Word and Deed

  “Where is he?” The king did not move except to look up and catch Darius's eye as if they were in conversation.

  Just then, the figure darted between shelters. Darius felt his mouth drop; he quickly disguised it by saying, “A girl.”

  “Did you just say it was a girl?” Jenran's weary eyes sharpened and focused more carefully on Darius.

  “Yes.” Darius carefully turned so he could watch both his master and the girl. “Small build, dark hair, she is definitely not Gwendolyn or one of her frequent companions.” The girl darted to the next hiding place. She was one sprint away from freedom. Darius knew how she felt. The tempo of the heart pounding in his chest and the taste of liberty on his tongue were both familiar sensations. “She is mine,” he said. He glimpsed the king’s smile.

  “If you catch her,” he agreed.

  The girl darted and Darius followed. She disappeared out the door as he silently hurtled the last bench between them.

  Brice ran for her life. The empty halls closed in around her and she was certain every sound echoed louder than the last. She needed to get away before someone saw her. Since birth, she heard stories about how mercenaries treated the women captives after a battle. She could not be discovered. Eventually, she found herself in the promenade opening into the inner gardens. The moment her eyes fell on the lush underbrush bordering and overgrowing the paths, she had an idea.

  As she turned down the nearest avenue among the trees, Brice caught sight of movement behind her. Was someone following her?

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  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Book One – The Theodoric Saga

  Chapter I

  Part I