A World Apart The Jake Thomas Trilogy - By Steven A. Tolle Page 0,103

soiled clothes and rest."

Dominic looked down at her, an amused look in his eyes. "Whatever you say, Sister." He said mockingly, giving her a little bow. Hailyn flushed at the remark, but did not answer.

"I'm going to find Jonas." Dominic stated, heading towards the door. He called another apprentice over and sent her to get Norlan. He turned back to Jake. "We need to discuss this. Wait here until I return."

...

Captain Stradford stopped his horse near the edge of the woods, looking down at the meadow, a light green oasis in the wooded hills, the grass rich and thick as the sunlight danced across it, dappled in the shadows of the clouds passing above. It was just as Martis had described it.

Stradford had grown close to the man over the last several weeks, meeting him before and after duty. He did not have many close friends, so it was nice to have a male confidant. After Stradford had mentioned the tensions with his wife, Martis had suggested that a picnic away from the city may be what they needed. He said he had passed through this meadow when he got turned around in the woods and it was a very peaceful place.

He glanced over at his shoulder to watch his wife and young daughter ride up on their other horse. His wife, a slender and pretty woman with long brown hair, seemed pleased by the choice, a happy smile on her face, her brown eyes sparkling. His eight-year-old daughter, whom he felt took after his wife, was restless and fidgeting, clearly ready to get off the horse.

Hopeful that the rest of the day would continue his wife's good mood, Stradford climbed off his horse, tying the reins to a nearby tree and went to help his daughter and wife down. After securing their horse, he helped his wife set up the picnic blanket and lay out the meal while their daughter played nearby, laughing and running about. Stradford ran out after her, playing and chasing her around until his wife called out that the food was ready.

They slowly ate their meal, enjoying the beautiful day. After finishing the meal, Stradford sat listening to his daughter tell a story about her day in school while his wife smiled happily as she put the plates and utensils into a bag to take back to wash. After their daughter said something that caused Stradford to laugh loudly, his wife glanced over at him, clearly glad that he was spending time with their daughter. Stradford was watching her face, appreciating her beauty, feeling the tension fading between them, when he saw her look past him, eyes going wide with horror, a scream bursting from her throat.

Stradford started to leap up when rough hands grabbed him, wrestling with him to pin his arms behind his back, tie them with a rope and pull him to his feet. He saw several rough-looking men in dark leather pants and shirts, with rings of metal sewn in, armed with swords and daggers. They all had that slightly crazed look in the eyes that he had always been told about: half-men! They had him secured; his only weapon was his sword that was hanging uselessly from the saddle on his horse.

They had seized his daughter and wife as well, their wails of terror ringing across the hills. The man who had his daughter simply put his hand over her mouth to muffle her cries. Another slapped his wife across the face to stop her.

To Stradford's surprise, his wife lashed out with her leg, kicking the man in the groin. He staggered back, holding himself and cursing, while the others laughed.

"You shouldn't have done that." The man rasped at Stradford's wife, as he recovered and drew his dagger. "Now I will make you scream for real." The man advanced on her, murder in his eyes. "Hold her still." The man told the others holding her.

Stradford cried out, renewing his struggle against his captors, desperate to get free. He was struck on the back of his head, causing him to collapse to his knees, helpless as the man brought the dagger up to his wife's face, the point next to her eye.

Suddenly, a bolt of dark energy streaked past Stradford, its passing sounding as if the very air was ripping apart, coming from behind him, striking the man threatening his wife. It blasted him away from her, surrounding him, consuming him in its dark fire. The man screamed briefly, a cry