By Darkness Hid (53 page)

“Tsaftown is a very long journey,” Sir Gavin said. “Much longer in Darkness. And we are without horses. We could have Sir Rigil bring our horses to Allowntown, but it will take us almost a week on foot to reach them.”

“So, maybe a month to reach Tsaftown?” Achan asked as Sparrow swabbed his cheek with something cool.

“Or more.”

Achan sighed. A long time, but at least seeing Lady Tara was something to look forward to. He did not relish entering Darkness, nor did he look forward to upcoming arguments in which Sir Gavin would try to turn him into a king. At least now he understood why Sir Gavin had never accepted the service he’d tried to give him as a squire.

Sparrow spread more gunk from his jar over Achan’s cheek. It seeped into his cuts and burned. “Ow!”

“Oh, stop being such a girl,” Sparrow said.

Achan tried to block out the pain. “What do we seek in Tsaftown?”

“Not Tsaftown, exactly,” Sir Gavin said. “IceIsland.”

“IceIsland?” Sparrow cried.

Achan wondered too what they sought in the biggest prison in Er’Rets.

“We have friends to set free there,” Sir Gavin said. “Friends wrongly imprisoned. That’s where I went when Lord Nathak banished me. I was hoping to raise an army and come back for you. I ran out of time.”

“What friends?” Achan asked.

“Old Kingsguard friends.”

Sparrow looked terrified. Then his lips curved in a goofy grin and his cheeks flushed. “I am going to do the other side now.”

Achan raised his eyebrows and turned his head. “Thanks for the warning.”

Sparrow gently pulled the handkerchief away and swabbed Achan’s cheek. He slathered gunk on, then froze, his fingers pressed against Achan’s wound, and looked up.

The light faded, and Sparrow’s face vanished before Achan’s eyes.

They had entered Darkness.

NOT
THE END

This is the end of the book 1 of the Blood of Kings series. Book 2 continues the adventures of Vrell and Achan as they flee into Darkness to avoid Esek’s wrath. Sign up for newsletters from Marcher Lord Press or Jill Williamson’s Web site to get updates on the status of
To Darkness Fled: Blood of Kings, Book 2
.

A Note from the Author

Thanks for reading
By Darkness Hid
, the first installment in the Blood of Kings series.

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