The Reign of Trees Read Free Page A

keep up.”
    “No, My Lady. You will stay.”
    “I will ride astride.” That was her preferred way to ride anyhow—when she was out in the country, away from curious eyes.
    “You will not .”
    Leif’s tone stung so severely that Illianah’s cheeks burned hot and her eyes began to water. He may as well have slapped her across the cheek. “Do not leave me,” she begged, her voice barely loud enough to reach his ears.
    “You will be safe. Captain Durant will tend to you.”
    He tipped his hat and then turned and left. That was his goodbye? He looked as if he had no remorse for leaving his new bride behind. Illianah again watched Leif’s backside as he strode away from her. She was too stunned to move. Captain Durant grabbed Kasba’s reigns and said, “Princess, we must get to the castle quickly.”
    “I can handle the horse myself,” she said, yanking the reigns out of Captain Durant’s hands. She would show them that she could go just as fast as any man.
    Which she did. She beat the soldiers to Freidlenburg Castle, but their shouts were just behind her. “We are under attack. Seal the castle!”
    The next few minutes were utter chaos. The drawbridge was closed and the small army was positioned around the wall of Freidlenburg Castle. Illianah was ushered into the chapel with the rest of the castle’s population, where the door was barricaded shut.
    “How long before they are upon us?” she asked Lord Braithwell, who was now at her side, as well as his family.
    “Within the next half-hour.”
    “Will they be able to breech our walls?”
    Lord Braithwell had tiny beads of sweat across his forehead. That was not a good sign—the Lord of the Castle was fearful of this unexpected invasion. “Yes, My Lady, they will. We do not have the forces to withstand this kind of attack.”
    “How many? How many men do we have?”
    “Only a hundred.”
    “One hundred?” That was deplorable. The town nearest to the border of Deltegra should have greater forces.
    “Yes. That is double the norm, because of …”
    “My arrival.”
    Lord Braithwell hesitated and then nodded. “Yes, My Lady.”
    “And how many … how many soldiers did our spies see marching toward us?”
    “Hundreds, My Lady. At least ten legions.”
    Ten legions? Each legion consisted of a hundred soldiers. It was as Leif had said: they were outnumbered ten to one.
    “How long before we receive help?” she asked.
    “It is likely that Prince Harrington will send troops from Bremlin as he passes through on his way to the capitol. That will give us another hundred men.”
    “That will do nothing. And how long …” Illianah could hear the panic rising in her voice. She swallowed and tried again, “How long until my father’s troops reach us?”
    “It is three hours on horseback, Princess. Each way. The cavalry should make it here before nightfall.”
    A cry came from over Illianah’s shoulder; she then realized Lady Braithwell and her daughters were listening to the conversation. “We are done for!” Lady Braithwell cried.
    Her daughters began weeping as well. Lord Braithwell tried to calm them. “We will be fine. They will just get what they came for and leave us be. I am sure of it.”
    Get what they came for? Illianah’s heart seemed to be suspended somewhere within her throat. Fear crept through her body so much so that she could no longer move, or speak.

Chapter Two
    Waiting for the soldiers from Deltegra to breach the castle walls felt like waiting for the world to end. All the women and children hiding within the chapel were crying, as if this really was the end to their world. Illianah did not cry, even though she was the one who had the most to fear. Why else would Deltegra come attack Freidlenburg now ?
    It was obvious when Deltegra’s soldiers came within the castle’s ward. The incessant banging and yelling stopped. It grew eerily silent. The tears within the chapel stopped instantly, as if everyone instinctively knew the