Inexperienced Mage (Reawakening Saga) Read Free Page B

the nicest bed in which he had ever slept.
    The next day started with a hearty breakfast containing the largest collection of food he had ever seen. Though he still didn’t want to give up hope and resign himself to being a slave, there was little chance of escape with the level of guards around him. But if he had to be a slave, being one in the employ of the royal family didn’t seem so bad.
    The next day continued much as the day before with Kris going over the many palace procedures he would have to follow, focusing specifically on those surrounding the princess. “Right now you will be the only dedicated guard she has but in the future you will be required to train others as well. Back to the main point - your job is to not only provide her service but also be her confidant. Anything you see or hear while in her presence is confidential. Not even the queen is privy to them. If the choice arises, your honor and duty might send you to the headsman’s block. That rarely happens as you will just be following protocol, but it has happened in the past.”
    Suddenly, while Kris was droning on, the carriage went out of control jostling about and finally slamming to a stop throwing Mark and the old man painfully onto the floor. Mark could hear voices outside yelling, “Protect the queen!” Soon the sound of steel ringing on steel echoed outside. As quickly as he could, Mark got to his feet and went to help Kris who was lying unmoving on the floor.
    After a quick check he breathed a sigh of relief. The old man was still alive though unconscious with a nasty looking bump on his skull. Once certain his companion was no worse for wear, Mark kicked the carriage door open with his shackled legs - a feat that took several tries.
    Outside the fighting was fierce and Mark could not see the queen’s coach anywhere in sight. The royal guard had most likely gotten her away as fast as the bulky thing would move. Neither could Mark see any of the royal guard but only the regular soldiers that traveled with her as an added escort. Useless, chained as he was, and no one paying much attention to him, Mark decided it prudent to hide in the nearby forest.
    Once inside the dark canopy of the wood Mark sat down beside a large oak tree and took stock of his situation. With no mark of ownership and as long as no one came looking for him before he could get his shackles, off he would be free. As a man he wouldn’t have many rights but he would have his freedom, which alone was worth the entire world to him - a dream he never truly believed would come true.
    As the noise died off Mark nearly fainted when he heard the tell-tell sounds of people moving toward him through the foliage. Soon the sounds of talking could be heard in the distance. At first the words were undecipherable but after a few seconds the brigands came close enough to be understood. “Dammit Pete! We’re shit fire lucky the royal guard ran off with that coach! We’d been slaughtered if they had joined in the fight for any period of time. Did you see that one big’un? He cut through Tom and Lewis like they weren’t nuthin‘,” growled a ruff voice.
    “I hear ya Chad. We lost near half our number with naught to show fer it. Good fer ‘im, Lewis bought the farm or I’d gut ‘im myself! Twas his durn fool idea to go after ‘em in the first place. Best we can do now is head back to camp and keep our heads down fer a good span.”
    Hearing footsteps on the forest floor, Mark realized they were headed in his direction! When they were close enough for him to hear their ragged breath, his heart beat so hard he was sure they would hear it.
    Fear held him in his concealed spot long after they were gone. He stayed unmoving until he noticed night was coming quickly. He knew he would have to find shelter or his first night of freedom might be his last.
    Walking through the dense forest was slow. His leg shackles leaving him little room for movement and catching often on roots and low