Scorpio Drums

Chapter twenty

Chapter twentyRed roaring madness engulfed me. I felt choked. Naked as I was I felt as though a metal helmet enclosed my head, crushing my temples, constricting my throat. All I could see in the whole universe was Delia. She stood at the center of vision and all about her stretched nothingness. Half crouched, her hands extended, she looked lithe and vibrant, quick and lethal as any hunting cat — and across her face spread a demonic look of utter hatred.

I had to tear my whole being away from Delia. I had to control myself, I had to think. I had to — I was out on the sand and somehow the broken body of a marshal lay strewn behind me and I was running for the steps to the throne. If arrows were shot off at me, they all missed.

The two guards with their double-curved swords came down for me