How The Warrior Fell (Falling Warriors series Book 1) by Nicole René Page B

it pissed him off.
    “Xavier!”
    Xavier snapped his head to the right when one of his most trusted scouts came rushing up to him. Xavier pushed himself to his feet as Crellio came to a skidding halt, bracing his hands on his knees as he panted, trying to catch his breath.
    “What is it?” Xavier asked sharply, trying to hold in his growing ire as Crellio gasped for air, tilting his head to look up into his commander’s eyes from his bent position.
    “We found them.”
    “Where?” Xavier barked, already signaling the men around him to get ready to head out.
    Crellio pushed himself up after finally getting a hold on his breathing.
    “They’re over by—”
    Whatever Crellio was about to say was instantly cut off as an arrow lodged its way into his back and protruded out of his chest. Crellio jerked, staring down at the arrow in shock. He slowly looked up at Xavier before he fell forward.
    “Ambush!” Xavier yelled, stepping away from Crellio’s fallen form and ripping his sword out of the sheath on his back as all hell broke loose.
    All around him arrows flew as men burst out of the trees, surrounding them. They shouted war cries, their swords raised in the air.
    Xavier raised his sword to block the one coming down at him. He snarled as he pushed it away and spun his body around, cutting his attacker’s head clean from his shoulders.
    Not pausing in his stride, Xavier ducked under another sword coming from the man beside him. He kicked him away while stabbing his own sword behind him, killing the coward who was just about to strike while his back was turned.
    Xavier quickly lost himself in the battle as the cries of his men dying and steel clashing against steel echoed around him. He was already covered in blood from his own stack of bodies laid out on the ground around him when he looked around. They were clearly outnumbered.
    For every man he struck down, two more seemed to take his place. Though he and his men were strong, they were quickly losing this battle.
    Xavier gave an angry shout and swung his bloody sword in a high arc, cutting off the arm of another attacker. He quickly grabbed the dagger on his hip and speared the man through the eye.
    His enemy gave a pained cry and was instantlysilenced when Xavier slit his throat.
    Disgusted, Xavier kicked the body away from him. “Fall back!” he shouted at the few men he had left as he fought his way towards his horse. “Fall back!”
    Xavier paused to swiftly dispatch two attackers before raising his bloody fingers to his mouth and letting out a piercing whistle. He ducked under yet another sword as Killix came barreling out of the trees, kicking and bucking at anyone who got in his way. He stopped in front of Xavier, throwing his head and pawing the ground.
    Xavier reached up and grabbed the saddle horn and quickly flipped himself up as Killix started running off in the direction he came.
    “Fall back! Go back!” Xavier yelled as he passed his men, who were all fighting desperately to make it to their horses so they could escape.Xavier gritted his teeth as he ducked against an arrow that shot past his shoulder and landed in a tree in front of him.He reached down for his bow, quickly notching two arrows before he turned his body to release it. The arrow soared through the air and landed its mark, killing two men.He turned back around in his seat and ducked low against Killix’s neck as arrows continued to fall around him.
    Killix’s hooves flew over the ground as he tried to bring his master to safety. Xavier knew Killix’s speed was no match for any horse, and in a few short moments, they outran their pursuers.
    He only hoped some of his men got out.

    The sound of loud shouts woke Leawyn up. She quickly threw the thick furs off her and marched to the opening of her tent to see what the commotion was.
    She stopped in shock, taking in the men who’d rushed the front of the camp. Stepping out fully, she saw Tyronian run past her.
    “Tyronian!” Leawyn