Page 110 of A Tempest of Intrigue
Hundreds of women, chained to the backs of the vehicles, labored to keep up as thousands of guards rode amid the chaos. Those guards weren’t all King Ivan’s men, as they bore the colors of other aristocratic families in the realm.
More women and guards were coming through portals near where we stood. Chained together, they led the women across the fields and toward the lake beyond the palace. I couldn’t see what awaited them there, but it couldn’t be good.
While the nobles had women in their guard, none rode amid those in the fields or on the road. Unwilling to trust them, Ivan must have separated the women from the men.
Whether they were on the field or not with the others, I didn’t know, but after the rebellion at the earl’s and what we’d done to free those rebels, he wasn’t taking chances with any women. I suspected those women were either chained up and out there or waiting in a cell until he found his lightning bearer.
“What’s going on?” I inquired.
Samael stared at the carriages for a minute before turning away. “King Ivan will explain.”
When Samael rested his hand on my shoulder, I gritted my teeth against shoving it away. We played the game of remaining friendly with each other, but we weren’t friends and didn’t touch.
“Let’s go,” Samael said.
My feet remained planted, my attention on the carriages. Ellery was out there; I was certain of it.
I sensed her somewhere amongst the carriages and amsirah. She was out there, chained, frightened, and vulnerable, and Samael was trying to take me from her.
“Ryker, we have to go,” Samael said. “King Ivan is expecting us.”
I couldn’t get Ellery out of here now, but Iwouldfind her. Until then, I had to keep pretending.
I had a feeling that pretense would soon come to an end.
CHAPTER NINETY
Ellery
We were shuffledacross the vast green lawn and over the hills. Beneath the thousands upon thousands of feet treading it, the grass was turning into churned-up dirt that would become a field of mud after the next rain.
The sun beating on my nape burned my flesh and dried my throat. I was still in my loose-fitting, brown farm pants, short-sleeved work shirt, and boots, but with no shade and far more bodies pressing against me, the sun felt hotter out here than at the manor.
Sweat beaded my brow, slid down my face, and dripped onto the earth. The crush of amsirah reeked of body odor, panic, and urine. They were herding us like sheep to the slaughter, and none of us were ready to die.
When a woman attempted to open a portal, nothing happened. I glanced at the chains on her wrists before focusing on my own. They’d ensured we were trapped here.
As the woman stood there, frantically trying to leave and refusing to acknowledge that she couldn’t, a guard swung a metal pole into the back of her head. The blow knocked her face-first into the ground. The woman’s arms and legs sprawled out, and she didn’t move again.
The crowd pushing against me propelled me forward when I grasped for the woman’s arms. My fingers skimmed hers before I was ripped away.
“Wait!” I gasped.
But no one heard me, and if they did, they didn’t slow their forward momentum. They were too afraid that if they did, they would become that woman.
Others tried to avoid stepping on the woman, but many failed and pushed her deeper into the ground.No!
I wouldn’t let them trample her. Pushing against the crowd, I fought my way back and was reaching for her again when a metal pole came down across my forearm.
I bit back a scream as bone gave way with a sickening crunch. Snatching my hand away, I cradled my broken arm against my chest.
My vision cleared, and the pounding in my head eased as I glowered at the guard who’d maimed me. While misery battered me and the bones in my arm grated together, a steely resolve slipped through me.
They’d most likely discover who I was and take me today, but it wouldn’t happen without a fight. I’d make thempaybefore they ruined me.
Clenching my teeth, I restrained myself from shooting a bolt of lightning straight into the guard’s dick. I’d love to see that smug smile vanish when I turned him into a soprano.
“Move!” the guard snarled and shoved my shoulder.
