Broken Forest: Book One of the Daath Chronicles by Eliza Tilton Read Free Book Online Page B

ignored my desperate plea to move. I tried to scream with every breath I had but could only choke. Derrick lay only a few feet away.
    The creature hissed, crushing my chest. The face distorted and changed into Jimri’s. I blinked twice, trying to drive the image away.
    It’s not real. It’s not real.
    Every time I blinked that white face still hovered above me, invisible hands pushing me into the ground. A weight pressed upon my chest. I struggled to breathe. I’d never encountered a spirit before. I never imagined all the stupid fairytales could be true.
    It’s trying to kill me.
    A surge of adrenaline pulsed through my veins. I bolted upright, screaming and flaying my arms like a wild beast.
    Derrick woke, rubbing his eyes with one hand while grabbing his sword with the other. “Are we under attack?”
    “No,” I said in between breaths. I scanned the area. Whatever it was had vanished.
    Rudy came charging over, battle-axe drawn. “What’s wrong?”
    I rubbed my arms, erasing the chill that lingered. “Did you hear screaming?”
    “Besides yours?” Rudy squinted at me. “Are you all right? You’re white as alabaster.”
    I nodded, even though I was far from all right. “I must have had a bad dream. Go rest. I don’t think I’ll be going back to sleep.”
    Rudy propped his weapon against his shoulder. I picked up my bow and began pacing around the camp. I couldn’t explain what just happened. I’d had nightmares before, but this was different. I felt that thing on top of me.
    The bow shook in my hands.
Breathe.
    Behind me, a rustle in the bush. I steadied the bow and crept forward. One slow step at a time. Tiny beads of sweat soaked the back of my shirt. Every step I took felt like walking straight into death itself. Silence filled the night, except for the loud pounding of my heart. Leaves crunched under my boots. I strung the bow and aimed at the intruder hiding behind the shrubbery.
    Out scurried a small brown rabbit.
    Stupid bunny.
I spit at the rodent, just missing its back. The nightmares were enough to make me crazy, but being frightened by bunnies? I was losing it.

The suns peeked over the distant horizon. Their rays slowly rose, awakening the day with dawn. Rudy told Derrick and me to stay behind the rest of the pack. My job was to shoot as many enemies as I could while Derrick guarded me. We trotted our horses to the perimeter of the enemy camp, spread out and awaited the signal. Last night’s fog lingered over the sleeping grounds. Guards that should have been patrolling lay against tree trunks, clueless to our approach. One dark figure emerged from a tent at the far end. He stretched and wandered off into the woods, probably to urinate.
    The wagons surrounded the site in a semi-circle. Sweat pooled in my palms. I had to take out the guards closest to that entrance. If I failed, so did the mission.
    Get a grip
.
    I clenched the arrow in my right hand. Brushfire shifted nervously, sensing my fear. I rubbed her neck. I felt safer with her. She’d been with me since Jimri’s death. At night when the nightmares taunted me, I’d sneak out, riding until dawn forced us home. I’d rescued her from the burning woods, she’d rescued me from despair — today, I prayed both of us would make it out alive.
    Rudy raised his arm high. My sign to attack.
    Balancing myself, I let go of the reins and began firing arrow after arrow, taking out the first guards. When they were down, we moved in.
    Brushfire maneuvered through the opening, following Derrick’s steed. Two guards aimed bows at me, but I shot both before they had a chance. My quick speed was my one good quality. Very few people could match my pace.
    I notched another arrow and shot a swordsman attacking Derrick. Derrick kicked him in the chest, shoving the arrow clean through. One of the kidnappers banged a pot and screamed, alerting everyone else. Brushfire galloped into the circle. A nearby guard ran towards me. He was too close for the bow. I