The Wilds

Chapter 9

Lairiel shoved hard against the man holding her, struggling to twist from his grip. He growled and readjusted his hold, tightening his grasp on her arm and jerked her closer. Lairiel grit her teeth and quickly shifted her gaze to Daer and Ryle. Both were young... not yet eighteen. Their inexperience showed.

Lairiel watched on in horror as Ryle tumbled backward on the ground, only barely avoiding a fatal stab. He scrambled out of the way, and Huial's man slowly moved after him, chuckling with amusement. She looked to Daer... he was faring better, but by Huial's relaxed manner, she had a feeling Huial was toying with him.

Lairiel's gaze darted to Siofra again as she nearly twisted free. Their captor growled angrily and yanked her back by her hair. Lairiel took advantage and twisted against his grip, kicking her boot hard into his side as she pushed away from him. The man grunted, and his grip on her arm momentarily loosened.

Lairiel pulled hard again, kicking with all her strength to gain leverage. He growled in anger as Lairiel ripped her arm out of his grasp. She fell backward onto the frozen ground. The impact nearly knocked the air out of her, but she managed to catch her boot upon the snow and shove back away from him. He lunged for her, and Siofra ripped her hair out of his grip.

Lairiel frantically turned over on the ground and attempted to scramble to her feet but his grip tightened painfully in her hair before she had the chance. Lairiel gasped in pain and struggled to get her feet beneath her as he yanked her up by her hair.

He jerked her sideways, making her lose what footing she gained as he turned back toward Siofra, but Siofra had pushed out of reach. Lairiel fell back against him as he pulled her up again, her eyes widening as she caught sight of Ryle on the ground again. Huial's man lifted his sword, and Lairiel stared in horror as he prepared to plunge it into his chest.

"Grer!" Her captor suddenly shouted in warning. Grer paused in his fatal stab from the shout, but he was too late. Siofra plunged the poisoned knife deeply into his shoulder. He roared in pain and spun, backhanding her hard. Siofra tumbled sideways, toppling over the rocky incline.

Lairiel tried to wrench free from the man's grasp as she heard Siofra smack against a rock beneath the snow and go still. Grer yanked the knife out of his shoulder, but it was too late. He stumbled and fell to a knee. Lairiel watched as the poison took hold. He grunted and gasped, before falling forward to the ground unmoving.

Lairiel grit her teeth, her eyes darting toward Huial and Daer who were still clashing. Ryle stumbled to his feet, dragging his sword up as he staggered toward her, blood dripping down the side of his face from a fresh wound.

Lairiel eyes widened, he wouldn't stand a chance. She tried to jerk free of the man's hold, but he tightened his grip, snarling in anger. He yanked her hard, dragging her forward to meet Ryle as he drew his own blade with his free hand. Ryle stumbled again.

"NO!" Lairiel shouted at Ryle. The man who held her jerked her roughly in response. Lairiel's heart was pounding. From the corner of her eye, she saw Huial kick Daer to the ground.

___

"Gyael... It's me." Wyn said hurriedly. Gyael froze at the sound of his voice, staring at him through the dim light. The tenseness immediately left him.

"What are you doing-" Wyn began.

"I can say the same for you!" Gyael retorted angrily, the thrum of adrenaline still coursing through him, his heart still pounding from it. Wyn was silent for a moment.

"I was summoned... along with Thal, Cyred, Elidyr and Arun. My mother had a bad feeling, she wouldn't let me go... and when the others didn't return, my father forced me to flee." Wyn said. Gyael studied his face and he knew that when he said forced, he truly meant it.