Page 166 of Deadwood
He proceeded to hand it to another guard with a bow. Beside me, Raiden’s hand went to his dagger, ready to take aim and put the blade right between the man’s eyes if he nocked it back in our direction.
“Not everyone,” King Tenere said.
The guard with the bow pulled back on the string, the tip of the arrow pointed at the sand.
Then, as his aim shifted, Flynt moved to step forward, but I set a hand out, his chest slamming into my palm. “Don’t,” I muttered, despite my instincts screaming at me to dosomething.
Flynt began to protest, but the words died on his tongue as the guard aimed at Taylin and released the arrow. It flew through the air, crossing the short distance in the blink of an eye, and landed in the center of her thigh.
Her scream filled the night air, echoing over every inch of the valley. Flynt’s dagger was out not a moment later, taking the hit Raiden had meant to claim himself as the tip of the blade landed in the back of the guard’s neck. He fell, his face buried in the sand as blood pooled on the ground around him.
The guard with a hand on Taylin’s arm kept her standing as tears rolled down her cheeks, groans of pain ripping from her trembling form. The arrow stuck straight out from her flesh, and her entire body leaned to one side, her exhaustion craving the reprieve of the ground.
“Let her go,” I called out. If he didn’t, I feared a war would be started over Flynt’s desire to protect every soul.
“I want my daughter, Bowen,” King Tenere replied, that confident lilt back in his tone as he gained the upper hand.
My lips pressed together as everything inside me begged not to, but I had no choice. I couldn’t let this town be ransacked and Taylin be tortured. But I also couldn’t let Auria go back.
Gods help me.
“Siara,” I called out, keeping my gaze trained in front of me. “Fetch the king’s daughter, would you?”
But she knew in the way I had phrased it that she would only warn Auria, not bring her to us. Siara would hide her before King Tenere could send his guards into the town. Staying inside her home wouldn’t be protection enough. Would I be either, though?
Auria, I called to her silently as my eyes stayed glued to Taylin where she struggled.
When no response came, I assumed she was either too far or deep asleep.
Flynt looked about ready to destroy the very earth King Tenere and his guard stood upon, and I had half a mind to let him. Paxon and Lander both stood to the side, not making a move. As if I didn’t have reason enough to regret letting them stay in Deadwood temporarily. Lander at least had the sense to look worried, like he wanted to do something but knew it’d be no use.
I was feeling the same right about now.
Tense silence carried across the empty space between Amosite’s people and Deadwood as we awaited Siara’s return, the only noises penetrating our ears that of Taylin’s suffering, making it all the more gut-wrenching to stand by and watch.
An eternity later, Siara appeared at my side, holding out a hand. I grabbed the object she held out to me and did a double take at the delicate piece of jewelry that dangled between my fingers.
She’d given me Auria’s necklace.
“She wasn’t there, Bowen. I found this outside your house,” Siara said quietly.
My eyes moved to her, searching for the truth behind her words. We’d planned this out—she’d get Auria to a safe, hidden place, and return with no sight of her. But the way she’d said it…
So minuscule a move, she shook her head, and I knew for sure she was being honest. Auria had gone somewhere, and we had no idea where.
Auria, I called to her again.I need to know you’re safe.
Still, no response, but then I remembered she hadn’t done it again after the spring. She didn’t know how.
I silently cursed as my fist wrapped around the jewel and chain.
“I don’t see my daughter,” King Tenere said, the warning clear in his tone.
“She’s not here.” And this time, I was certain of it.
With a twist of his hand in the air, King Tenere sent his guards flooding into our town. We held our ground, letting them pass in the hopes they wouldn’t touch the people. They were just looking for Auria. She wasn’t here.
This was useless.
