The soldier’s head tipped back and he let out a great guffaw. He grabbed Oliver’s hand, dropped the reins in it, then walked away.
Oliver doubled over and promptly threw up.
“Ack! Oliver! Warn me the next time you decide to lose your lunch!”
He waved a hand at me, “Don’t say lunch!” And then he threw up again.
I turned away. I had to or I would soon join him. Choosing any place but near Oliver, I decided to find the soldier in charge of my horse. It was probably time to get ready.
“I don’t think it’s wise, Gunter.” Arrick’s strong, stern voice caught my attention. I paused at the sound of his voice, just before I stepped around one of the trees that shaded the horse pen.
“Wise?” Gunter laughed. “And caravanning across kingdoms is wise?”
“What choice do I have? I have a duty.”
Gunter’s voice dropped with threat, “Yes, but to whom is this duty owed? Your rebel army or your father?”
Arrick hushed him with a low threat. I couldn’t see them from where I pressed against the tree trunk, but I could imagine the dangerous look playing across Arrick’s face as he spoke words almost too low for me to hear. “I have a duty to this realm, Gunter. You of all people should know that.”
“Aye,” Gunter agreed. “I did just ride from Heprin, did I not? I did earn another favor from you, did I not?”
“And one that you’ll demand I repay, no doubt.”
“Dragon’s blood, Arrick. This mission is suicide.”
“No,” Arrick disagreed quickly. “Leaving her behind would be suicide. And destruction of the realm as we know it.”
Herwho? Me? Did they know?
Arrick couldn’t possibly know. And I had only just met Gunter. But why had the Cavolian Horde been in Heprin? What did he mean by Arrick owing him a favor?
“Maybe that’s not such a bad thing.” Gunter’s voice softened. “Maybe we want a different realm than the one we have now.”
“No doubt, we want change. We fight for it. We die for it. But not the way you’re suggesting. Not at the price of our souls.”
Gunter barked out a harsh laugh that was becoming somewhat of a signature sound of his. “You ride toward Soravale, Rebel King. Then what?”
I could picture Arrick straightening as he replied, “Then we do what we always do. We survive.”
Footsteps crunched over the ground. I slid around the tree to stay out of view.
“We’re riding with you,” Gunter called. “You can argue with me, but you cannot stop us.”
The footsteps stilled. “That’s not a good idea,” Arrick warned.
Gunter’s laugh was more genuine this time. “I would wager that not one of my ideas has ever been consideredgood, my friend.”
Arrick started walking again, “And yet I find myself grateful for at least half of them.”
“M’lady”
I squeaked, ashamed of being caught eavesdropping. “Eret, you scared me.”
His eyes narrowed with suspicion, “What are you doing?”
Ice cold dread washed through me and I worked my mouth a few times before sound ever came out. “Sh-Shiksa.”
“What?”
