Angels Blood by Gerard Bond Page A

tonight.” She commented to Loranda who nodded in agreement. 
    They had stopped from time to time and talked to the occasional traveler on their way south and they had quickly worked out that the King’s entourage did indeed lay further north, maybe a days ride of where they were.  It had taken them almost two days to get to the coast so they were well on schedule to be able to report to Wollfen on the third night with news of their message to the king.
    The afternoon passed quietly on their journey and they spent the time chatting and posing questions to each other.  The sound of the surf and cool sea air blowing in on them was a welcome contrast to the still heat of the long trek from inland. Nightwing loved the smell of the ocean; she could have been just as happy living her life running about barefoot on the beach. It was a pity they didn’t have the time to stop really; she would have enjoyed doing that right now. Another time maybe.
    That evening the two of them looked about as they rode seeking a quiet spot to lay for the night with others nearby.  They spotted three wagons stopped on an open field just off the track with fires burning as they prepared meals. Waving to them to establish a friendly contact, Nightwing and Loranda pulled off  just a little further on and made camp, for them it would be dried fruit and water that evening.  They hadn’t stopped during their journey to do any hunting. Loranda was getting tired of the fare and she was sure she was losing a little too much weight, she had taken her belt in another notch. 
    They sat close together quietly chewing and taking sips from the canteen.  Tired muscles ached and sore feet called out to be released.  Loranda kicked off her boots and slide her feet through the damp grass, ah, that certainly felt better.  Nightwing joined her and did the same.  They smiled at each other and felt content. The darkness was all encompassing and no one would be able to see them there, but having the three wagons nearby was comforting nevertheless.  They could just make out their campfires through the trees, far enough away that any conversation couldn’t be understood.
    The two of them lay back on their blankets, Loranda on her side with a hand on Nightwing’s chest. Both of them looking at the night sky, idly talking and swapping dirty jokes. It wasn’t long before they drifted off to sleep.
    Loranda woke to a commotion and she sprung up into a sitting position immediately.  There was shouting going on and a clash of blades, then some screams.  Nightwing sprang up from next to her, short sword in hand.  Loranda followed as they darted towards the wagons.  Keeping in line with the tree trunks as they ran, they approached and both slowed in tandem, carefully moving forward ready to fight. What they saw made them step forward into the open as it was obvious the wagon owners were already in control of the situation.  Nightwing raised her hand in salute to the men standing in an arc around something hunched on the ground, they all had swords drawn.
    “ We came when we heard noise.” called out Nightwing.
    One of the men spoke up, obviously in charge.
    “ Bandits attacked, but we managed to surprise them, we got two of them.”
    He nodded towards the outskirts of the wagon line. One of the men stoked the largest fire and it sprang to life, it revealed two dead bodies on the ground. It had been the group that Nightwing had spotted during the day that had attacked and one of the dead was the woman.
    “ Where are the others?”
    “ We managed to drive them off with their tails between their legs.” Boasted one of the men. 
    Nightwing stepped forward into the light and looked at the huddled form in front of the men. 
    “ We captured this one.”
    She looked at him, sitting there on his knees, holding his arm, she could see blood oozing from between his fingers. He wore a short-sleeved tunic and there were tattoos up the length of each arm. He also had a