Chronicles of Den'dra - Spencer Johnson Page 0,112
and help you, not eliminate you.”
“That is comforting, although I see no way to continue here after recent events. Estavo protected me in a way, but Oscarion has already made it clear that he intends to roast me over a slow fire. He knows that I am an elf, although he doesn’t know that I am a dark elf.” Tamara flinched as the aforementioned lordling moaned.
“I think I know a place where you will be safe. That is, if you want to come with us.” Urake watched as Tamara stood and brushed her hair back into place.
“I have no possessions. I can come with you now if you would like. Anything to get as much distance between Oscarion and myself.”
“I fear that coming with us will not put much distance between the two of you. Oscarion will be quite useful to some friends of mine.”
“You intend to use him as a hostage?”
“You mentioned that he said he was going to Shienhin to marry the princess. That an attack by rebels had injured her to the point that she was confined to the castle to recuperate. I have it under good authority that the princess is no longer in Shienhin, either of them. Imagine what would happen if Oscarion were to go to Shienhin and Reigns were to marry him to this fictitious princess who would then sicken and die from her injuries. Oscarion would be the King.”
“That would be awful. Oscarion is the most selfish and immature person that I have ever met. If he were King…”
“People like him are the kind that are difficult, but not impossible to control. If Reigns were to give him a taste of power, then he would become addicted and would be utterly under Reigns’ control. Having the fact that Oscarion was never actually married to the princess to keep him from challenging Reigns would ensure a degree of obedience.” Urake’s expression darkened for a moment before he shook himself.
“We need to get out of here. If these are starting to wake up, then the ones that aren’t as affected are undoubtedly waking up already.” Emeck’s warning inspired everyone into action. Oscarion was tied up without delay. Aleest was outside coaxing a couple of the sleeping horses back to their feet. Oscarion was loaded onto one of the horses while the packs were loaded on the other. The other pack animals were too far gone to resuscitate. Already there were a couple of the people in the courtyard stirring. With their lighter loads, the group was able to move faster and soon had left the Loneka manor behind. Taking the road down the hill, they cut off before reaching the town. Going across the farm fields to avoid meeting any further townspeople appeared to be working.
“I think that we got away.” Cero looked over his shoulder, but he saw no one in pursuit.
“Emeck? Have you something to add?” Urake inquired after noticing Emeck’s distant expression and furrowed brow.
“I think the soldiers that we first came across saw us come down the hill. They must have woken up shortly after Tamara. That and the elf thing that followed us up from the Elder Forest is out there also.”
“Let’s keep ahead of them. Head for the Garoche. If we get there in time we can lose them in the mountain. The elf is far away even if it was inclined to help us.” Urake grabbed the reigns to the horse that Oscarion was draped over and urged the beast forward.
“I don’t think that is an option. I looked and they are all riding horses. I think that the soldiers had them hobbled out of sight from the road when we saw them.”
“That isn’t good. There were more than two dozen soldiers at that camp. We are also out in the open. If we had a good ambush, there might be a chance but… How many archers are there?”
“More than half of them are archers. The rest are specialists at capturing Gifted. There is more than one elite squads working together.”
“We might have been able to take one squad, but more than one…”
“They are after me. Leave with Oscarion. I will give myself over to them.” Tamara turned around and began walking back the way that they had come.
“That will not work. The only reason that more than one of Reigns’ elite squads would be working together is if they intend to eliminate the Gifted