Free Powerful Magic by Karen Whiddon Page A

her to the broad back of his horse.   To her credit, she made no sound, though her entire body might have become wood, so stiff did she hold herself.   His hands seemed impossibly large, spanning her tiny waist.   Suddenly he, a man fast on his feet, known as lightening with a sword, felt unbelievably clumsy, oafish even.   To her he must seem a veritable giant.  
               And she only a small female alone, weak and defenseless.  
               He wondered if she realized how lucky she had been, that he and not some Marcher Lord had found her.   Or another hired sword, one with no honor.   There were many men like that.   In these parts, honor was in short supply.
               With a start he realized he still held her and jerked his hands away.   She watched him from beneath her lashes, her face pale and drawn.   In the depths of her gaze he saw something, he knew not what.  
               Then recognizing it, chastised himself for not realizing it sooner.   Fear lurked there, barely masked.   Of him?   Nay, for in the next second she glanced at the horse's massive head, biting her lip.   She would have to conquer her fear, for they had many miles to cover before they reached the nearest village.
               Shaking his head, he mounted his steed, careful not to touch Megan.   The war horse, eager to be off, tossed his head and nickered.
               "Ready?"   Scarcely waiting for her answer, Kenric tightened his calves, the signal to the beast to move.   The
    horse, sure footed and wise, picked his way among the rocks, increasing his stride when they reached the flat land, still covered in deep, powdery snow.  
               "Where are we going?"
               He pointed to the east, hoping she would not remember from what direction they'd come.   "The nearest village is that way.   It is to there we go, to see if your Roger has left any men to search for you."
               They moved at a brisk walk, the horse's sturdy legs churning up the unbroken snowy whiteness.   The cold air, though still, hung heavy with the promise of more snow.   The leaden sky held no promise of sun.
               And behind him, Megan sat so stiff, so frozen, that if it weren't for her carefully controlled shivering, he wouldn't have known she was alive.
               He fell into his own thoughts, letting himself dream of the land that would soon be his.
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               More and more Megan felt guilty for lying to Kenric. Part of her wanted to tell him the truth, but she knew if she did he'd think her insane.   She wasn't even sure she wanted to go home, to wake up from this crazy, technicolor dream and find herself in modern day Dallas.
               But then she knew she didn't want to stay here, in this cold, barren land, for too long.   She'd have to go home.
               Without this Kenric of Blackstone's help, she knew she'd never make it.   Yet she, who prided herself on being up front and honest, had to secure his help with a lie.   Not just any lie either, but apparently his heart's desire.   Land.   Now how on earth would she pay him off?   She didn't know.   She only knew that if she found a way, any way, to get this man some land, she would do it.   Once he'd helped her find her way home, of course.   And maybe she could get him to make sure Roger left her alone as well.  
               They crested a slight hill and he reigned the horse in.   Wondering why they'd stopped, Megan craned her neck, trying to see around his broad back.
               "There."   He pointed, turning the horse sideways so she could see.   "Perhaps someone there can help us."
               In the valley below she could make out buildings, smoke rising from most of them.   And people, she thought she could make out the tiny forms of people bustling around in the cold morning