Hidden Knights (Knights of the Realm #3) - Jennifer Anne Davis Page 0,42

get out of this situation. Plus, Dexter would be furious if her trying to help him turned into him needing to save her. Letting go of the sword in her right hand, she reached back, grabbing the man’s groin. The second the man jerked, withdrawing the knife from her side, she dropped to the ground, intending to kick his legs out from under him. Only, he collapsed next to her, a dagger protruding from his chest.

Scrambling away, Reid was about to question how Ackley had moved that fast when a twig snapped in the tree above her.

Ackley swung the bow over his shoulder while nocking an arrow. He shot. Someone fell from the tree, crashing on the ground next to Reid, an arrow sticking out of his stomach.

Reid sprang to her feet, moving away from the two dead bodies. How many men were out there?

Ackley scanned the area. His head cocked to the side as he listened to something Reid couldn’t hear. Then he took off running through the forest, dodging between the trees. She sprinted after him, only one sword in hand. She cursed herself for not picking up the one she’d dropped.

Grunts came from up ahead. Nearing the commotion, Reid saw Gordon fighting with two men. While still running, Ackley nocked an arrow and shot, striking one. Gordon swung, punching the second attacker. Ackley nocked another arrow, killing the second man as well.

“Where’s Dexter?” Ackley demanded.

“North. There are two more.” Gordon pointed to his left while bending over, trying to catch his breath.

“Keep Reid with you.” Deftly jumping over the bodies, Ackley took off running.

While Reid wanted to go, she stayed in place, knowing she couldn’t fight the caliber of men they were up against.

Gordon dropped to his knees, examining one of the bodies.

“What are you doing?” Reid asked while trying not to look at the blood oozing from the puncture wound. The metallic smell made her nauseous.

“Searching for anything that might tell me who he is or who sent him.”

Knowing it could either be the king or Anna, Reid went over to the other body. Setting her sword aside, she knelt next to the man and pulled his sleeve up. No tattoo. Relief filled her. She checked the man’s pockets, not finding anything. “Now what?”

Gordon rose, wiping his face. “We need to wake the soldiers, regroup, and prepare for the journey to the City of Buckley.”

“What about…” She pointed at the bodies.

He closed his eyes. “I’m trying not to think about the fact my brother—my own flesh and blood—just sent assassins to kill us.” He looked at Reid. “How you feel about your mother is how I feel about my brother. It’s like I don’t even know him. Yet, somehow, it doesn’t surprise me that he did this.” He kicked a nearby tree. “Let’s go.”

“What about Dexter?”

“My guess is Ackley went to keep one of Dexter’s attackers alive so he could question him. That’s not something you want to witness.”

She followed Gordon to the edge of the forest. The castle still stood, flames licking out of the windows. In one section, the wooden roof had collapsed. Tears filled her eyes as a deep pain pierced her heart.

“I’m sorry,” Gordon said. “But at least we’re all safe.”

He’d never been well spoken.

Not wanting to talk about her destroyed home, she asked, “Do you think the assassins are the king’s Shields?”

“No. I didn’t recognize them.” He started walking toward the sleeping soldiers.

“How do we know it’s safe?” There could be more assassins lurking nearby.

“We don’t. But we need to rouse these men and get the fire out.”

Reid had no idea how they would do either of those things.

“Are you coming?”

She nodded. “I’ll be right there.”

Wiping the tears from her eyes, she attempted to rally her strength and courage. Right now, her energy had to be on rousing the soldiers and providing help where needed.

A distinct, pungent smell permeated the air, reminding Reid of the smell Harlan had noticed earlier in the castle. A twig snapped behind her just as an arm snaked around her body. A cloth was shoved over her mouth and nose.

Before she could protest or fight back, everything went black.

The first thing Reid became aware of was the bouncing. Her arms hung above her head, her stomach pressing against something bony as someone gripped her legs. That was when she realized a man carried her over his shoulder as he ran.

Reid’s head throbbed—whether from the valerian or the bouncing, she couldn’t be sure. Her stomach rumbled with