IRON BREAKERS

STAG'S RUN

BY
ZAYA FELI

Copyright 2016 by Zaya Feli
Published by Zaya Feli at Smashwords
Cover art and illustrations 2016 by Zaya Feli

Second Edition published June 2017

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof
may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever
without the express written permission of the publisher
except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Acknowledgements

List of Characters

Connect with Zaya Feli

CHAPTER ONE

“Cut it off on the left. Hurry!”

The boar thundered through the undergrowth, two horses close behind it, their tails streaming with their speed. Heat radiated off Ren's grey mare as he reined her to the side, into the path of the boar. The beast turned onto a narrow forest trail and Ren pulled his horse around it to cut it off before it could escape. He ducked his head under low branches, startling a flock of birds that darted from the trees as he raced past. Trees and branches whipped past and gave way to a sunlit clearing as they galloped over the ridge.

Ren hefted his spear. The boar was right in front of him. He had a clear shot. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Hellic's horse clear the trees behind them.

Ren lowered his weapon and pushed his mare harder, both of them panting as they sped past the boar, forcing it to stop and turn back towards the horse and rider behind it.

The beast was small, half the size of the larger breeds that roamed these woods, but it was fast and its tusks were sharp. It turned, seemed to size up the other horse, its path blocked in both directions. A second passed in which it seemed to decide whether to charge or run.

It charged.

“Hellic, now!” Ren shouted, forcing his horse in close, a tight grip on his spear in case Hellic missed his shot.

Hellic's aim was true. The spear went deep. Hellic's horse stomped its hooves and tossed its head as he pushed with all his weight against the end of the spear. Finally, the boar went still and sank to its knees. A beautiful, swift kill.

“Excellent,” Ren exclaimed, leaning sideways in the saddle to grip and shake Hellic's shoulder in excitement. “Look at those tusks.”

Hellic beamed with pride and patted his gelding on the neck. “It's going to taste amazing slow-roasted.” His smile was wide, but then it faded and he dragged his eyes from the boar to meet Ren's gaze with a guilty expression. “Sorry. I'll stop talking about it.”