Seal of the King Read Free Page A

tall boots that fit well, and moved easily with her. His glimpses of her had always been fleeting. To see her like this was like finding water in the desert.
    At once , he was filled with so many emotions he couldn’t move. The overwhelming joy at seeing her made him want to cry out. Then the terror of her predicament sent a wave of fear through him. There she was, all alone, trying to outrun death. He was barely able to breathe as a tear ran down his cheek, his heart breaking at the prospect of what was going to happen to her. With his next breath, all his emotions swirled into a rage-filled determination propelling him to action.
    His hesitation having lasted only a moment, he moved to intercept her although he had no idea what he was going to do. He would not let these men lay a hand on her . No matter what the cost, he would try to save h er . She did not see him coming and he closed the gap between them quickly. Fortunately for him her pursuers did not seem to notice him either. A few strides away and he saw it, a giant ball of fire heading directly towards her.
    Having just dodged a barrage of arrows, she moved into its path. At a full sprint , he leapt towards her, with his arms outstretched. As he grabbed her upper body, he twisted to pull her down on top of him so he would absorb the blow. He caught the look of shock on her face as she turned, and saw the fireball pass just above, right where her head had been a split second earlier.
    The moment she was in his arms , there was an explosion of sound, and light. The magnitude of it was something he couldn’t have conceived. The only thing he could think of is that it was like being inside a bolt of lightning when it struck, but even that seemed inadequate. Time suddenly stopped and lost all meaning. His only thought was to hold onto her, afraid that if he let go she would be lost.
    He hit the ground hard with her limp weight on top of him. He could feel her chest rise and fall against his. The brisk night air on his face, the return of the starry sky, and the sudden quiet told him, he was home again. The soft grass of the meadow was a far better place to land than the hard ground they had just left, but he was still momentarily stunned from the blow.
    Looking from side to side, he could see enough to know they were alone. Then it hit him. He was there with her. All these years of seeing her, admiring her, believing in her , and now she was in his arms, a living breathing person. He closed his eyes and soaked in the feel of her against him, the smell of her skin and hair. He was almost afraid to re-open them, afraid that if he did, she would be gone. He had been alone for so long and she had been his only real comfort. Affection for her swelled inside him, after all she had done for him, helping to carry him through his loss and pain. To be there for her when she needed him filled him with joy to the point near giddiness. He felt her stir slightly, and instinctively reached up to touch the back of her head for comfort, to let her know she was all right.
    At his touch , she sprang to her feet, spun to take in the surroundings, and in one fluid motion drew her bow, and knocked an arrow pointed straight at his heart. His eyes opened wide, but he didn’t move a muscle. Amazed by everything about her, he just stared up into her deep dark eyes. That she could go from virtual unconsciousness, to battle ready, in mere seconds with such grace, and fluidity, demonstrated what he knew in his heart. She was no one to be trifled with.
    Suddenly her eyes went wide , and her bow lowered just a bit, she hesitated perhaps for the first time in her life. It only lasted a second, but it was just long enough to make him smile. She grimaced with annoyance at herself for letting her guard down, and quickly resumed her deadly stance. He couldn’t help himself. His smile broadened, much to her annoyance.
    “Why are you smiling? Do you think I won’t kill you where you lie?” She asked