Part 28 (1/2)
”I'm a healer, and I tell you he can't be moved.”
Three of the guards dismounted and strode toward the house. Sparrow ran ahead of them. ”You can't take him!”
”We do whatever our Empress orders. Get out of the way, or we'll arrest you.” The guard shoved Sparrow aside and stepped into the house. She forced her way past them and stood in front of Lock as he sat up, all traces of sleep vanis.h.i.+ng from his face.
”What's this?” he demanded.
”The Empress wants you back at the palace as a gladiator,” Sparrow said.
”Do as you're told, slave, or we'll take you in chains.”
To Sparrow's surprise, Lock sighed and appeared resigned as he stepped forward. As he walked by the guards toward the door, he kicked backwards, his foot striking one of the guards in the stomach and knocking him into the man behind him. While the third guard drew his blade and shouted for his companions outside, Sparrow picked up the chair by the bed and smashed it over the nearest guard's head. Lock had already wrestled the first guard's blade from his hand and knocked him unconscious. The guard he'd kicked leapt to his feet. His sword clashed with Lock's stolen one just as the three guards rushed through the door, their swords drawn. Two of them joined the man Lock was fighting while the third charged at Sparrow. She leapt over the bed and grabbed a burning log from the fire, rolling aside as the guard's blade smashed against the stone mantle, just missing her head.
Lock kicked the guard who'd attacked Sparrow face first into a wall as he continued fighting the remaining two guards. Sparrow tossed the flaming wood at the men, distracting them while Lock killed one and struck the other unconscious.
Shea-Ann hurried to Sparrow. ”Are you all right?”
”I'm fine.” Sparrow stepped over one of the bodies toward Lock. His shoulder had been cut by one of the guard's blades, and blood dripped down his arm to the floor.
Immediately Shea-Ann bid him to sit while she cleaned and st.i.tched the injury.
”You have to leave right away,” the healer said.
”I can't leave Sparrow. You know what the law states will happen to her.”
”I'm going with you,” Sparrow said.
”We'll never get away in time. I can't ride fast for very long. Daryn will send more guards and they'll catch us. d.a.m.n it! I don't care about myself, but why did I have to put you in danger?”
”The s.h.i.+p,” Sparrow said, meeting Shea-Ann's eyes. The healer looked worried, but nodded in agreement.
”What s.h.i.+p?” Lock demanded.
”Rino's pirate s.h.i.+p is setting sail this afternoon. Lock, you can talk to him and get us pa.s.sage on it.”
”Absolutely not,” Lock stated.
Sparrow grasped his arm. ”It's the only way.”
”I can't take you to sea. I told you that.”
”Why can't you take me?”
”Remember those dreams I told you about? The ones that come true? I had one about you at sea. There was a storm. Someone was attacking you.”
”That doesn't mean it will happen on Rino's s.h.i.+p,” Sparrow said, though fear crept down her spine. When Lock had told her about his dreams, she'd been skeptical, not wanting to believe he might possess the power to see into the future. The idea that one of his visions might involve her was more unsettling than she wanted to admit.
”I'm going back to the city,” Lock said.
”And do what?” Shea-Ann placed her hands on her hips.
”Whatever the Empress wants. If I have to go back to the ring-”
”No!” Sparrow grasped his arm, her fingers biting into the hard curve of his biceps. ”If you go there, I'll attack her myself! Do you want me to be executed for murdering the Empress?”
Lock's startled eyes met hers. ”You said you're not a killer.”
”I would be if it meant your life.” Sparrow's own words shocked her. She would sooner kill Daryn and risk her own life than see Lock as a gladiator.
”We have no time for this foolishness!” Shea-Ann snapped. ”These guards will awaken soon. You have to get on board that pirate s.h.i.+p.”
”What about you?” Sparrow embraced her friend. ”You might be punished if we go.”
Shea-Ann shook her head. ”I'll say Lock went crazy, took you, threatened me, and escaped. By law, he's your responsibility, not mine. As long as they believe I was forced, I'll be in no danger. Yak, go saddle your horse. I'll help Sparrow pack a few things. You both have to leave right away.”
Lock held Sparrow's gaze before he headed for the barn.
Sparrow tossed some of their belongings into a leather bag while Shea-Ann packed food and simple healing supplies. ”Lock knows what to do with them.”
”I'll miss you, Shea-Ann.” Sparrow embraced her old nanny tightly.
Shea-Ann kissed her cheek. ”Take care of yourself, Sparrow. I know Lock loves you, but be careful of him. Years of wickedness can't be wiped out in a few months.”
”We love each other,” Sparrow said. ”It'll be enough. It'll have to be.”
”I knew it all along, Lock the White!” Rino laughed from where he leaned against the rail of the Lady Fire. ”You'd never last as a slave. So now you come crawling to me for pa.s.sage.”
Lock resisted the urge to climb on board and strangle the life from Rino. The man's smug expression and mocking tone twisted his stomach, but boarding the Lady Fire was the only way to escape the Empress's guards. It was the only way for Lock and Sparrow to start a life together. His dream might not even happen. If they could make it to a safe sh.o.r.e, then Sparrow would never have to set foot on another s.h.i.+p again.
”I'll work for pa.s.sage for me, Sparrow, and this horse.”
Rino whistled. ”Haven't much room for a horse, but I know you'll do the work of three strong men, and we could use that woman of yours, too. My last cook died of a fever shortly before we landed here.”
Lock glanced at Sparrow who murmured, ”It's fine with me. We have to hurry.”
”When are you sailing?”
”Now.”
”Give us permission to board, and you've got yourself a cook and a crewman.”
”Lock, can you handle that kind of work with your ribs?” she whispered.
”There's nothing wrong with me,” Lock snapped, though he kept his voice low. ”Whatever you do, girl, don't let him know I'm not up to par. He can't be trusted in any way.”