Free The Daughters Daring (The Daughters Daring & The Enchanted Forest Book 1) by Steven J. Thompson

parents. Now I have their children, and soon I will have their beloved kingdom!”
         Though still suspended above the floor, Emily tried to reach back for her pack. The witch saw this and, with a wave of her hand, the pack was pulled from Emily’s shoulders and placed at the witch's feet. Emily was then flung to the wall next to Elizabeth. As the energy held her, the webs snaked around her arms and legs like vines.
         “I wonder what you wanted in here?” the witch said picking up the pack. She reached in with the hand that wore the silver and purple ring, searching the contents, until she seemed to find something.
         Then she screamed.

Chapter 10
     
         Duke Daring ran through the city toward the guardhouse at the gate nearest the Enchanted Forest. Although there were other gates that could be attacked, this one was the most likely. He hoped he would reach it in time.
         As he neared the gate, he saw no activity. There were two guards, both asleep, sitting just inside the gate entrance, half-eaten slices of sweetberry pie beside them. One guard appeared to have a broken nose from an earlier scuffle.
         As the duke surveyed the scene, a chubby boy walked up. “They're not supposed to be sleeping like that,” he said.
         “What is your name, boy?”
         “Nathan Wormington, sir,” the boy answered.
         “Nathan,” the Duke said, kneeling to his level, “I am Duke Daring. You know my daughters.” The boy nodded and winced. The memory of Elizabeth's arrow still smarted.
         “Nathan, I need you to run to the king's court as fast as you can. Tell them the kingdom is under attack! Tell them I sent you! This is of the highest importance. Do you understand?” The boy nodded, his eyes wide.
         “Go now, quickly!” The duke watched the portly boy's attempt at running and shook his head. If there were time he would chuckle, but time was something he was sure he didn't have. He quickly moved to the guardhouse and pounded on the door. Receiving no answer, he tried the knob but it was locked.
         The guardhouse not only housed an extra reserve of city guards, but also protected the windlass that was used for raising or lowering the portcullis. For a single man, lowering it would be fast and simple, but he had to reach the windlass to do it.
         A horn sounded from outside the gate. The duke knew the sound well. It was an ogre war horn, followed by the heavy footsteps of an approaching army. Time was definitely something he no longer had.
         Taking a step back and lowering his shoulder, the Duke rammed into the door with all his might. The door stood firm and sent the duke bouncing back onto the ground. Determined, he brushed himself off and tried again. The door did not budge.
         “Perhaps we can help?” The small voice seemed to come from the ground.
         The duke looked down to see a pair of gnomes, dressed in battle gear, standing at his feet.
         “Gnomes!” the Duke roared. “You brought the pies that poisoned the guards, and me!”
         “Yes, my apologies Sir Daring,” the gnome answered, “but now we are here to help.”
         “Help?” The Duke said furiously. “I should sooner trust a foul goblin!”
         The Duke grabbed the little fellow by his armor straps and held him up against the wall, face-to-face.
         The little man reached into his pocket. “Your daughter said to give you this.” He held out a slip of folded paper.
         “My daughter—where is she?” He dropped the gnome to read the note. “It says you’re Randolph, and that I should trust you.”
         The sound of the approaching army grew louder. “There are goblins out there, Sir Daring,” Randolph said, motioning toward the gate, "and ogres. Please let us help!”
         “How?” The duke asked.
         “That window, above the door," Randolph answered. “Quickly, toss us