Blood Red (54 page)

Vivi Anna

“Yes, but I will live.” She glanced sideways at Rapunzel. “Thanks to you.”

Rapunzel nodded.

“Can you wield a sword?” Red asked as she stumbled toward where Wolf stood on defense from the last of the horsemen.

“I feel like I could wield anything,” Rapunzel said as she bent down and retrieved the fallen sword. It was heavy and she could barely lift it.

Wolf and the horseman were engaged in swordplay. They matched swing for swing. Wolf smiled when he saw the two women approach behind the horse.

Red held her sword high as she cradled her ribs, wincing from the pain it caused her. Rapunzel dragged her sword behind her.

“My saviors arrive.”

The horseman paused. He turned briefly to look behind him. He started to laugh. “Two women? One weak and feeble, the other injured, are going to save you?”

Wolf growled. “They already have.” He threw his sword.

It whizzed through the air like an arrow. It found its mark accurately. It imbedded deep into the horseman. It pierced his heart. He gurgled wetly from his open mouth as he fell over onto the ground.

Wolf rushed to Red’s aid. She leaned on him slightly, still too afraid to show any weakness.

“I’m fine.”

“Your ribs are broken,” he said as he put his arm around her.

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Blood Red

She shrugged him off. “I’ll heal.”

“Let me help you.”

“No!” She stepped away from him, turning her back.

“I can not believe you still do not trust me.” Wolf stared at her, his eyes blazing. “I have risked everything for you, to help you see the way.”

Red turned to him. Her eyes sad and weary. “I do trust you,” she said barely above a whisper. “But I hate every minute of it.”

Wolf understood. He knew what she was risking in herself to trust him. She was going against all her instincts, all her training. She was bending her own nature to believe him. But he could see now, that she did indeed believe.

He walked to her and helped her up onto a horse.

“When they don’t return, he will send out more. We need to ride and fast.”

“Can you ride?” He asked Rapunzel.

She mounted a horse with ease. “With pleasure.”

Wolf got on the same horse as Red. He nuzzled in behind her to keep her from falling.

“Where do we ride?” Rapunzel asked.

“To the
Schwarzer Wald,
the Black Forest. There we will find food and shelter. And the allies we’ll need to come back and fight.”

Rapunzel kicked her horse and galloped down the trail. Wolf and Red were right behind her.

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