Unshed Tears by Kade Jones (book series to read .txt) 📖

techniques to work on him. She could only watch as he drew his dagger; flashing past her vision. As he aimed it at her neck, he gave her his parting shot; “Time to die little one.” He snarled through gritted teeth as he eased the knife towards her throat with an irresistible force.

Golden sunlight burst upon his face! For a moment, he was blinded by Arbraxos’ reflecting shield as from the floor, he aimed it into his general’s eyes… but a moment was all she needed. She brought ridge-hands to both top and bottom of the big man’s wrist. His dagger fell from his numbed limb and she grabbed it in mid-air, swiping, backhanded with all the energy she had left, and feeling satisfaction as the blade penetrated both flesh and bone.

She heard him howl with pain and rage as she staggered away and fell to the ground. After which, she knew nothing but blissful oblivion.
***

Octavia was not at all lucid after that event. She vaguely remembered being lifted up within a powerful grip and born away at speed from the fire and commotion and a clashing of swords. She dreamed between times of semi-consciousness. None of her dreams seemed to follow each other, but her visions were ever fragmented as they were now, and it was not so great a burden to bear.

She dreamed of the time she was picked up by the rider in black. He had dismounted his camel and caught her before she fell from dehydration in the desert. She dreamed of Tiberius, with its auspicious towers and miserable slums and everything coloured with a blue-grey hue. She dreamed too of friends long gone into the arms of death and away from this world. Sometimes they had gone peacefully, and other times, they had died amid violence… So many!

But then, she dreamed of blue oceans and gentle skies; of a beautiful and exotic rainforest; mountains dominating a crystal clear horizon, and a waterfall that cascaded from a lonely peak.

Her dreams finally drew her to a warm azure sea where the only feature was a small chain of tropical islands. This, she felt stronger than anything was her home. Not a soul existed within this idyllic world, and she felt herself collapse into the water feeling at ease with nature.

She awoke for a while, weak, but at peace as she was carried by strong hands aboard the unmistakable rocking of a ship. Once again, she was at home, close to the water and with the sun on her face, and for the first time in… forever, she allowed herself to nestle into a man’s arms.

To be continued…

Imprint

Text: Original artwork by K. Jones (Myself).
Publication Date: 09-21-2011

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