Free Quest Of The Dragon Tamer (Book 1) by Cole Pain Page B

to think of a way to free the heirs of Crape he had failed to notice Chris’ spasms. Evann quickly cut Chris’ restraints and pulled him off the saddle.
    Then Manda was beside him, broken ropes dangling from her ankles and wrists. The rage in her soft green eyes, more so than the dagger in her hand, forced Evann back a step. Even though he knew he would feel the tip of her blade at any time, he was consumed by an overwhelming pride. Manda had escaped without his help. Nothing could stand in the way of something she wanted. But instead of turning his way, Manda collapsed beside Chris and placed the dagger in his mouth, forcing him to bite down on its leather casing.
    Chris stilled, as if Manda’s touch had cured him.
    “Please, Evann, bring me some water.”
    Evann nodded and went to his horse, glad she had given him something to do. He felt helpless, both in body and in spirit. He unhooked the leather water bag and watched Manda dab Chris’ feverish forehead. Chris moaned painfully. Manda’s soft whispers of encouragement floated to Evann, emptying any doubts he still held of her innocence.
    Evann’s heart broke anew. He loved Manda, always had. Although he was ten years her senior she had such vibrancy he had become enamored with her years ago. He knew it was foolish. Manda was an heir. He was just a swordsman in her father’s army. But the fact remained he loved her, and he had been in turmoil since leaving Stardom.
    The sound of galloping horses tore him from his thoughts. Vos and Yov topped the ridge, leading Manda’s mount. Evann raised his hands, indicating he could explain. The twins needed to hear what Manda had to say.
    “Evann, Manda has to be tied –”
    Before Evann could react, Manda’s dagger sailed past his right ear, missing him by a hair, and impaled Yov in the neck. Vos released a yelp as he plunged off his horse to catch his brother, but Yov was dead before he hit the ground. Vos’s eyes darted to each side as the Mar immediately began to take hold. Evann watched in revulsion as Vos rocked back and forth in the grass with his brother in his arms, the rest of them forgotten.
    Evann spun, expecting a knife aimed at his own back, but Manda’s biting green eyes only flashed a warning.
    “I’m not going to harm you, Evann. We are, or were, friends.” Her words stung, but he deserved them. “I know more than you do about the twins. They were under orders to kill us. I really don’t care if you believe me. I just want to save my brother.”
    Manda’s eyes were fire. Evann glanced back at Vos. The twin’s body quivered as the Mar continued to tighten its grip. Evann repressed a shudder. Although twins were respected throughout the Lands, he wouldn’t ever dream that horror on himself. Twins never married, never had a life of their own. If one twin ventured into a room without the other the Mar would claim them. Vos would die, not because of any hurt to himself but because Yov’s death had opened a black void inside him, drawing Vos to it, claiming him for its own. A twin couldn’t survive without his other half, as if he was connected in body and not in mind. Vos would die a gruesome, yet unexplainable death.
    Manda watched Vos with both regret and acceptance. It was either her life or theirs, but her eyes betrayed her sorrow. Although Evann knew he should kill Vos and put the second twin out of his misery, he had never taken a life before. He didn’t even know if he could.
    Manda’s knife still protruded from Yov’s throat, shaming Evann even more. Not many soldiers could have made that throw. He wouldn’t have been able to make that throw. But Manda had studied under her cousin Jolin. Unlike most women, she had learned how to wield most weapons from the back of a horse, knives included.
    Evann suddenly recalled the soldier from Fest who had read Valor’s order. He hadn’t sensed anything unusual at the time, but the soldier must have given Manda the knife. Evann’s shame grew. He