5 ： Sadows of Betra (第1/3页)

    ThedawnofanewdaybroughtasenseofcalmandhopetothesmallvilgewhereSukie，HanFengling，andMeihadfe.Thevilgershadbeenincrediblykind，food，shelter，andabriefrespitefromtheirarduousjourney.Yet，theshadowoftheDarkLrowingpowerloomedoverthem，andSukiekheirtimeofpeacewasfleeting.

    Asthefirstlightofmfilteredthroughthewindow，Sukiestretchedandgotoutofbed，feelingasenseofdetermination.TodaywasthedaytheywouldgathermoreintelligentheDarkLord’spnsandfurthertheirmissiontosavetheKingdomofLian.Shedressedquicklyandquietly，notwantingtowakeMei，whowasstillsoundasleep.

    Steppingoutside，Sukietookadeepbreathofthecrispmair，savthemomentarytranquility.Thevilgewasingtolife，withvilgersbeginningtheirdailyroutines，unawareofthedangerousfatheringonthehorizon.

    HanFenglingwasalreadyup，sharpeninghisswordbythefire.HelookedupasSukieapproached，hisfacebreakingintoawarmsmilethatmadeherheartflutter.

    “Goodm，”hegreetedher，hisvoicefilledwithwarmth.

    “Goodm，”Sukiereplied，returninghissmile.“Didyousleepwell?”

    HanFenglinghoughhiseyesheldahintofweariness.“Aswellasoimeslikethese.Areyoureadyfortoday?”

    Sukie’sexpressiongrewserious.“Yes，Iam.WeofindoutwhattheDarkLordispnningandstophimbeforeit’stoote.”

    HanFenglingreachedout，takingherhandinhis.“We’lldoittogether，Sukie.Nomatterwhat，we’llfaceittogether.”

    Theirtendermomentwasinterruptedbythesoundofhurriedfootsteps.Theyturoseethevilgeleader，theelderlymanwhohadweledthem，approagwithalookof.

    “HanFengling，Sukie，”hecalledout，hisvoiceurgent.“There’ssomethingyouosee.”

    Theyfollowedthevilgeleadertotheoutskirtsofthevilge，whereagroupofvilgershadgatheredaroundafigurelyingontheground.Astheypushedthroughthecrowd，Sukie’sbreathcaughtihroat.Thefigurewasasoldier，badlyinjuredandbarelyscious.

    “Hestumbledintothevilgethism，”thevilgeleaderexpined.“Hekeptaskingforyou.”

    HanFenglingkbesidethesoldier，hisexpressiongrim.“peoyou?Whodidthis?”

    Thesoldiercoughed，hisvoiceweak.“TheDarkLord…he’spnninganattack.Hehasaneon，somethingpowerful.Youhavetostophim…beforeit’stoote.”

    Sukie’sheartraced.“Whereishepnningtoattack?”

    Thesoldier’seyesflickered，hisstrengthfading.“Thecapital…hewantstotakethecapital.”

    Withthosewords，thesoldier’seyesclosed，astill.HanFenglingstood，hisjawsetierminatiotothecapital.IftheDarkLordtakesit，theentirekingdomwillfall.”

    Sukienodded，herresolveunwavering.“Thenwehavenotimetowaste.Weogatherouralliesaothecapitalimmediately.”

    Thevilgers，overhearingtheversatioomurmuramongstthemselves.Fearanduaintyrippledthroughthecrowd，buttherewasalsoasenseofdetermination.Thevilgeleadersteppedforward，hisvoicesteady.

    “Wewillhelpyouinany