Sword of Darkness Read Free

horseback looked past her to see the men running toward them. “Have you need of assistance, good woman?”
    “Aye, my lord,” she said breathlessly. “I need to escape them before they catch me.”
    “Then as a knight and champion, I offer my most humble services to you. Come, and I shall see you home without harm.” He extended his hand.
    “Nay!” the knight called Gawain shouted as they ran toward her.
    Before she could think better of it, Seren placed her hand into his.
    The knight pulled her astride his saddle to ride before him, then set his heels to the horse’s flanks. They tore through the crowd at a speed that amazed her. It was as if his great black steed had wings.
    For the first time since she had arisen that morning, Seren took a deep breath as relief coursed through her.
    “Thank you, my lord,” she said to the knight holding her. “You have truly saved my life this day. I can never repay you for your kindness.”
    The chase didn’t seem to concern him at all as he guided his horse with expert hand through the town. “And how is it I have saved your life?”
    “Those men who were after me. They were mad.”
    “How so?”
    “They claimed that I was to be the mother of the wizard Merlin. Mayhap they were only drunk, but…” She shivered as she considered what had almost befallen her. “Thank the Lord and all His saints that you came when you did. I shudder to think what they would have done to me had I gone with them.”
    He gave her a knowing look. “Aye, there was a higher power that brought me to you this day. Of that I have no doubt.”
    Seren had just started to relax when she heard the sound of hooves behind them.
    The knight turned to look.
    “It’s them,” she breathed, her panic returning as she saw the two knights again in pursuit. “Why won’t they let me go?”
    “Have no fear. I won’t let them take you.”
    His words thrilled her. Who would have believed that such a handsome knight would defend a simple peasant maid? “You are truly a kind and noble knight, sir.”
    But as he looked down at her, Seren would have sworn that his eyes flashed red before he spurred his horse to an even greater speed. The other two knights continued to give chase. They raced through town until they flew over the bridge that took them out into the countryside.
    Seren cringed. “I’m not to leave the town,” she told the knight. “My master will have me beaten for leaving without his permission.”
    “There is nothing I can do. Should we return, they will take you. Is that what you want?”
    “Nay.”
    “Then hold tight until we lose them.”
    Seren did as he said. She turned to face him in the saddle and wrapped her arms about his waist and inhaled the scent of leather, man, and beast. His horse flew over the open meadow, racing toward the dense woods that lay before them.
    All of a sudden, something exploded by their side.
    “Accero, accero domini doyan,” the knight said in his deep, resonant voice.
    Seren gasped in terror as the gargoyle decorations on the horse’s bridle lifted themselves off and took flight. They screeched like banshees before they headed toward the men pursuing them.
    “What is this?” she asked.
    “You’re lost in a dream.” His voice was inside her head. “Sleep, little one. Sleep.” Seren blinked her eyes as exhaustion overtook her. She tried desperately to remain awake, but couldn’t.
    Before she knew what was happening, darkness consumed her.
    Kerrigan pulled the woman closer to him as he felt her go limp from his spell. She was completely soft and pliant in his arms. Satisfied that she couldn’t fight him, he slowed his horse so that he could turn around to see Gawain and Agravain fighting his gargoyles.
    He let his malevolent laughter ring out. “She is ours,” he called to them.
    Gawain launched a sorcerer’s fire blast in his direction. Kerrigan dissolved it before it came near him.
    “You know what I want, Gawain. Tell Merlin to give it