the game.
“Ah, no, I don’t.”
“We’ll buy one then.”
* * * * *
Sasha walked close to her friend. She couldn’t believe that Sara was here, but at the same time Sasha felt sad to see her. When Sara had been taken into the queen’s care Sasha had always just hoped that she would be made a common servant of some sort, but that obviously hadn’t happened. Sara looked like she was shell shocked and obviously scared about what could happen to her.
Arkin left to buy Sara a new horse. Legon and Kovos took to walking around the group in wide, meandering circles. Over the last few days Arkin had started to teach them defensive techniques that they now were employing.
“You guys have been through a lot, haven’t you?” Sara asked. Sasha started a bit.
“You could say that. I will tell you more on the road, but yes, we’ve had a hard run so far. Are you ok?”
“I’m fine, just nervous is all.”
“I can see that. Are you worried about getting caught?”
“Yes. If the mark on my neck is gone I should be ok, but still.”
Arkin came back shortly with a new horse in tow. He was also accompanied by a group of children leading the other horses along. He handed the reins of the new one to Sara. She took them and they all began to exit the city. Two soldiers stood guard at the city gate. One was young looking with shaggy, sandy hair and a long nose. It appeared that he was new because he was eyeing every passerby with interest. The other was older looking with a short, scruffy beard and a look of extreme boredom on his face. As they passed, the younger guard stopped them.
“Hold up. You know you can’t leave,” he said, directing his voice at Sara.
“And why can’t she leave?” Arkin asked in a challenging voice.
“Because she belongs to the brothel up the way, that’s why.”
Chapter Thirteen
Imperia
“In all my research I have yet to truly understand the depth of the journey that the Everser Vald made, but I think that if we narrow our focus we can find individual events within that journey and learn from them. Maybe if we understand we can recreate greatness, but perhaps not.”
-Atavus Imperata House Evindass, Secunum Renovatie
Kovos knew that they needed to act fast before the situation got out of hand. He walked up to the man.
“What do you mean the brothel?” He tried to put as much menace in his tone as he could.
“She’s a whore. I have her at least once a week. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?” The man smiled at Sara, who was looking terrified.
Kovos wasn’t sure if it was a good idea, but it was worth a shot. He dropped his horse’s reins and lunged forward, hitting the man hard in the mouth and sending him sprawling back. His companion leaped up and stood between them, sword drawn and leveled at Kovos. People were walking away quickly, not wanting to be a part of whatever was going to happen.
“What do you think you’re doing? That’s a…,” the older soldier started.
“I’ll have a go at anyone that calls my fiancée a whore!” Kovos roared at the men.
The soldier on the ground was getting up and spluttering. “She’s a whore, I know she is!” the younger one said.
Arkin turned Sara around and lifted the back of her hair, showing her unblemished neck. “Are you sure?” he said.
The older man stretched his neck to look and then turned to his companion and hit him in the gut.
“You imbecile! She’s not marked! And to think I was going to defend your worthless hide.” He turned back to Kovos and Sara. “I’m sorry, he’s new. I would still warn you, however, not to hit a soldier, but in this case I understand. I would have done the same. Just move along.” He eyed his downed companion with distaste.
Kovos walked up to Sara and placed his hand gently on hers. “Come on, dear. I’m sorry about this.” There was no way that had worked. He thought for sure the men would figure it out. He and Sara hadn’t even been standing close to each other. They mounted their horses and started south away from Salez.
After they had some distance behind them, Arkin rode in close to him. “That was some fast thinking on your part.”
“Is that a good thing? I took a big risk.”
“Perhaps, but shocking the men was about the only way to get out of that, I’m afraid.”
It