Oathbreaker, Book 1: The Knight's Tale - Colin McComb

signal flare for the others. I marked five stones to point where I’d gone, and I ran, ran. I was more
afraid than ever.
Warren, a traitor. Who knew how many more of our kind Pelagir had under his spell? I
had known Warren for years. He had always seemed loyal. Now I was facing a forester as skilled
as I was, and a knight to boot. My heart sank. I knew I wouldn’t leave the day alive.
Warren was close, I knew. He hadn’t taken the time to bind his wound. He was running
alone on the river’s edge, bleeding. It was a stupid mistake…
… or was it? I stopped. I crept back into the cover of the hilly woods and started looking.
In a few moments, I saw him.
Warren was pressed against the bole of a huge oak tree, sighting down his crossbow at
me. I raised my weapon, knowing it was already too late, when he flung his bow to the ground
with a curse and rushed at me. He drew his knife as he came, and I could not understand his
shouts or the look of panic in his eyes.
I fired once, and the impact took him off his feet. I think I got him in the head. I watched
him fall for an instant.
Something heavy slammed into me from behind. My head hit a trunk on the way down.
Darkness rushed into my eyes as earth filled my mouth.
When I opened my eyes, my back was to a tree, my arse on the ground. There was a blade at my
throat. Behind that knife was the man I’m looking for, hoping not to find. And behind that man
stood death. My fear surged into my throat. Just as quickly, it slipped from me like a waterfall.
I am fully in the moment of my life and my death.
“Pelagir,” I say.
“Forester. How many of you follow me today? How soon can I expect them?”
“How long was I unconscious?”
“A minute and a half.”
“You probably have five minutes. You might be able to escape in time.” No use in lying.
“I might. It was a pity you shot your friend.” For the first time, I hear something in his
voice. Compassion, perhaps?
“Xis said he was a traitor. Said Warren jogged his arm and then shot him.”
Colin McComb Oathbreaker, Book 1: The Knight's Tale
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