Choosing Hearts - The Fighter's Passion (Gritty, Explicit Romance Novel) (A Lusty Stand Alone Story) by Diana Quippley Read Free Book Online Page B

riding up beside
Rogan. “They have all retreated beyond the walls and their catapults and
trebuchets, which were once ours, can make this siege last for days.”
     
    “We don’t have
days, Gregory.” Rogan almost snarled. “We have to break through those walls by
tonight. Have our own catapults and siege towers arrived?”
     
    “They will, by
afternoon.” Gregory scratched his balding head, a trickle of blood running over
his gnarled fingers. “We must hold position and wait here.”
     
    “We have them on
the run.Damn them to Hell.” The tall battle wearied warrior spat. “They will
have time enough to reinforce themselves from the other side.”
     
    “This is the same
tower we had rescued Lady Gwendolyn from.” Draco rode up to join Rogan and
Gregory.
     
    “Aye, it is, but
we are not fighting drunken bandits this time.” Gregory said with a grunt.
     
    “But we know our
way around here and they don’t.” Rogan dismounted swiftly. “I have a plan. I
know the wizard lurks in there; that coward prefers to remain hidden.”
     
    “What is your
plan, Captain?” Belen inquired, dismounting beside the tall knight.
     
    “I will infiltrate
the tower through the weaker western gate. find the wizard and end this once
and for all.”
     
    “A brave plan… but
foolish.” Gregory smirked. “So when do we get going?”
     
    “Immediately.”
Rogan said. “Draco and Belen, come with me, and Harald. You, Gregory, must lead
the army in my stead out here. The enemy must not see our forces without a
captain.”
     
    “Agreed.” The
veteran said. “Godspeed, my brave friends.”
     
    “And to you as
well.” Belen nodded and fell in step behind the other three highly experienced
warriors as they made their way through the dense forests that surrounded the
western wall of the tower.
     
    Most of the enemy
forces manned the top of the wall, with many clustered at the huge gates. The
four men stealthily made their way to the narrow corner of the wall and swiftly
scaled the creeper covered stonework. Belen’s silent arrows found their mark,
felling six of the ten guards, before Rogan and the other two disposed of the
remaining four.
     
    “Ten down, another
few hundred to go.” The young archer grinned.
     
    Draco motioned for
silence and gestured that they move along the southern part of the inner wall.
Rogan nodded his consent and led the way in, ducking through a small opening
that led to the drainage system. A few minutes through the dark, dreary tunnels
and they found themselves in the middle of a large underground hallway.
Suddenly, the stone slab shut behind them and the rapid rush of a hundred
footfalls sounded all around them. The four men stood up straight, finding
themselves in the middle of a tight circle of heavily armed men with spear
points lowered and trained on them.
     
    “Ah, the great and
gallant protector of Kirk Falls, we meet at last.” A shrill, sneering voice
drifted over them.
     
    “Show yourself,
wizard.” Rogan shouted defiantly.
     
    “Oh, I will and
more.” The voice went on. “I will show you the folly of your ways.”
     
    A section of the
spearmen parted and a tall, gaunt man dressed in pale white robes and a hood
seemingly floated towards them. His eyes were covered by the hood and only his
hawk-beak like nose and twisted grin were visible. He was taller than Rogan,
and his thin reed like arms were spread out as if in welcome. He stopped a good
length away from the four warriors, laughing softly.
     
    “You break a
treaty that was set in stone three years ago.” Rogan snarled. “You shall may
for your effrontery.”
     
    “You poor fools,
brave and daring to a fault.” The skeletal figure’s narrow shoulders shook. 
“You barge in headlong into plans that have been in motion for years without a
thought.”
     
    “What has become
of Norton, Duke of Avangalus?” Rogan demanded, his fists tightening on the hilt
of his twin broadswords.
     
    “He served