“Okay.”
Hot, wet air explodes on the back of my neck.I whip around to find the black gelding Lord Umbridge rode is craning its neck to reach me.When I turn, it nibbles at my hair.
Where did he come from?“Hi big boy.What are you doing?”I’m not afraid of large animals.I’ve lived in the middle ground between Lake Tahoe and the wilderness for long enough to be comfortable around everything from cows and horses to raccoons and owls.
The horse nudges my shoulder, demanding attention.With a huge smile on my face, I run my hands over his neck and soft nose.
“Your whistle appears to have summoned him.”
I grin.That makes sense.Kind of.“You’re a beauty.But you know that, don’t you?”I’m standing in my wedding dress, talking to a horse, because that’s the kind of day I’ve had.
The horse neighs and whinnies like he’s trying to talk to me.Rygar watches us and his gaze narrows.“I believe animal telepathy may be your gift.It’s unusual for the astral gift to manifest so quickly, but the animal is clearly enamored with you.”
Animal telepathy?I would burst out laughing if I didn’t feel the gelding’s response.It’s like the horse whispers to me, deep inside my mind.Not in words, in feelings.
Helikesme.A lot.He wants to stay with me.Come home with me.He’s so sweet.
“Madison.Mate.We must leave.”The urgency in Rygar’s voice breaks me out of my trance-like state.
“Okay.”I use the bridle to lower the horse’s head so I can look him in the eye.“I’m sorry.I have to go.You be a good boy and I’m sure they’ll give you lots of yummy things to eat.”
With a final pat on the horse’s head, I let him go and take Rygar’s hand.We take several steps when a loud crash sounds behind me.
The horse has jumped over the enclosure and is following me.
Rygar curses.“I should have known this would happen.BILL!?”
B.I.L.L.:Here.
“Any change?Movement?Do you have anything?”
B.I.L.L.:Negative.
The squire for Lord Umbridge leaps over the waist high fence and grabs the horse’s reins.“I’m so sorry.He’s never done this before.”
“It’s fine.He just wanted some attention.”
“Come on, Harvey!”He pulls the reluctant horse along behind him, weaving between tables of shocked diners on the way back to the corridor I assume leads to the stable.
“Let’s go.”Rygar pulls me along.I jog to keep up with his long strides.No easy feat in these fucking high heels.
Screw this.I kick them off and lean down to loop the heel clasps through the fingers of my free hand.
We’re about to exit the way we came in when screams sound ahead of us.People start running, not out of the restaurant, but in a frantic scramble to get back inside.
Rygar immediately changes our direction.Next thing I know, we are racing after the horse.
Chaos erupts behind us.I glance over my shoulder.People are falling over each other, tripping over chairs, and shoving tables out of their way.They race straight ahead, into the arena where moments ago pretend knights were fighting pretend battles.
There’s nothing pretend about the five men who march in behind them like a swarm of comic book bad guys.Dressed in black suits, black hats and black sunglasses—because of course you need sunglasses inside, at night—the proverbialMen in Blackfan out, blocking the exit, dark black pistols pulled and at the ready.
B.I.L.L.:Commander, I am picking up cell phone chatter from your location.Emergency calls are being made to the human authorities.You may be in jeopardy.
You think?
I stumble over the uneven ground in the arena.Rygar catches me before I faceplant and places me back on my feet.I risk a peek over my shoulder.I shouldn’t have.One of the MIB’s locks his gaze on me.Or Rygar.Can’t tell with those damn sunglasses hiding his eyes.
He assumes a firing stance, pistol in front, aimed at ….us.
