Free The King of Anavrea (Book Two of the Theodoric Saga) by Rachel Rossano Page A

reward
when he finished a job.” Lirth tried to think back to the horrific
hours spent in the man’s company many years ago. A soft thump came
from Ireic’s side of the bed.
    “What did they call him?” The question was
punctuated by another soft thump and the rustle of material.
    “Councilor– One of the women called him
Councilor.”
    The bed shifted and dipped as Ireic moved. Lirth
burrowed deeper into the heavy blankets wrapped around her as she
reclined on the bed.
    “Anything is possible in this government.” He
sighed wearily. “I will speak to your women and find out.”
    “And if they will not speak of him?” Lirth asked
hesitantly.
    “They will.” The bed dipped again and a warm
hand brushed Lirth’s arm. “Sleep. I will worry for the both of
us.”
     
    ~~~~~~
     
    “ Silence, Brat,” an oily whisper instructed
Lirth.
    Her captor's foul breath flooded her senses.
The mixture of bad ale and fish made Lirth’s stomach turn. If she
lost her lunch now, she would drown in it. This man would not
release her mouth with her brothers so close.
    “ If they find us because of you, Brat, I will
kill them.” The rasp of the man's voice and the stench of his sweat
distracted Lirth from anything she might have heard. “Don't doubt
that I will. I am only getting paid for fetching you.”
    Her heart fell as she heard the others
approaching.
    “ No!” Her heart screamed in agony as she
heard the branches part. She felt the man holding her shift his
weight. He was going to kill her brother! She struggled but could
not move. “No!”

    ~~~~~~ 

    “Lirth.” A male voice harshly whispered next to
her ear. Suddenly finding her hands freed, she flung her arm in the
direction of the voice. It connected with something.
    “Let me go.” She jabbed an elbow in the
direction of the person behind her. She had to save Aarint.
    “Stop, Lirth.” The man grunted as she found her
mark. Then he grabbed her hands and immobilized them firmly. So she
started screaming.
    She was abruptly muffled by a large, hard hand
over her mouth. It pinned her head back against a powerful shoulder
and exposed her neck. Once again, she was helpless. Despair washed
over her in a tidal wave. She fought tears.
    Slowly, her senses settled. She became aware of
the man restraining her. His ragged breathing in her ear didn’t
smell of wine or fish. Once she realized that, she became aware of
other details, like the softness beneath her and the gentleness of
the grip on her arms. A different sense of dread gripped her
stomach and she suddenly began to cry in earnest. The hold on her
loosened immediately.
    “I have not hurt you, have I?” This time she
recognized the voice.
    When she tried to move her head, Ireic’s hands
instantly withdrew, leaving her feeling more desolate than
before.
    “I am sorry.” She gasped between the sobs that
still convulsed in the back of her throat.
    Ireic fell back onto the bed with a groan.
    “Did I hurt you?” her voice cracked and broke.
Spreading her fingers, she cautiously reached toward the sound of
his breathing. “I was dreaming and thought you were–” She found his
arm and followed it to his shoulder.
    “Thought I was…?” He left the sentence
hanging.
    Lirth froze as a hand brushed the top of her
head. A thumb stroked her cheek and then hesitated when it
encountered tears. The previous statement forgotten, she found
herself on her back. Ireic hovered above her.
    “Who is Aarint?” Something brushed the tears
from under her eye. His voice sounded soft, but unreadable.
    “My brother.” His fingers attended to the other
eye.
    “Which one?” He sounded amused, but Lirth could
not figure out why.
    “The youngest.”
    “Lirth.” He captured her head between his hands
and she could feel his steady gaze on her face. “I am trying to
help. Explain.”
    “I have three brothers: Joman, Lloyden, and
Aarint. They are all older than I am.”
    Ireic released her head, but did not back