The New Guard (Crossroads Book 1) Read Free Page A

their father’s voice.
    “Men
pledged to sin, lost of Heaven, poisoned of Hell,
withdraw from here and tread no more on the soil of Earth.”
    Though the
children recognized the voice of their father, they had never heard it dripping
with such scorn or ringing with such power. The hooded horseman with his sword
drawn called out into the darkness outside their lantern light where their
father must have been.
    “Never,
King of the Here Between; your words are hollow in this wooded hall.” The
horseman’s voice was raspy and full of long hissing ‘ s’es .
Contempt filled each word as he spat them out of his lipless mouth. “You cannot
bear the sword in this world, and therefore pose no threat to us whose blades
can be drawn and bring burning, painful, and disfiguring death.”
    “Poisoned
souls, you all are to heed my words; do not doubt what God can make possible in
this or any world.” There was an almost mocking tone in their father’s voice
and a distinct ring of metal being drawn against metal. “Do not underestimate
God or those He chooses to watch over the sheep He will make into lions.”
    At these
words, the Beagle shot away from the children and attacked the nearest hounds,
bringing them down with strength not evident in his small stature and with a
speed not capable of an earthly dog. At the sight of the death of their hounds,
the horsemen began shouting, fear pouring out from their every utterance.
    Action
exploded around the children. Before they could truly comprehend what was going
on around them, David was amongst them with a bright sword in his hands. The
dismounted rider grabbed hold of his mount and tried to swing back up into the
saddle. Before he could fully mount, however, his horse was cut out from under
him. Then their father’s gleaming blade swung at the fallen rider. The swing
opened a large gash in the hooded figure's arm. The man screamed in intense
pain, dropped his sword, and collapsed, holding the smoldering wound. Without
missing a beat, David dodged to the left and drove the tip of his blade into
the thigh of the rider who had earlier commanded him. At his scream, the horse
reared and threw its rider to the ground. Meanwhile, the Beagle had taken down
two more hounds, and the remaining horsemen and hounds began quickly widening
the circle they had created around the children.
    David
signaled all the children to follow him through the gap he and the Beagle had
created in the circle. Mindlessly, and in shock, the children obeyed and moved
quickly toward their father. Once the children were safely behind David and the
Beagle, David spoke once more.
    “Repent,
for the power of God is absolute and the end He will triumph. Repent and be
forgiven.”
    The
nearest horseman spat at David, and the two hounds beside him charged. David
moved his sword swiftly and beheaded one, while the Beagle charged the other
and clamped his jaw around its throat. A quick and powerful whip of his head
ended the struggle and the Beagle disengaged. At a horse call, the remaining
riders retreated, gathering the two wounded horsemen as they fled.
    Once they
were sure the riders were retreating, David and the Beagle turned to the
children. David sheathed his sword and man and dog went to the children to
inspect them. None of the children had been physically hurt during the
altercation, but David could see their nerves and courage were frayed and in
need of some bolstering. However, time was not something David had enough of
anymore. As if in acknowledgement of this fact, a hot rain began to fall.
    “If we
head north we’ll come to a safe place for the night. After that, we’ll have to
make our way. . .” David was unsure how to tell his children what was happening
and began searching for the words. Before he could think, though, he was
interrupted by Mary.
    “But,
Daddy, home is south of here. . . I think.” Her voice quieted as she looked
around the darkened glade, the only light being cast by a fallen