Blood Red (84 page)

The ravens fled with their acquired treasure. Red sheathed her knife and looked at Rapunzel. She sat unmoving, the knife still clenched in her hand. Her hair was chopped to pieces. Some long strands still stayed, but most had been cropped close to her head.

“It will grow.”

Rapunzel handed Red’s knife back absently. “I know.”

“We must hurry. A flock of ravens means evil is not far behind.” Red turned her horse and positioned back in the middle of the path. “You will have to follow me.”

Rapunzel did not move. “You go.”

“Don’t be a fool. Something is coming.”

“It is Morgana.”

“How do you know?”

“She has imprisoned me long enough that I know the feel of her.” Rapunzel turned her solemn face to Red. Her eyes were bright and clear. Her mouth set in a stern frown. “I will not run from her again. I need to break the chains that bind me to her.”

Red nodded. She knew of those chains. She had her own to sever. Red kicked her horse and rode to Rapunzel. She unsheathed the knife from her leg and 166

Blood Red

handed it to her. “The blade is sharp. The steel is strong. Let your hand guide it swiftly.”

Rapunzel took it. She touched Red’s hand briefly.

“Take care, Blood Red. See that you fulfill your destiny.”

Red nodded. “Destiny or not. I will have my vengeance.”

She kicked her horse and rode hard toward the gate. She glanced behind her briefly as she neared the white pillars. She saw a dark form appear before Rapunzel. Morgana. Red raised her sword and vanished through the ivory gate.

Rapunzel did not watch as Red disappeared. She was intent on watching the dark form amass before her. Morgana smiled up at her.

“I knew you would return, my darling Rapunzel.”

Red felt a cold air run through her as she passed the ivory gates. It was like an icy hand reaching into her body to caress her organs. She came through on the other side sword still raised. The others were there grouped together before the bridge to the castle, already in battle. Twenty armed guards on foot surrounding them.

Red sent up a war cry as she sliced through two unsuspecting guards. They had not expected her to come through the gate. They fell to the ground, mortally wounded.

The others sent up their own war cry, and charged the guards.

Junior fired off his crossbow, impaling two guards.

Iron Hans pushed through the crowd, his mace swinging violently. Papa sliced through three guards 167