The Swords of Gregara - Jenala, a sci-fi romance Read Online Free Page B

Zlaten.
    Jenala thought they’d miss the first snow but it was early and caught them as they reached the top of pass.   They took the saddle off of Lottie and headed inside of the shelter shack to wait for the storm to pass.   Lottie had thick fur that helped keep her warm and there was a lean-to that kept the bulk of the wind and snow off of her.   But Jenala and Santro had to find another way to keep warm.  
    The attack came just as they entered the shack.   Three men waited for them.   Santro took on two of them and Jenala one.   The attack happened so fast they didn’t have time to do anything but unsheathe their swords and block the first blows.   The sound of metal ringing on metal was deafening.   Jenala felt herself weakening.   She had to get outside, Lottie would help her.   She backed up parrying each of the blows as they came.   Finally she was at the door.   She reached around and pulled open the door, backing out of it as she continued to block the blows.
    “Lottie,” she yelled.  
    She didn’t have to wait; the noise had brought Lottie to the shack.   She waited outside howling with the wind.   As soon as Jenala saw her she slashed back at her opponent, forcing him back long enough for her to turn and run behind Lottie.  
    The snarlot charged forward, her beak closing on the man’s head.   She lifted him and shook her head.   Even over the howling of the storm, Jenala heard his neck break, then with a final shake, his body separated from his head falling to the blood covered ground.  
    Jenala ran back to the shack.   She had to help Santro.   Pulling open the door she ran inside only to see Santro pull his sword from the gut of one of the assailants.   The second one had fallen in a corner of the room and though not dead his arm was severed and he was screaming, holding his hand over the wound.   He was bleeding out, quickly.   He would be dead within minutes.
    Santro turned quickly toward her, sword up, ready for the next opponent.   When he saw her, he sheathed his sword and walked to her, taking her in his arms.   She fell into them, wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life.
    “Lottie saved me.   I couldn’t fight.   My back wound, I’m too weak.”
    “It’s all right.   Everything’s all right.”
    They stood there for a few minutes, just holding each other, both breathing hard, neither saying a word.
    Santro was the first one to pull back.   “We have to get these bodies out of here.   The storm is not going to let up for who knows how long and I refuse to share our lodgings with this vermin.”
    The man in the corner was no longer making any noise.   He leaned against the wall, his eyes still open, not moving.   He was dead.
    Santro grabbed the man’s shoulders, Jenala his feet and they dragged him out into the storm, throwing his body next to the shack.   They did the same with the other man.   Lottie had taken care of the third man, hauling his body into the surrounding forest.
    They went back inside the shack.   It was covered in blood, but it was out of the storm.   It had some wood for the stove, a small table with two chairs and many games on a shelf.   There was also a bed.   A small bed with barely room enough for two people, but Jenala knew that they would have to use it together to keep warm.   The firewood was not enough to last the night and would have to be used sparingly.
    Santro caught her staring at the bed.   “I promise I won’t bite,” he said with a smile.
    She blushed.   “Of course, you don’t.   I’m just…just…,” she stammered.
    He came forward and lifted her chin with his knuckle until she looked at him.   “Look at it this way, you’ve already been in my arms, this will be no different.   I’ll hold you so we can both stay warm.   On my honor, I will not take advantage of you.”
    She looked up into his face and saw the truth.   He would keep her safe.  
    He changed the subject.