CHAPTER NINETEEN
Ceres’s hair stood on the back of her neck as she waited for the axe to descend on her. The crowd had gone silent, and she heard her executioner raise his weapon into the air.
In that moment, her entire life flashed before her.
Yet, to her surprise, the blade never dropped.
Instead, she felt arms around her waist.
And a moment later, someone was hoisting her into the air.
She landed on her stomach, hunching forward, and realized she was draped across a horse’s back, her legs on one side, her head on the other. Someone hopped onto the same horse right behind her, whipping it to a sudden start, and Ceres felt a strong arm holding her around her waist, preventing her from falling. She heard arrows swooshing by, hitting against armor or a shield.
The Empire soldiers yel
