A World Apart The Jake Thomas Trilogy - By Steven A. Tolle Page 0,112

instant. She laid her hands on Maxis, surveying the damage. "Jake, when I tell you to, I want you to remove the dagger. Try and pull it out straight." Hailyn told him. Her power began to flow into the dog. "Now, Jake."

Using both hands, Jake pulled the dagger out quickly, Maxis shifting in pain. Hailyn's power flared and Jake watched as the wound sealed. Once Hailyn was finished and stepped back, Maxis shook his head, then surged to his feet, standing on unsteady legs. Jake felt a rush of relief at the sight.

"They were looking for you, Jake." Norlan's voice said quietly. Jake turned back to the porch. Norlan had shifted into a sitting position. "I heard them talking about you. They sent one of their men to check your room."

Jake glanced around, realizing something in the chaos. "Where is Cherise?"

Norlan's face fell, tears coming to his eyes. Madalin threw her head back and wailed, her voice sounding as if her very soul was being torn apart. "They took her!!"

Jake felt as if a hammer had been taken to his heart. His mind seemed to go blank as he turned and ran to Dontas. "Which way did they go?!" He shouted as he leapt into the saddle.

"Jake, no!!" He heard Hailyn and Madalin cry out together, Hailyn running to reach him.

"Which way?!" He demanded again. One of the neighbors pointed towards the south. Jake booted Dontas and took off after them, the thought of Cherise in the half-men's hands chilling him to the core when he recalled his treatment.

He was able to follow their trail fairly easily. The half-men were desperate to get away and did not let anything stand in their way. There were groups of people along the way helping the injured or taking care of the dead. He came across a wagon team, the horses missing and the driver dead in the seat. That meant that they were probably on horseback now. Based on the path they were taking, Jake surmised that they were heading for the South Gate. Deciding to risk losing the trail for the opportunity to get ahead of them, Jake leaned over Dontas' neck and ran him straight for the South Gate.

When he arrived, he stopped as the courtyard near the gate was in chaos. Jake saw several clerics battling a demon, their power crackling the air while groups of soldiers and cavalry were fighting with a large group of half-men, the few archers on the wall raining arrows down at the demon and half-men. The gates themselves were open.

"Jake!" Jake looked to his right as Armartas rode up, a bloody sword in his hand. "You shouldn't be here. You are not ready for this yet."

"Some half-men took Cherise, Armartas." Jake replied. "They were on horseback and headed here. I have to get her back!"

"A small group rode through minutes ago and headed straight out the gate. The half-men here damaged the doors so we cannot shut them." Armartas said, attention still focused on the battle. "We feathered two of them on the other side, but at least three got away." He turned and reached over to grasp Jake's arm, a look of sorrow in his eyes. "There is nothing you can do about it now, Jake. I cannot spare the men until I am sure we have cleared the city. I am sorry."

"Thank you for everything, Armartas." Jake said quietly, then booted Dontas ahead, racing through the gate, Armartas' cry to stop falling behind.

As they came out of the gate and Dontas powered down the road, Jake saw the two half-men lying on the ground, each with multiple arrows piercing their bodies. He saw no trace of Cherise, so he rode on.

The clouds that had been covering the area began to thin out and moonlight began to reach the ground. Jake could see fresh hoofprints in the damp dirt, so he followed them, losing them every now and again as the clouds blocked the moonlight.

He had ridden for several miles when the moonlight shone again and he saw a dark line stretching across the grass that covered the area, heading towards the wooded hills. Jake stopped where the line met the road. He saw that the hoofprints ended there and the dark line was the path of trampled grass. Thinking there could be no other explanation, Jake turned Dontas and followed the trail.

When he reached the woods, he found that the trees were tightly packed. He did not see how he could