibly perplexed.  Why did the deer run?  He was certain it wasn’t him because he had been careful not to reveal his presence.  Then, he heard it.  The sound of crackling wood as fire consumed it.  Davydd broke into a sprint.  Stealth wasn’t the main skill needed now. Speed was.  If his hunch was right, maybe someone’s life depended on it.  As he ran through the thick vegetation, his eyes spotted a carriage lying on its side amongst two others.  He could also see the dead bodies of humans and horses alike, strewn across the forest path.  The fire had been started on the carriages, and had spread towards the surrounding areas.  However, the vegetation was very lush and in time the fire would die out from the forest moisture.  Two of the carriages were charred remains of what they used to be, while the third was only partially burned.  Davydd looked around for any signs of life but the longer he searched the less hope he had of finding any.  After calling out a few times to see if anyone responded, he shook his head in resignation and turned to leave. 
    “Help.” A soft voice called out.  It was so weak it was almost a whisper.  Yet it was strong enough to carry its way to his ears.  Davydd froze in his tracks, wondering if he had actually heard a voice or if it was a part of him hoping someone had survived the carnage he’d just seen. 
    “Help… please…” Davydd ran back to the half burnt carriage.  He mindlessly pulled away smoking ember after ember.  The adrenaline rushing through him numbed any pain he might have felt.  Finally a hand reached out from under the wooden splinters and broken pieces.  Davydd grabbed at it and soon he was helping out a beautiful woman with long dark brown hair.  Her light hazel eyes looked empty and distant as she collapsed unto him.
    “Woman , what’s your name?  What happened here?”  Davydd asked as he laid her down gently on the grass a safe distance away from the fire.  She had been burned a bit and she was bleeding from a stab wound to her abdomen.  Davydd slapped his head in self-annoyance.  Now was not the time for questions.  She needed help. 
    “Don’t worry.  I’ll get you somewhere safe.  Just hold on and trust me.  You’ll be fine.”
    Vannera was falling in and out of consciousness.  She was sure she had died but somehow, something inside her had willed her