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Back Copper Chain Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. Title Page
  2. Copyright Page
  3. Dedication
  4. CONTENTS
  5. MAP
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. 54
  60. 55
  61. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  62. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

She could see half a dozen running men: swarthy, bare-chested warriors with curved swords. Her heart was already racing. But the sight of the raiders, with their weapons raised and kohl painted under their eyes, sent a chill along her spine.

One of them pointed in the direction of the path of blue stone that led to the Oracle’s cave. He and two companions immediately started running toward the entrance, searching for the bounty of offerings made to the Oracle from far and wide. Another, slighter warrior, with pale eyes and streaks of gray in his hair despite the fact that he was still a young man, ran to the nearest of the ruins scattered around the cave and began searching for plunder near the strange glowing fires.

Two more raiders were calling out to each other as they climbed the hill. Reaching the crest, they stopped when they saw the ruins of what had once been a great complex. The older of the two, a stocky, bearded man with a strong jaw, barked something at his younger companion, who was red-faced and panting, eyes wild with battle lust. They were evidently arguing about which building to approach first, with the wild-eyed younger man pointing in the direction of the academy, which, though small, was the grandest of the buildings still standing, while the bearded warrior was trying to pull him in the direction of the dormitory.

Chloe scanned the carpet of dried foliage and twigs. She spied a stout piece of wood, closer to the edge of the small grove, and hurried to pick it up. Looking out from the trees again, she felt her heart beat out of time. The younger of the two raiders was gripping his companion’s arm. They were both staring directly at her.

Her chest was heaving. They were just a stone’s throw away. The bearded man’s gaze flickered to the cudgel in her hand and he smiled. The red-faced younger man chuckled. The two raiders began to approach, spreading out.

Blood roaring in her ears, Chloe couldn’t take her eyes off the swords in their hands. They walked toward her slowly, like two hunters cornering a wounded deer.

Backing away, wondering if she could outrun them, she spied movement out of the corner of her eye and saw the gray-haired raider approaching from the other side of the grove. The three men were working together to pin her in the stand of trees, with only one direction remaining for escape. She was forced to leave the trees completely, but realized she was being herded back down the hillside toward the dormitory. The raiders were taking their time, eyes directly on her, ready to start running when she did.

Chloe heard a twig snap directly behind her.