Pryde's Choice, Page 3

there would be strife between us. But we did not suffer such speech. We slew her and her three tots, little bastards they were! Then my companion cut this ring from her finger. I traded a fine silver cup for it, six days 'fore spring.''

  ''Bloodthirsty and reckless savages you are to have committed so fell a deed. For I know that ring well. It is the very such ring that I betrothed my wife. I am a knight in King Harr's army! And it was my family that you slew!''

  And so, the brigand, driven by fear at my revelation, rose from the ground with a stiletto in hand, and made a wild lunge at me. With one mighty swing, my sword bit into his nape and severed his head from his body.

  I stood over the brigand's body panting madly with rage. I had scarcely removed my wife's ring from his hand when I felt a jolt. And I stood stiff, maddening pain ripping through me like hot fire. I looked down to see the barbed head of an arrow piercing my breast. I turned around, face askew, to see whom it was that shot me. There, sitting atop a quartet of fire-red steeds, were the same Gaiad-lords who had captured me only a few weeks before. And I knew then that fate had finally caught up with me. I had wrought my own doom with the slaying of Kirðras' sister. My ignorance had caused it—the ignorance of blind-hatred.

  I gazed with blurring eyes to see the Elf-maiden standing next to the Gaiad-lords with her child held tightly in her arms. They were in the protection of the Gaiad now and would both survive, as their lives would not end with my death. With a shudder I fell to my knees before finally collapsing to the earth.

  My sight darkened as my eyes shut.

  In the swirling blackness of my mind, I saw the eyes of the Gaiad-maiden, Kirðral, whom I slew. It was both a comfort and torment to see her smile at me. Then I saw my wife's face and those of my children smiling also. A grin formed on my own face—a grin such as I had feared would never return to me again. And with a calmness that belied the swell of emotion in me, I surrendered to the beckoning darkness.

  Also available by Kevis Hendrickson

  The Fall of Ithar

  The Tale of Liril

  The Grey Elk

  The Legend of Witch Bane

  Tales from Arva: Volume 1

  Visit www.kevishendrickson.com for more information about Pryde's Choice and other books by Kevis Hendrickson.