Broken Prince (The Broken Ones) by Jen Wylie Read Free Book Online

looked human, thankfully clothed in simple pants
and shirt, though his feet were bare. A very sweet, innocent and handsome
human. She blinked a few times trying to smother her thoughts when she realized
where they were.
    Too late. A flush crept across his cheeks and a cute
half grin appeared. He looked down at himself, holding out an arm, turning it
over. He looked back at her. Am I acceptable?
    She rolled her eyes. Stupid men. Don't be getting
any ideas.
    His grin cracked into a full smile. He looked beyond
her and it faded. How did you do this? Why did you?
    I travel with an Elf, she answered flatly. And I've had some problems
with a Dragos.
    His eyebrows went up in surprise.
    Before he could ask for the story she brought them
back on topic. You wanted to see Bo?
    She pulled forth the memories, spreading her arms to
release the images to float around them. At least he paid attention and looked,
finally nodding when he had seen enough.
    He bowed slightly in her direction. Thank you. He
gestured around them. For sharing with me.
    She shrugged. I don't mind if you want to come
again. Prince is here a lot.
    Surprise spread across his face again before he turned
thoughtful. I suppose the Elves are different. Were rarely go into other's
minds. We usually don't have need to, since we can mind-speak so freely.
    She smiled a little. Well, you can discuss it with
Prince, once we find him.
    He took the hint and left her mind. She followed.
    They made plans to meet. Garen would go alone, she
would stay with Kei. They still had a problem with Garen not being able to
communicate with Bo while in wolf form. So she peeled some bark and scratched "Aro
sent me. Follow" onto it. Garen would be able to carry it easily and
hopefully Bo would read it and not attack the wolf.
    They set out before the sun rose over the mountains,
though its light filtered through the shadows so at least she could see enough
not to ride into a tree. She and Kei headed north. Kei quickly bounded across
the section of plowed field to search the fields beyond while she kept to the
tree line, keeping watch within the forest and also the cleared sections.
    The rider slowly moving out from a corn field caught
her attention first. She quickly pulled on her horse’s reins until it stopped
and they both froze under the shadows of the trees. She turned, eyes searching
frantically for Kei.
    What was she supposed to do? Biting her lip, she
looked back at the horseman, trying to figure out what he was doing. He had a
spear out, pointed down, and moved very slowly.
    She noticed the man on the ground then, crawling,
pulling himself valiantly forward despite the armed, mounted man at his back.
Leaning forward she squinted, trying to see better.
    Prince. Her
breath caught in her throat and she quickly searched for Kei again. Seeing him
suddenly peek from within the crops across from her she waved her hand and
pointed. He nodded.
    Cursing under her breath she looked away, trying to
decide what to do. Kei apparently knew about Prince. However, what exactly they
were going to do about it she had no idea.
    Watching Prince crawl through the dirt brought tears
of anger and frustration to her eyes. She couldn't watch, couldn't let him go
through this. He was a prince, her prince. The soldier would not kill him, not
in front of her, not if she could save him.
    Kicking her heels into the sides of the horse, she
pulled the reins to the side, steering it out of the trees and directly at the
horseman. The horse thundered forward and she struggled to keep her seat.
Growing up in a city, she’d had very few experiences riding. Her brothers had
made sure she’d learned the basics, but she’d never ridden full out before.
    Her only thoughts centered on saving Prince. There was
no time for tactics or planning. Other than that, she had no idea of what she was
doing, or what she would do. It scared her. For once, she didn't care.
    The man looked up at the sound of the approaching
horse and turned,