Warrior Rising - By Pamela Palmer Page 0,75

the mounted Esri were visible at last, winding through the rocky paths high above them.

"Arrow range, Tarrys?" Charlie asked.

"Not quite. I need to be closer."

"No problem." Charlie stepped on the accelerator and the car bucked forward over the rocky ground.

Harrison tightened his hold on Ilaria's shoulders, keeping her firmly against him so she didn't bounce around as Charlie tried to close the distance between them and their quarry. The vehicle lurched and skidded, moving too fast for the good of the car, she was sure, but there was too much at stake to worry about an inanimate object. One that would not be of use to them much longer.

"What about now?" Charlie asked.

"Yes." Tarrys grabbed her bow and quiver from the back, then turned and lowered the window beside her. She started to rise as if to lean out, but Charlie stopped her.

"Hold on. The path turns up ahead. You'll have a straight shot."

The Marceil sat back, pulled an arrow and cocked her bow, waiting. As Charlie promised, the car turned into a curve, giving Tarrys a clear view of the gray terrain and the Esri dotting it.

"Aim for King Rith. If you slow him, you slow them all."

Tarrys began firing her arrows...one, two, three, four. All met their mark, three burying themselves in Rith's neck, one in his cheek.

"Extraordinary," Ilaria murmured. The arrows wouldn't hurt him, but they might stop him for a few minutes.

The Marceil glanced at her, a small smile on her mouth, before pulling a fifth arrow. But as she cocked her bow, a loud pop sounded from beneath the SUV. The vehicle lurched sideways, throwing Ilaria against Tarrys even as Harrison crashed against her own shoulder, sandwiching her between them.

"We blew a tire." Charlie slammed his palm against the steering wheel. "I brought a couple of spares but I don't think we have enough open ground left to make changing it worth the time. We're hoofing it, boys and girls!"

Harrison straightened, his concerned gaze shooting from her to Tarrys and back again. "Are you two okay?"

Ilaria flashed him a cheeky grin. "We're immortal."

To her surprise, an answering smile lifted the corners of his mouth, lighting his face like a dozen moons. Her heart squeezed with pleasure even as his smile disappeared as quickly as it came.

As one, the five poured out of the vehicle and began running. On the journey, they'd discussed their plan and decided it amounted to only one thing. Catch Rith. Stop him and they stopped his evil.

Simple.

And oh, so difficult.

Ilaria gazed up the steep, rocky slope at Rith and his guards being carried steadily upward by their mounts while she and her companions followed on foot. They'd never catch him before he reached the Temple of the Ancients. Hopefully, the kind of magic he sought to raise would take time. If not, they really would fail.

Charlie, Tarrys and Findris took off, quickly outdistancing her. She could run well enough, but there was no denying the full skirt of her gown hampered her progress while Tarrys wore human clothing - pants and running shoes.

Harrison held out his hand to her and she took it, feeling him take much of the weight off her feet as he pulled her along beside him. Still, she knew she held him back.

"Harrison, go on with the others. I'll follow as I can."

A moment's indecision flickered in his eyes, then disappeared as if it had never been. "I'm not leaving you unprotected." No resentment colored his words. In his face she saw nothing but loyalty and a fierce tenderness that swelled her heart and lightened her step. "I'm staying with you, Princess."

His promise burrowed deep in her heart, filling her with the vehement wish that he would do just that. Stay with her forever even as she knew such a dream was impossible. He was mortal. And she would likely never be free of Esria. If they beat Rith, she might, possibly, be queen. If they failed, she'd face imprisonment again. Or death, as her mother had.

She turned her mind to the task ahead, watching Tarrys dart over the rocks, and Charlie barrel his way up the hill through sheer brute strength. Findris followed close behind the pair, his lean body made to run. They were slowly closing the distance between them and Rith although the royal horses took the path with ease. Ilaria began to believe they might yet be in time.

The Temple of the Ancients lay just over the next rise.

But no sooner had she