The Final Redemption by Michael Manning (little red riding hood ebook free .txt) 📕

arms were included. Penny worried about that. Mordecai’swarning had said to avoid groups larger than twenty, but near theend of their discussion, Karenth had also told them to carry orwear identifiable house colors or arms. He hadn’t been clear onwhether that would allow them to ignore the numberlimit.

Since she was the most lightly armoredand the least imposing, Penny ranged ahead of the group as theytraveled. Ariadne, Elise and the children were kept close to thecenter, with Peter and Lily Tucker assisting with the smallerchildren. Dorian stayed near the front, while Sir Egan took therear, and the other six men at arms ranged on either side. Cyhanlimped along on the right hand side, but it was questionablewhether he would be able to do much of anything with a broken armand collarbone. The stubborn veteran wore his scabbard so that hecould draw his sword with his left hand, but armor had been out ofthe question.

Ariadne questioned Rose again as theywalked, “Are you sure this is the best choice?”

The other woman nodded, “I doubtanyone left in the city knows of the passage—other than my father.”An awkward pause ensued, there had still been no news regardingwhat had happened to Lord Hightower.

Finally Ariadne spoke, “I find it oddthat it would be hidden in a church.”

Rose shrugged, “Before James, themonarchs of Lothion were close allies of the Four Churches.” Theescape route they were planning to use lay in the cellar of a nowabandoned church. It had previously been dedicated to Millicenth,but since the ejection of the churches from the capital it had beenlargely abandoned. It was likely inhabited by the poor and homelessnow.

“I am still uncomfortable withabandoning the citizens who remain,” stated thePrincess.

“I think we all feel the same, but wehave little choice. As a ruler, you will be faced with many moresuch dilemmas,” replied Rose.

Ariadne’s eyebrows went up, “You thinkRoland is…”

“No. I don’t know. I hope he is safeand the others as well. I spoke out of place,” said Rose. A momentlater she added, “If we survive this—I think you will be a greatqueen. Your father and mother would have been proud.”

Carissa began squirming in hermother’s arms then, and Rose held her to her chest, fearful thatshe might begin to cry. Ariadne didn’t reply, but she squeezedRose’s shoulder with her hand. Looking up, Rose thought she sawtears in the younger woman’s eyes, but it might have been herimagination in the dim light. Neither of them spoke for awhile.

Luck was with the small group, andthey encountered no one on the streets, although they heard strangenoises in the distance. They reached the large building thatnestled against one of the city’s outer walls in less than an hour,and much to their surprise the place was empty of human occupants.Charred wood and refuse littered the halls, a testament to thevagrants and transients who had been using the building off and onsince its owners had fled the city.

Rose led them to a large cellar doorand down into a big room that appeared to have once housed a greatarray of wine bottles. Now it was adorned only with broken bottlesand empty wooden casks. The place was so dark that Penny was forcedto take out the enchanted globe she had brought from the Illenielhouse. The glass had been another of Mordecai’s left behind works.It glowed brightly, illuminating the cellar once she had withdrawnit from its heavy wool bag.

“There should be a door here, alongthe eastern wall,” Rose informed them.

“You’ve never seen it?” asked SirEgan.

“I’ve never been here before,” Rosereplied. “I only know of it from my father’s words to me yearsago.”

“That seems a pretty thin bit ofinformation for us to be…,” Egan began, but he was interrupted byElise Thornbear.

“Sir Egan, my daughter-in-law’s memoryand judgment are second to none. If she says a safe passage ishidden here it would behoove you to look for it rather than castaspersions.”

The Knight of Stone ducked his head inacknowledgement of Lady Thornbear’s admonishment. “My apologies, Imeant no disrespect.”

Gram had gone to one corner withMatthew and Moira. He spoke up, “Moira says it’s over here,Grandmother.”

Rose clucked aloud at herforgetfulness, “We should have asked Moira first. I keep forgettingher extra senses.”

A short search of the hidden doorrevealed an iron ring, and Sir Egan used his strength to pull theheavy stone section back so that they could enter. Beyond, a darktunnel stretched out into the distance. It was only four feet inheight so everyone was forced to duck down and hunch theirshoulders as they walked. The air was musty and full of the danksmell of mold, but the passage itself was free of debris or evenspider webs.

All of the men found it difficult tomove in the confined space but Cyhan was unable to continue. Hisbroken collarbone made changes in posture intensely painful, andwalking while bent over was too much even for him. In the end, theyrigged a makeshift litter out of a cloak and two spears that theyused to drag him through the small corridor. It was still painful,but only someone who knew him well could see the signs in hisface.

“You should have let my mother giveyou something,” said Dorian as he dragged the litter. He wasreferring to something Elise had told Cyhan before they left. Shehad offered to fix the older warrior some tea that would relievehis pain while they traveled. Cyhan had refused, ofcourse.

Glancing back Dorian saw a smile onCyhan’s face, always an awkward expression for the taciturn man. “Iprefer not to dull my senses,” he replied.

Dorian gave a short laugh, “Senses orsenseless, you won’t be much use in a fight. You just like totorture yourself.”

Both of them knew that even with theinjuries he possessed, Cyhan was still more dangerous than anythree men combined, but the older veteran didn’t choose to arguethe point. “After everything I’ve been through, I’m inclined toagree with you.”

It was unusual for Cyhan to offer upso many words without some functional purpose, usually regardingorders or tactics. Dorian thought about the words for a momentbefore replying, “I’m starting to think anyone who chooses thispath in life is a fool.”

“What path?” asked Cyhan, with browsraised.

Dorian was