Read The King's Sword for Free Online Page A

the hundredth time. The boy scowled.
    Ronan smiled at Arien’s effort. He brought Sorcha along side Keegan’s horse, searching the road for anything that might have been the cause of the horseman’s unpredictable stop. But the road was clear. Keegan’s expression was not, however. Instead it held a look of concern.
    “What is it?” Ronan asked with confusion. His eyes darted to Keegan. Ula’s previous warning found his thoughts quickly and Ronan stiffened.
    Ronan had considered who might not be who they presented themselves to be while he rode during the day. Now the horseman was behaving suspiciously. Did he mean to take the sword himself?
    “In the trees to the left…no, don’t look directly. We are being followed.” Keegan kept his voice low and indicated toward the road ahead of them as if discussing something about the journey ahead. Had he lost his mind?
    Ronan frowned as he looked up at the sky and then let his eyes sweep the trees on both sides of the road. Only a glance, but since he was looking for something, he saw them. Shadowed by the trees and brush but they were there. Riders.
    Guilt tore through Ronan. He’d suspected Keegan but could see now the man only meant to warn him of what was going on around them. Ula was the one with no senses and he’d allowed her madness to taint his judgment of the man who guided them.
    Keegan added, “I do not trust those that would hide from view.”
    Ronan nodded, remembering the cautious way Keegan had watched the changeling, Mikel the Hort, two nights before. But Mikel had meant no harm. He had just been so used to hiding after he’d stolen something that it had become second nature.
    “How long have you noticed them?” Ronan asked.
    “Since the day after we fed the changeling.” Keegan shrugged when Ronan stared at him. “They didn’t move closer until this morning.” Perhaps the witch had been right after all. Mikel the Hort might not have been as innocent as Ronan had thought him to be. Maybe he had been some kind of spy.
    “How many are there?” Ronan felt like an idiot but indicated toward the road with his hand anyway, following Keegan’s example. He would trust him from now on.
    Keegan looked out at the road again, nodding this time. “My guess would be about six or seven. But it’s not the number that bothers me.” He met Ronan’s gaze. “They are Centaurs.” A chill raced up Ronan’s spine. He’d only heard of such half beasts and hadn’t even been sure they were real.
    They were dangerous beings that were half horse-half man, most of which were said to belong to the Rahawk, a rebel group who opposed having a wizard king. But why were they here and following them? Realization suddenly washed over Ronan and Keegan nodded, apparently aware of what had found the blacksmith’s thoughts. The King’s Sword.
    Ronan glanced at Arien’s horse. “Ahearn hasn’t seemed nervous. Surely if there was danger he would sense it first as he did before.” He grasped desperately for hope but Keegan took it away with a shake of his head.
    “I told you the horses were intelligent. They would, just as we are, attempt to keep the centaurs from realizing we knew that they were there.” Keegan made a few gestures with his hands. “I have trained them well. True, they let us know of danger but they also understand our command and would not forsake us.” Ronan looked back to find that Ahearn was looking directly at him, almost as if to confirm the horseman’s words. Ronan sighed heavily.
    “Do we get to stop a bit earlier today?” Ula asked eagerly. Ronan’s gaze drifted from the horse to the boy and the healer. They relied on him and Keegan to keep them safe. The fear that had began to gnaw at Ronan suddenly turned to anger. He flexed his fingers slightly and took a calming breath. No need to act irrationally and bring on events that might not take place otherwise.
    “Do you think they are a part of the dark forces?” Ronan looked at Keegan,