Racing Hearts (Shadow Quest 4.5) by Kiersten Fay Read Free Book Online Page B

the fact that she alone
had bested him. Would he be engulfed in rage? Would he regret his
treatment of her? Doubtful. Or would he set out straightaway to
find her. Fear prickled her, and she lost her good mood. That's
exactly what he would do.
    They had to pull into a port soon. This
was a merchant ship, after all.
    Thinking back, she wondered if she
covered her tracks well enough. Would the search take long enough
for her to carry out her plan, or was he already on his way to
claim her once more? She bit her lip with worry. There had been
other ships to come and go. Hopefully he would seek them out
first.
    She found it was becoming harder to
keep her eyes open. Voices trailed through the small grated door.
To stay awake, she tried to concentrate on the conversation
outside. It must be the captain's voice that she heard the loudest.
His words were muffled. She scooted closer to the door to listen.
Someone was saying something about…wards?
    “Once the wards are in place, you may
begin your long journey.” This came from a commanding voice…a
female voice.
    “My men are gathering the
supplies you promised.” The
captain? “They should be back shortly.” He
paused. “Is this it? Is this all we are to transport?”
    “That is all that was
requested of us. It is enough,” the woman's voice proclaimed. “The
contents of this box are without price. Irreplaceable. This is a
very important task you undertake. Ethanule's reasoning for
choosing you above
all others is…beyond me. Know this…if this box does not reach its
intended destination, you will face the wrath of my entire race, as
well as Ethanule's.”
    Analia's curiosity was
piqued.
    “I assure you, Lady Hieskita, we are
excellent at what we do. There is no doubt….”
    “You understand your journey will take
you through the warring territories. Have you no reservations about
that?” the woman interrupted.
    “There are ways around those zones. It
would only make the trip a little longer to avoid them. And, if we
must, we have maneuvered those territories many times before.” The
captain's reply sounded as though he was smiling at the
challenge.
    “You fully understand the wards then?
What will happen if they're breached?”
    “Yes.” He tried to conceal the
exasperation in his tone. “If anyone leaves or enters the ship
before the package is delivered, the contract is annulled…and we
are still required to deliver the package, without pay,” he said
robotically, emphasizing the last words. “Or risk war from both you
and Ethanule."
    Lady Hieskita humphed and said nothing
more.
    Analia laid back, alarmed by
their conversation. Wards? Long journey?
No one on or off the ship! She had to make
her move now. But how?
    Her mind felt dull, but she could tell
there were many people out there. Too many for a clean escape,
especially with her slow reflexes and weary body. More than that,
she had no idea where they were. How far had they come? She
realized now that she had no experience with new places, new
cultures. She'd have no idea how to act, who to trust, how not to
get herself killed.
    Maybe she could wait it out. How
lengthy could this trip be?
    Thanks to Darius' favorite punishment,
she found herself able to go without food for longer and longer
periods of time. But how much more could she endure? Furthermore,
how much time had already past? She was so hungry. She didn't think
she could hold out much longer.
    By the sound of soft approaching
voices, the decision to stay and wait it out was made for her. The
captain took one last moment to reassure the Lady
Hieskita.
    “I pray for your safe journey,” she
replied. Then the room went silent until she began chanting.
Ancient sounding words that dripped with power and energy filled
the empty space around her. Energy slithered and writhed around
her, it clung to her—tiny tendrils clamoring, seeking a way
inside.
    At first Analia resisted, using her own
energy to push against it, but it pushed harder. The