Moon Rise (Twilight Shifters Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

Gisla shifted her puppy-like eyes from Aein to Finn and then back to Aein again.  "The spy gets further ahead.  He heard of our plans.  We must get to the bush and protect it before Lord Arnkell gets there.  We must find out what happened to the guard.  We must..." Aein did not complete the sentence, realizing everything she could say were the words that Queen Gisla used to order her to go in the first place.  "You put us in danger to keep us," she finished.
    Queen Gisla whined at Finn.  He knelt down to run his hands over her face and jaw.  "I shall return.  You are not abandoned.  We go to protect you."
    Aein wondered, not for the first time, if their stations had been different, if life had not unfolded as it had, if Finn would have sat beside Queen Gisla on the throne.  There was a softness to his spirit, a gentle caring which Aein had only caught a glimpse of a few times in her life.  She knew both Finn and Queen Gisla were aware of their place, that they would never do anything to damage the stability of the Haidra kingdom, but Aein wondered. 
    Queen Gisla seemed appeased, for she rose and leapt onto the bed.  She flopped down, placing her head between her paws, and gazed at them with worried eyes.  Finn turned to Aein and Lars and gave them a nod.  He placed his hand upon his sword and they strode out of the room towards the stables.
    They walked in silence, their minds adjusting from the conflict to the duty they now had to embark upon.
    "Do you have everything you need?" asked Aein as they swiftly made their way through the hallway, the torchlight flickering.
    "We shall find out," replied Finn grimly. 
    They arrived in the stables and two horses had been saddled and readied.  A third horse was loaded with their supplies.  Finn reached into his pack and pulled out two cloaks.  He handed one to Aein.  "Best not to make it too easy to see who travels," he explained.
    Aein nodded and put it on, hiding her blonde hair beneath the deep hood.  Without a word, they led the horses out and across the bailey to the barbican gate.  Lars trotted between them, as if he understood it was best if he remained as hidden as possible.  In the dark, he might be mistaken for a small pony.  Outside the main castle walls, the city was still busy with revelers.  There were many glances.  There was no way two soldiers clearly traveling could have snuck out when there was nothing else to provide distraction.  The more inebriated gave a tip of the hat and a bob of the head.  But there were others, men and women, who glared at them with suspicion and mistrust.  A man spotted Lars between them and spat upon the ground. 
    Aein began to understand why Queen Gisla was so anxious about Finn leaving.  She knew tensions were high, that the people of the kingdom did not like the idea of a bewitched ruler.  It was as if the darkness gave people the safety to be their true selves, and their true self was ugly. 
    Finn kneed his horse to the right and led them through the winding roads to one of the secondary gates.  It was barred and locked.  Finn rode to the gatehouse and pounded on the door.  It opened and a sleepy man in a stocking cap rubbed his eyes.  "What the blazes to you mean coming here this time of—" His jaws clamped shut as he saw who sat before him.  He bowed his head.  "My apologies."
    Finn held out a parchment.  "Open the gate," he said.
    The man bowed and scraped his way back inside.  Slowly the portcullis rose and they were able to ride beneath.
    "The alarm rung in the city for a spy on the loose and that man sleeps abed..." said Finn darkly, glancing over his shoulder as the keeper closed the gate. 
    He did not complete the thought.  If their mission was not so important, their need so dire, the man would have found himself looking for a new job.  Was he incompetent or in league with the spy?  The gatekeeper would have a few days’ grace before Finn dealt with him, Aein thought, trying to