She was silent for a few moments, and Nathan felt his chest tighten with each quiet step. He knew it was a great burden to bear and wished he could carry it for her.
“What if I am alone?” Her voice cracked. “How can I do so much alone?”
The emotions he tried so hard to deny exploded again within him. He stopped and faced her straight on, then clasped her shoulders and leaned closer to her. “You will not face this alone. If I have to carry you to the throne of Tonam myself, I promise you will not be alone.”
“That is not your duty,” she whispered.
“No, but I mean it all the same.” He did mean it. His duty would be fulfilled when they reached James, but he knew their connection wouldn’t end there. He didn’t want it to. So much lay ahead of her and he felt he was a part of it, bound as if by fate or perhaps a force even stronger.
She stared up at him and his heart began to pound. “The others await. We should join them.” He started forward and passed a fruit stand before he realized she hadn’t followed.
“Danni?” He stepped back to her.
She rubbed at her arm. “How long until we reach the central palace?”
“Two or three days beyond two weeks.”
Her brow crinkled.
“What is wrong?” he asked, unsure why she worried.
“It is nothing. I lost track of time and realized it is nearly my eighteenth birthday.”
“You will come of age.” Nathan remembered a letter he once received from James stating James’s intentions to offer his hand to her when she turned eighteen. A tug pulled at his insides. “When is your birthday?”
“In two weeks and one day.”
They moved forward again, faster, to catch up with the others. “Hmm.” He thought hard, not sure if he could get her back for her birthday. “If you are home by then, there will be grand festivities. Coming of age is important. I will try to have you home in time, but it will be difficult. If we haven’t made it by then, I will not be able to grant you a ball with a feast, but I promise I will make your birthday special.”
She linked her arm through his. “Thank you, Nathan. I would like that.”
They continued on and soon found Will, Lane, and the brothers waiting beside the road. Doc, Garin, and Edward—who had caught up with them in the city—arrived a few moments later after purchasing their supplies.
They journeyed until evening and found a spot to camp for the night.
Chapter 18
Take your positions!” General Briggs barked. He glared out over his men while they trained the following morning. “Ready the targets! Now!”
His men obeyed, and he smiled inwardly, knowing they obeyed because they feared his wrath. He could be a very nasty man when crossed, so unlike the scared little boy he had once been.
His smile broadened and showed his crooked teeth. He reveled in the control he wielded. Oh, how he loved power and could never seem to get enough. His father and brothers had exercised cruel dominion over him in his youth, but not anymore. Only one man had supremacy over him now.
He cracked his stout knuckles and watched his men. They were slow that morning, likely exhausted from their rigorous drills, but that was no excuse! Their weakness tried his patience. Everything tried his patience lately and he knew why. He was anxious to hear from his spy. It had been several days since his first letter and he was ready to carry out his plan.
A disturbance out on the road beyond the encampment drew his attention. A man on horseback approached the camp’s entrance. The guards stopped him, questioned him, then allowed him entrance.
“General! General!” The man rode toward Briggs and waved a letter in his hands.
Excitement brought sweat to Briggs’ palms. This had to be it.
“Dismissed!” he yelled to his men, then snatched the letter from the rider’s hand. His scraggly blond hair flipped behind him as he headed to the privacy of his tent.
Once inside, he ripped the letter open and flung the envelope onto the ground. A shiver of excitement crept down his spine when he recognized the spy’s handwriting.
It read:
All is working as planned. No one suspects my false allegiance. The ring gives the princess great magic, but using it weakens her. Send men in behind us to cause fear and hasten our march. She is small and will soon tire. A few carefully placed accidents will make her use the ring and weaken herself more. Then she cannot escape. The leader is very protective—I will have to separate them. We will reach Norlin in three or four days. Meet us there with your men at the top of the east hill and she will be yours. This will be my last correspondence.
Briggs’ licked his lips. It was so easy. With little effort on his part, the most powerful woman alive would be delivered into his hands in a few days’ time.
He knew the stories of the ruby ring and assumed the magic spoken of in the letter was that in the stories—strength, protection, and healing. How interesting that using the ring weakened her. How very interesting indeed.
He would make sure she had no chance to wield her magical ring against him. The seed of a wicked plan formed in his mind and he knew how to keep her weak enough to transport to Donavan’s castle.
An evil smile played across his pudgy face as he imagined himself being rewarded by Lord Donavan…
∞∞∞
Nathan wanted to get Danni home for her birthday, so he pushed his group harder that day. No one complained, but they said little that night. Each person retired to their bedding and fell asleep.
He sent Peter and Colter to scout before the sun dawned the next morning. When the others stirred, Edward and Garin prepared a simple breakfast. He watched Danni emerge from her tent and sit by the fire. Edward handed him a bowl and he asked for another, then he went and sat by her.
“Thank you.” She accepted the bowl he offered.
“Oh!” Will let out a huge yawn and got up from his bedroll. “I am so tired. These night watches will be the death of me!”
“You are indolent.” Nathan spooned warm gruel into his mouth.
“Agreed,” Lane added while he rolled up his own blankets.
“I am not lazy, I simply value my sleep more than you.” Will stepped toward the food and whacked Lane on the back of the head as he passed.
Nathan chuckled. Will always could lighten the mood.
Will got his breakfast, then sat beside Doc.
“Will is a growing young man.” Doc patted him on the back. “He needs a bit more sleep than the rest of you.”
“See? Doctor’s orders.” Will winked at Nathan. “So quit having me take night watch.”
“Nice try, but you still have to—”
Nathan was interrupted by horse hoofs out on the road. It was Peter, who scouted the rear. He galloped into the camp and leaped from the horse before it had completely stopped.
“What is it?” Nathan stood and felt his stomach lurch with concern.
“Lord Donavan’s army. They are heading this way.” He glanced away and Nathan followed his gaze to Danni who had forgotten her food and sat with wide eyes.
“How far?” Nathan turned again to Peter.
“They are still a ways off. I was about an hour from camp when I heard some passing travelers mention a band of soldiers stationed outside a town not too far from Roater, which we left two days ago. They said they were heading this way. If that is true, then I would say they are no more than a day behind us.”
Nathan’s mind raced along with his rapid heartbeat. One day behind them. He couldn’t hide such a large group for long, and they traveled the only route to the Central Palace, well, the only route to Norlin. From there they could travel two ways to the Central Palace. If he could get them to Norlin, they could hide out and let Lord Donovan’s men pass, then see which way they traveled. He could push his group harder and beat them there. He had no other choice.
“We must leave.” He felt every eye on him. “We will move faster, break less, and end later. We must stay ahead. I nee
d scouts to keep us informed. Peter, when we catch up with Colter, I will have you two switch off scouting the rear, along with Garin. Will, Lane, and Edward, you three will switch off in the front. Two men will be gone at a time, leaving six with Danni. The scouts are to report every three hours, unless they need to return sooner. We will have to rest the horses every few hours. Garin, take the rear first, Lane take the front when we catch up with Colter.”
He paused while they nodded. “Move out!”
Every man jumped to his feet to carry out their assignments and pack the camp. When only he and Danni remained, he turned to face her. “Stay beside me.”
“I will.”
Garin left to scout the back, and the others joined Nathan and Danni. They returned to the road and continued in silence through thick forested land that gave them a respite from the blazing sun.
They stopped for a brief rest near mid-day, but Nathan urged them back to their travels. He knew the army outnumbered them and they could not afford to waste time.
His men continued to rotate through scouts and those in the back reported that Lord Donavan’s band was indeed a day’s journey behind them and closing the gap. Nathan knew that at least half the soldiers had horses so they would likely travel faster than he could hope to.
He pushed his companions hard that night. When he knew Danni could go no farther, he called a halt.
He woke them early the next morning. A faint glow along the east mountain hinted of morning’s approach. Even the birds still slept.
Peter and Will left to scout while the others hastily picked up camp.
“We will have to travel fast again today.” Nathan rubbed his stubbled chin. “I know you are all tired, but we must keep going.”
Peter returned after an hour with ill word. “Reports are that they have narrowed the gap between us. I believe they are three-quarters of a day behind.”
Will arrived shortly after Peter and Nate filled him in.
“All appears well in front,” Will said. “Could we hide in the woods and let them pass? The trees grow thick along the road for as far as I traveled. We could even stay near the road, but hidden.”
Nathan shook his head. “We have to reach Norlin so we know which direction they turn. From Norlin there are two roads that lead back to the Central Palace. One is longer, but would still work. If we beat them to Norlin we can hide there and see what road they take and then take the other. Otherwise we may run across them again. I’m sure they also have hounds that could sniff us out in the woods. The crowded city should throw them off our scent. I believe we can be there by tomorrow evening at this pace.”
“What if we don’t make it?” Will’s voice had never sounded so ominous.
“We have to make it.”
Chapter 19
Danni sank to the canopied forest floor when the company stopped to change out the horses. Pine needles poked and itched her, but she ignored them. Her body ached and her legs seemed unable to carry her farther. She watched Nathan pace back and forth. His boots crunched over pine cones, needles, and fallen leaves.
Ever since word of the approaching army had reached them she had been frightened. She wanted to cling to Nathan and hope he could protect her, but she knew she needed to be responsible for herself. She needed to push on despite her physical and mental exhaustion and do all she could to keep pace with the men. With a deep breath, she mustered all the strength that remained within her and pushed herself back to her feet. She staggered toward Nathan.
He stopped pacing and placed his hand on her shoulder. “We will rest here for a bit. It will not be long, but you should close your eyes for a few minutes.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, so relieved that she didn’t trust her emotions enough to speak aloud. She fell to her knees before him and sprawled out on the dirt and needles.
“Here.” He wadded his cloak, knelt beside her, and tucked it beneath her head.
She tried to thank him, but hadn’t the strength. Instead she closed her eyes and drew a deep breath that filled her with his comforting smell, as though he held her close—something she doubted he would ever do, though she wished for it with all her heart. With his image in her head, she drifted off to sleep.
Not twenty minutes later someone shook her shoulder, and she stirred. Through groggy eyelids, she saw Nathan above her.
“I am sorry to wake you, but we have to go.”
The others must have napped as well, for when she stood, she saw several stretch and yawn.
“It is all right.” She picked up his cloak and shook leaves off it. Before she handed it back, she brought it to her nose to take in his smell one last time. Then she held it out to him.
He gave her a strange look, took his cloak, and paused as if unsure for a moment. Then he reached for her hand. “Come along. We must hurry.”
∞∞∞
A few hours later, Nathan still walked hand in hand with Danni. He was too concerned with the nearing soldiers to worry about the appropriateness of his actions. Besides, if her hand was in his, he knew she was safe.
They had traveled briskly, but he feared the army still gained on them.
He spun around at the sound of horse hoofs and saw Colter riding toward them.
“They are closing the gap,” Colter called, then pulled the horse to a stop. “She needs a rest.” He dismounted and patted the sweaty horse, then faced Nathan. “They are little more than half a day’s journey from us.”
Nathan ran a hand through his hair. At this rate he feared they might not beat them to Norlin. He looked down at Danni’s small gloved hand, still tucked safely in his, then into her trusting eyes. He couldn’t let her be captured.
“Keep going,” he instructed the company. There wasn’t much else they could do.
They traveled as quickly as he dared push them. The forested area drew away from the road to the hills beyond, leaving them with little cover. When evening approached, he debated when to stop. There wasn’t time, but they had to maintain their strength.
The far-off clomp of horse hoofs brought his head up. The sound came from behind and grew louder until it attracted the other’s attention.
Nathan halted. “Lane, Doc, take Danni up in the hills. Now!” He pushed her toward them and brought his free hand to his sword hilt. Garin and Will were scouting, which left Peter, Colter, Edward, and himself to face the oncoming horses.
“Come, Princess.” Doc led her toward the hills beyond the road that were dotted with thick pine and maple trees.
They were barely out of sight when five men on horses came around the bend. As they drew closer Nathan could tell they were Lord Donavan’s men, probably a scouting group.
The riders reined in their horses when they were near enough that Nathan could feel the animals’ heavy breath on his arm.
“What can I do for you men?” He kept his hand on his sword hilt and ignored his desire to step back.
“Where is the girl?” The largest rider stepped his horse forward.
“What girl? My three friends and I are traveling to Norlin. We haven’t seen any women along this road in days.”
The man drew his sword from its sheath. Nathan drew his equally fast and heard the other men from both groups do the same.
“We know the girl is with you,” the front rider said. “We received information from other travelers that a girl with auburn hair travels with your company.” He pointed up into the hills where Danni hid. “Did you send her up there?” The man turned his horse in that direction.
Nathan stepped before the horse. “If you have no business with us, I suggest you continue on your way.” His voice was steady and strong.
The man’s gaze searched the hills and hunger shone in his eyes. His eagerness made Nathan’s blood turn to fire, and he desired to run the man through. Instead, he shoved the horse’s head to turn it back the way it had come.
Then the man kicked out hard and caught him unexpectedly in the chest. Nathan hit the ground, the wind knocked
from him. Peter drew his sword and aimed a blow at the rider, but the rider pulled hard on his horse’s reins. The horse lifted its front legs and kicked. A hoof aimed straight at Peter’s head was deflected as though a barrier stood between him and the horse.
Nathan cursed under his breath. He knew Danni must have protected Peter, and he knew Lord Donavan’s soldiers knew it too.
The soldier scanned the hills, then turned his horse, dug his heels in, and headed back along the road. The others followed. No doubt they were racing off to tell the army that they had found Princess Dannilynn’s group.
“Are you all right?” Colter asked.
Nathan clambered to his feet and rubbed his chest, then glanced at Peter. “We have to get to Norlin!”
Doc, Lane, and Danni soon joined them.
“Nathan, are you all right?” Danni ran to his side.
He brushed her concerned hands off his arm. “You have to save your strength! You are going to need it.” He turned to the others. “We must travel late into the night.”
They journeyed quickly. Danni remained beside him and nearly jogged to keep pace, but she spoke not a word.
Nathan knew she could barely keep up with them, yet he dared not slow down. If she weakened herself by using the ring again, he would have to slow the group, and the soldiers would overcome them. Over his frustration, he remembered his promise to be kind to her. He took her hand. “Forgive me for reacting harshly. I was worried for you.”
“You needn’t worry,” she panted. “I am sorry I didn’t react fast enough to protect you.”
“Don’t waste your strength on me.” Before he could say more, Garin caught up to them.
“Nate! Are you all right? I saw the five riders, but didn’t have a horse. I couldn’t warn you.”
“They know Danni is with us.” Nathan sent Peter out to scout, and urged his companions onward even though darkness fell.
Peter returned late. “They have stopped and set up camp for the night.”
The Power of The Ruby Ring Page 9
