Arrows of Promise (Kingmakers Book 2) by Honor Raconteur Page A

sir.”
    Broden stared long and hard toward the camp for several
minutes but they still had not made any move toward the settlement. Even from
there, they could probably see the glow of the ward. As long as it was up, they
likely would not move. That meant he had time to eat breakfast, wake people up,
and get them into position. He had better use that time while he had it.
    He clapped Thorne’s shoulder once, in a friendly gesture of
support, before dropping out of the tree and heading toward the inn. When he
got there, he found Riana already in place on the porch, toast and a mug of
something steaming in her hands. Ash was sitting at her feet, holding the same
breakfast, but his eyes were not entirely open yet.
    “Be they moving?” she asked her father. Her expression was
calm. It was her eyes that betrayed her worry.
    “No’ as yet.” Broden looked around and asked plaintively,
“Where be my breakfast?”
    “In the kitchen. Nicole made us up something.”
    Kind of the woman to do that. Then again, most of the
settlement seemed determined to support them however they could so they would
be ready to fight. Broden ducked inside, greeted Nicole, and took what she
offered him with heartfelt thanks.
    Ashlynn wandered in, hiding a yawn behind her hand, and went
into the kitchen for breakfast as well. She had half of it consumed before
asking Broden, “Did you check on them?”
    “Aye, lass. They have no’ moved as yet. Me guess be they
will no’ until the ward comes down.”
    “What makes you think they really will attack today?”
    “No cook fires,” he responded with a shrug.
    “Ah. That would be a pretty good indication.” Polishing off
the last of her toast, she considered the wards. “I think we should have people
in place before I take those down.”
    “Me own thought exactly.”
    “Right.” Hands on knees, she pushed herself up to her feet
and strode off the porch, gathering people and talking to them as she went.
    Ash stood as well, saying as he moved, “I’ll get the
guardsmen in position.”
    That left both archers to direct people and explain what to
do once they reached the inn. Broden did step in a little and directed some of
the better marksmen to be snipers on the only finished roof. Aside from that,
he watched as Ash directed people and found no fault with what he did. It was
no surprise to him. Ash had helped lead an army twice before, after all.
    Ashlynn herded the last of the civilians into the inn and
went about renewing her ward on the building. Once she had that in place, she
came back out, reviewed what her brother and Broden had done, and nodded in
satisfaction. “I think we’re ready. Ash, ward?”
    “Going.” Her brother was already moving before she had even
asked the question. He seemed to take a deep breath before he dispelled the
ward. It dissipated into the air like glowing smoke, pretty and ethereal in the
morning sunlight.
    Broden waited on taut nerves. Either the bandits would move
immediately or they would be playing a waiting game all day. He prayed for an
immediate response because waiting like this would play havoc on a man’s mind
and patience. Seconds crept by, feeling like hours, as everyone held their
breath.
    There was a loud thump from up ahead, then someone came in
hard and fast. Thorne skidded into view and Broden knew what he was going to
say before he said it. “They’re coming!”
    “How fast?” Ashlynn demanded.
    “At a dead run, Sheriff,” he answered, already heading for
the inn roof.
    Her lips peeled back from her teeth, magic flaring from her
hands as she primed herself to fight. “Brace yourselves!” she called. “Things
are about to get fun.”

Chapter Six
    Bandits were nothing like soldiers. Riana knew this all too
well. Only half of them actually engaged in fighting, while the rest scurried
around like rats and picked up anything that had value before trying to run off
with it. She knew her father had set snipers up on the roof for this