The Jake Thomas Trilogy: Book 02 - Sword of Light Read Free Page B

well.”
    Werdan rode off to take the lead and they began to head west again.  Dominic took up the rear guard while Marcus rode next to Keria behind the wagon.
    The weather was comfortable as they rode, with a light breeze and scattered clouds drifting in front of the sun as it slowly rose in the sky.  Dominic dropped back from time to time, seeking signs of their enemies, but the forest remained quiet.
    Just as Werdan had said, they came upon three of Alleon’s outriders shortly after mid-day.  After a short conversation with Werdan, two of the soldiers took up flanking positions near the princess while the third rode back to relay the news to the main force.  After another fifteen minutes of riding, Dominic could hear the sounds of Alleon’s army moving along the road.
    Werdan rode ahead to give his report to Sir Alleon.  Alleon, dressed in full armor, halted his forces and rode out to meet them.  He was clearly relieved to see Keria as he greeted her, a wide smile creasing his face despite trying to look serious.  He promised to return her to the safety of the city as quickly as possible.  He gave Jonas a hearty welcome, his good nature shining through.
    Dominic rode over, Alleon giving him a salute as he drew near.  “I see that I should have followed you.”  Alleon said self-consciously, though his eyes still shone with good cheer.  “Next time, I will let you take command and you can just point me in the direction you think is best.”
    “You did what made sense at the time, Alleon.”  Dominic replied.  “We have the princess back, that is what is important.”
    “Truly.”  Alleon said with a smile, nodding.  “Let’s surround her with clerics and soldiers before my luck runs out.”  He motioned Keria to ride forward.  “Highness, if you will.”
    They rode back into the army, the soldiers cheering and calling out greetings to Keria, the clerics gathering around Jonas and Hailyn.  As they approached the supply wagons, Dominic was surprised to see Keria’s carriage mixed in with the wagons.  He looked questioningly at Alleon.
    “We found it along the southern road, abandoned, the afternoon of the second day after we parted.”  Alleon told him.  “There was a small enemy force waiting in ambush near it, but we quickly defeated them and turned around to follow your path.  I pushed the horses hard, trying to make up time.  The clerics were somewhat cross with me for that, as I all but exhausted them as they had to heal the horses every time we stopped.”
    Alleon stopped, sliding off his horse with a clang, and motioning them down.  “We will have a quick meal and share our reports.”  He called over his officers and had them deploy the soldiers in defensive positions around the area.  Jonas sent the bulk of the clerics with the soldiers.
    Several aides quickly set up a field table from the wagons while the cooks heated up some rations.  While they ate, Jonas and Dominic told Alleon about tracking down the kidnappers to the demons’ lair and the destruction of Creatos.
    Alleon glanced over at Jonas’s wagon, where Hailyn was watching over Jake, and shook his head.  “I know he was training with you, Dominic, so I do not mean to give offense, but I didn’t think that he had that kind of courage.”  Alleon said, respect in his eyes.
    “Courage can be found in anyone, Sir Alleon.”  Jonas said.  “The One provides us all with the capacity; it just takes the right kind of motivation for it to come out.”  He glanced meaningfully at Keria.
    Alleon told them what happened with his force.  He expanded on what he had already told Dominic.  The army had followed the passage of the half-men and demons south until they came upon the abandoned carriage.  He had sent several search parties into the surrounding hills, looking for signs of the princess.  One of these parties stumbled onto the waiting half-men and demons.  They lost two clerics and ten soldiers before they