Free Alaric's Bow: A Book of the Amari by KateMarie Collins Page A

heard the others come back into the room, but continued to stare into the fire. He wasn’t sure if he was numb or overwhelmed knowing that Erien’s life was beyond any horror he might have imagined. Kaerdan sober was bad enough. Drunk would’ve been even uglier.
                  “We have two days. I say we leave in one.” Emile’s voice pierced the fog in his head. “Fin and I will do what we must tonight. We leave again at first light.”
                  At some point, Gwen handed him a plate with food on it. “Eat,” she commanded. “Emile’s going to move us fast for a few days. He’ll want to get us out of Lorien lands sooner rather than later.”
                  “Shouldn’t worry yourself too much about your lady friend, Alaric,” Trystian’s voice stayed low. “She’s a survivor. If she couldn’t handle her life, she would’ve been dead by now.” Alaric heard the scrape of a whetstone across the large man’s blade. “You did good, turning her down. She’d have sunk her claws in deep and had you leading a rebellion if you’d slept with her.”
                  “What is so important that Emile and Fin had to come back here?” Alaric asked, not really expecting an answer.
                  “Twenty years ago, he found Fin. In a sewer here in Lorien. She was really young, maybe five years old, and thought she could hide. Barely knew how to keep her eyes hidden. Before he took her out, he left a message down there. Promising to come back with her every ten years. So her family would know when they could find her again, or any other unchained Amari knew when help would be there.”
                  Alaric switched his chair around, facing Trystian. The other man sat calmly on a sofa, sharpening his blade with even strokes.
                  “Have her parents ever come? Or another Amari?”
                  Trystian shrugged, “No. I hadn’t been with them long when we came back the first time. Fin was still fairly young then. Hadn’t learned to guard her emotions like she can now. Tore her up to leave without anyone. Not even a sigil left behind saying her parents had even gone down there.”
                  “She changed not long after that,” Gwen spoke up. “Stopped hoping, began to see us as her family. If anyone was there tonight, I think she’d be cautious before accepting their word as truth. We’ve had too many close calls. She’s seen how easily other Amari fall prey to slavers who pretend to be something they’re not.”
                  The sound of the secret door opening up alerted them all. Trystian and Gwen took up a ready stance while Alaric grabbed at his bow. If he could string it fast enough, he might get a shot in.
                  A woman stepped into the room, her head lowered. Short brown hair and a slight frame. A thin band of metal encircled her wrist.
                  “Holly?” Alaric said, stunned.
                  She raised his head. “My mistress sends word. She has been summoned by His Majesty, to answer for her whereabouts earlier today. She regrets to inform you she may not be able to give you the full time promised.” Silently, Holly retreated back through the hidden passage.
                  Alaric looked at Trystian and Gwen. “Gwen, grab their packs. We’ll meet them at the exit,” Trystian’s beard shook as he spoke. “Alaric, keep that bow strung. We may need it yet.”
                  Within minutes, the trio had everything in hand. “There’s a back staircase. Emile used it to go out with Fin.” Gwen motioned to them from the connecting door. “We should be fine using it. He wouldn’t have taken her that way if it wasn’t safe.”
                  Alaric shrugged, adjusting his pack on his shoulders. “Go. I’ll take up the rear.” With Gwen leading