Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92232 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 461(@200wpm)___ 369(@250wpm)___ 307(@300wpm)
“Wait,” I call out and reach for her.
“It is for you to decide. How will you save the child?”
“I need to know more,” I plea.
The light appears once again and she steps into it. I shiver and ball my fists at my sides. Then, a voice fills my head.
“Take the course the gods send you on. One will make the wrong decision, but a second chance will be given. The others will walk the path given and time will bring favor.
“Now run, child. They are coming.”
My heart fills with fear. Her words sink in. Other dangers now pursue you and your sisters.
Who could be coming? What’s going on in the city? Swiftly, I turn and gather the scrolls, shoving them into my satchel. The sconces relight, causing me to look around.
“Yanique, I’ve found her,” Annaniah calls, then she turns to me. “Venus, we must go. The soldiers are coming for us. They are riding for the village. We need to flee.”
I throw my bag across my body and rush toward my sister. Annaniah takes my hand in a tight squeeze when I reach her. I tighten my fingers around hers and pull her with me.
“Wait,” I say to my sisters as Yanique and Zandra meet up with us at the base of the stairs leading up to the sanctuary.
“What is it?” Yanique says in impatience.
“The book, we should take it if we need to flee.”
Zandra turns for The Book of Paths. A gasp leaves her and she turns to look back at me. Her eyes are wide and filled with fear.
“It is gone. How is it gone? Will we be able to exit?”
“It is not gone. I can feel its presence,” Yanique says.
“But sister, look. It is not upon the podium. Have one of you moved it for study?”
“No, I haven’t,” Annaniah says.
“Neither have I,” Yanique interjects.
I go with my instincts as I, too, can feel the book’s presence. I turn for the stairs and lead the way up.
“Forget it. It will find us in the right time. We must go,” I say firmly.
I move as fast as I can to get away from this place before we’re trapped. My mind goes to Kendrick. He has taken to the valley to train.
He isn’t expected to be back for another few days. He is out too far for me to send someone to get him. We are on our own.
We burst through on the upper level. The sanctuary is silent, but that doesn’t fool me into a sense of security. In fact, while the sanctuary is still, the sound of chaos comes from outside.
The villagers are panicked. Fear of the king’s soldiers is something they live with daily. To have them riding into the village has to be terrifying.
“Let’s go. I will lead us out. Arm yourselves,” I say.
“No, I will lead. You get behind me,” Yanique says.
“It is fine. I will be fine.”
“Sister, no,” Yanique growls.
“What’s going on? What haven’t you two told us? Something has been going on,” Annaniah says.
“Once we get out of here, I will tell you everything. Remember everything Kendrick and I have taught you. We mustn’t be captured and taken to the city.”
Yanique closes her eyes and murmurs an incantation. Twin swords appear on her back, and a whip in her hand. Looking to my other two sisters, I see they also have called upon their gifts to form weapons.
Zandra has her shield and axe, while Annaniah has her two chakrams. Unlike my sisters, I don’t need incantations to conjure my weapons like I once did as a young girl. With the wave of my hands before me, I have my bow ready.
We rush out of the sanctuary, and Henry, one of our loyal servants, is waiting for us with his wagon and horse. I hate to have him in the middle of this, but we will get further with his help. Henry helps us all into the wagon like a gentleman.
“Thank you,” I say.
He winks at me. “Anytime, mistress.”
Once all are settled in, Henry takes off toward the woods that lead to the forbidden valley, as the villagers call it. Wise idea, Kendrick has enchanted the woods and valley to keep the humans away. The soldiers should fear following after us.
“Night has fallen. They should have a harder time tracking us,” Yanique whispers.
“Will you tell us what’s going on now?” Annaniah whines.
I go to open my mouth, but the sound of horses following after us catches my ear. I shake my head at my sister. Lifting my bow, I use the light from the tip of my arrow to find my target as the sound grows nearer.
An arrow whizzes by my ear. My sisters cry out, but I have no time to turn to see why. I release the arrow and send a rider from his mount.