Page 84 of Nocturn

A thud came from behind me, and Abrax whinnied, taking off at a sprint.

“Grab it!” one of the covered figures shouted, then cursed as Abrax galloped away.

The officer lay on the ground. A smaller figure behind him was crouched and searching through his things, pulling a bag of gold from his pocket. My vision was blurred as one of them yanked a sack over my head, and an arm wrapped around my midsection. I struggled to escape, managing to slip free for a moment. Then two pairs of hands grabbed hold of me.

“You should not do this,” I warned.

Of course I was ignored and he tossed my limp body. I landed across a lap with a grunt. A horse snorted, and I was jostled, the thigh taking my breath away every time the horse lost his footing.

“You will not be harmed, Vessel. We just need to speak to you.” A deep male voice announced. “Do not try to remove the head cover or I will need to bind your hands.”

“Who is we?” I had to pause to catch my breath. “And there are much better ways to do this without kidnapping.”

“We will arrive soon.” That was all he said before he clicked his tongue. The horse burst forward, sending me flopping against his legs.

I was too busy trying to catch my breath and keep my head from smacking with the rhythm of the gallop to pull more answers from my abductors. My head began to spin by the time the horse slowed.

Hushed chatter mingled with the clop of hooves.

Hands grasped my waist, and I was dropped to my feet. Someone removed the scratchy fabric from my head. It took a few breaths for my vision to clear. A wide-shouldered man came into view, yanking down his face covering and shoving his hood back.

He had wide features, a stern mouth, and a slim scar across his face. I wanted nothing more than to shout and take off running, but that would be foolish. Exhaling slowly calmed the urge.

A woman peeked out from behind him, her doe eyes so big they almost took up half her face.

“You are scaring her, Archer,” she said, her voice soft. “I am Tabby.” She stepped forward and curtsied, her movement fluid.

I returned one with less energy. Meanwhile, I took in the surroundings. It was as if there was a makeshift village. An oversized carriage, about three times the size of the one I had been in, sat on large wheels. Small huts created of wood and straw spread out across the expanse. People milled about, a woman carrying a pot full of water, children chasing each other. Then there were the distrustful looks directed at me.

Long, thin lines of fabric were tied from tree to tree, enclosing the area around a perimeter, while on the ground there was a line of salt running along the same boundary.

“Amulets are attached to the trees where there are strings,” Tabby explained.

“Why did you attack us?” I asked, frowning.

“We did not aim for you, redblood. Our quarrel is with corrupt Elites,” Archer growled.

“Are you with the Resistance?”

“No, we are trying to escape persecution, not invite it.” His gaze sharpened. “You know about the Resistance?”

A dog with furry ears and a brown coat clung to her side. Wait a moment. I found another woman, younger, running with a small feline that looked to be a juvenile panther, that bolted around a boy who also had a wraithling.

I dropped my gaze to her canine.

“You are a redblood?” I whispered.

“Many of us are,” she confirmed.

Archer grunted.

“How—” I shook my head. “Why are you living in the middle of the woods?”

Archer sighed and rubbed his temple.

“Stop being a grump,” Tabby said, “You are behaving as if you did not just steal her away.”

“I was helping her get away from that monster we call king.”