Free Capture by Annabelle Jacobs Page A

eyes and nodded. “I promise.”

Chapter 5

     
     
    T WO DAYS later, Cerylea, Ryneq, and half of the palace guard set out from Torsere. Since the elves were providing almost everything for the wedding, they had little to carry with them. Ryneq looked up, shielding his eyes from the bright sun to see the twelve dragon riders circling high above them. He wondered for a moment if Nykin was up there—he’d specifically avoided asking which riders Eldin had selected—before pushing all thoughts of him to the back of his mind and concentrating on the road ahead.
    They wound their way down from the Stone Palace, passing through the surrounding villages until the land leveled out. Cerylea had insisted on sleeping outside with Ryneq and the others when they camped for the night. She’d said a tent would just add excess baggage and she’d feel safer surrounded by guards. Ryneq had grudgingly agreed but had hardly slept that night.
    Two hours into the journey the following day and everyone was on edge, constantly looking around for the slightest hint of danger. Even the horses could feel it. Ryneq had calmed his stallion at least twice already, and he heard several of his men doing the same behind him.
    “Nysad.” Ryneq pulled up alongside his second-in-command. “We’re about half an hour’s ride from the edge of the tree line. Make sure your men are in position.”
    “Yes, Sire.”
    They’d decided it would be safest for the princess to travel in the middle of the line of soldiers, so at the first sign of attack they could protect her on three sides while she escaped. Nysad and ten of his men moved into position, surrounding Cerylea and dropping back into the middle of the line.
    The dragons swooped low overhead, circling wide around the convoy, and Ryneq was confident that out here at least they wouldn’t get taken by surprise. Far sooner than he’d like, though, they reached the edge of the forest and then began to pick their way through the trees. The huge trunks rose up around them, reaching toward the sky and blocking out more and more light the deeper they went. Soon enough Ryneq could no longer see anything but branches and leaves, and he felt the first shivers of apprehension as he realized they were now on their own. The dragon riders would be of no help now and would already be heading toward the bridge.
    The path they were following was only wide enough to ride three abreast, so the soldiers were spread out a lot more than Ryneq was comfortable with. He looked back over his shoulder down the line of men and horses, pleased to note that Cerylea was sandwiched between Nysad and one of his men.
    Apart from the rustle of horses’ hooves through the leaves scattered over the forest floor, the group was mostly silent. Every ear strained to detect movement in the trees. Ryneq rode at the head of the line, his gaze sweeping back and forth through the trees with every step they took. He had an uneasy feeling, not helped by the fact the trees were cutting out a lot of the sun’s light. It made him want to urge his horse to go faster and run all the way to the bridge. But he kept his feet still in the stirrups, and his hands steady on the reins, refusing to show even the slightest hint of nerves.
    They were almost there. If Ryneq listened hard enough, he could hear the rushing waters of the Neest River. He signaled behind for his men to be extra vigilant. If an attack was going to happen, it would be here, and Ryneq’s blood coursed through his veins in anticipation.
    Gradually the trees thinned out a little, allowing more light to seep in through the branches, and Ryneq could just about make out the start of the bridge. He couldn’t see the other side from here, but another fifteen yards and he’d be able to see up into the sky and hopefully catch sight of his dragon riders.
    Finally he broke through the tree line and was met with the glorious sight of the river, swirling past and underneath the bridge. They’d