The King's Sword by AJ Searle Read Free Book Online

their safety. “Is this a bridge that crosses the River Blanch that you spoke of before?”
    “Yes.” Keegan nodded his head. “But the bridge is old and missing timbers in a few places. The other way we can cross the river all together via rope raft. I know the man at the crossing.”
    “We cross the bridge,” Ronan repeated and though Keegan looked as if he wanted to argue, he did not. Instead he led them to the left at the fork. An hour later, they neared the river and Ronan could see Ula’s trepidation about crossing the waters in her eyes.
    Ronan regretted his decision of taking the bridge however when they saw it had been destroyed. Pieces of it were scattered about and it looked as if the ropes had been cut. They would have to turn back. Ronan wondered if their misfortune was the doing of those who followed quietly in the trees.
    “There is no way we could have known the bridge was down,” Ula said as they headed back the way they came. Ronan knew she was only trying to make him feel better but it wasn’t helping. He’d seen the relief on her face when they’d come across the scattered timbers.
    “I should have listened to Yore,” Ronan admitted his fault causing Keegan to look back. He hadn’t wanted to say the words but knew that it was only right since Keegan had been correct. The horseman shrugged.
    “Still, it would have helped had we known ahead of time that the bridge wasn’t an option. If my suspicions are correct, the bridge was destroyed recently. Perhaps someone was trying to stop us,” he suggested, clearly not liking the reality of it any more than Ronan.
    “It could be coincidence,” Arien piped. “A bunch of kids could have done that damage.”
    “Perhaps. It is close to Fullerk.” Keegan’s eyes told Ronan however that he did not believe that unruly children were the cause of the destruction. Ronan had to agree with him. Kids were stupid and would have left signs that would point the blame at them. No such signs were left behind. Only those cut ropes and the pieces of the bridge that looked to have been hacked with heavy blows.
    “Or maybe it was him?” Arien interrupted his thoughts, pointing to the figure ahead of them in the road. Ronan went rigid as his eyes rested on the centaur. Keegan waved for the others to remain back as he walked his horse to meet with the beast. Ronan immediately rode forward, eyes sweeping over the centaur’s muscular torso and mane of thick blond hair. He was huge. And his broad features only made him look larger.
    “You look like you’ve been riding for awhile.” The centaur spoke first in a deep but soft voice, looking at Keegan. “You could revive your horses at the river.” Ronan’s eyes narrowed. The centaur was fishing for something under the guise of concern. He realized he didn’t like those who would hide, even behind a feigned smile, any more than Keegan did.
    “Our horses are good,” Keegan answered, his own voice deep. He made no attempt to hide the sharpness of his irritation or suspicion and Ronan was thankful. Keegan could prove intimidating if he wanted to.
    “I’d heard that there were some traveling this way,” the centaur said and then offered another faint smile when Keegan tilted his head. “News travels fast, especially news that has to do with Merisgale. Are you the blacksmith?”
    Ah ha. Ronan shifted on Sorcha’s back. It was as he suspected. The centaur was after the sword. Perhaps he even meant to become the next King. A centaur king rather than a wizard probably appealed to him and those who waited in the trees for him.
    “We’ve a long way to go yet. Perhaps we will have time to stop and chat on our way back.” Keegan glanced back as Arien and Ula rode closer. “I told the two of you to stay…” Ronan’s head snapped around when Keegan’s words trailed away. Five more centaurs were approaching from behind. He looked back at the one in front of them. Ambushed.
    “Who are you and what business have