The Maiden of the Woods Excerpt:

Kieraglanced around the colorful woods as she delicately snapped berries from theirstems. The leaves had lost much of their verdigris and were now multi-hued inoranges, yellows, and brown. In a few short weeks, she was certain, the woodssurrounding Kilsyth would be bathed in the autumnal colors. A deeper red caughther eye — cherries hung in tight clusters on a tree farther in the woods. Oh,the sweet taste of ripe cherries! What a perfect treat for the upcoming feast!

Thebushes grabbed at her skirts as she snaked past the branches and made her wayto the cherry tree. As she moved, the sounds of the wood faded, and  the birds’ chatter abruptly ceased. At first,she thought she had disturbed them with her presence, that she had been toonoisy.

Thensomething else caught her ear.

Kieragripped her basket and scanned the trees, trying to see through the brush andleaves. That something else, it was a sound that did not belong in the wood. Itwas a rustling made by heavy foot treads. The sky had darkened a bit more andher basket was nearly full. She had lost track of time and where she was. Hasshe moved too far to the south? She might not know who else was in this wood,but she was not waiting to find out.

Holdingtight to her basket, she ran as best she could through the thorny bushes thatscraped her legs and tugged at her skirts. The open glen was a few steps ahead—

Then shewas yanked backward by her hair, stumbling to catch herself before she slammedinto the ground and lost her berries. Shock hindered her for a moment as shetried to figure out what had just happened.

And whoelse was in the wood.

She neednot have guessed. From their rough language and clanging armor, she didn’t haveto raise her eyes to know it was the Romans.

Herstomach sunk to her feet. She had grown complacent, believing that this closeto her village, she was safe.

Instead,she was alone, caught by leering Romans with the destruction of the Caledoniion their mind.

This wasnot going to end well for her.

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