Keane is sending our small group as far away as possible from the Leviathans, opting instead to ride with the rest of the crew in their potential direction.
“He’s putting everyone in danger at the expense of giving us a clear path,” I whisper angrily, “why can’t we all just take the same route?”
“They know what they’re doing, Alex,” Cal repeats.
I watch as Keane’s eyes narrow on mine, the look he gives me daring me to question him again.
“We’ll meet in Fumagalli,” he says to the group sternly, keeping his gaze on mine, “and will ride the moment Lord Daniel lowers the boulders.”
Everyone, including myself, quickly stands at the comment. Once we’re all situated on our horses Keane gives Lord Daniel a slight nod. Daniel, the only one not on his horse, faces his palms in front of him again and glances at the rocks surrounding us. The ground begins to shake under us with a force, the earth opening up to swallow the boulders whole until they’re all firmly underneath.
The Discerni Lord smiles and jumps atop his horse, riding to me and Cal as Keane and Desmond lead the main group away.
“We’ll head north for a bit,” he says, “then ride east. If everything goes smooth, we’ll meet the rest of our crew just before dawn along the Great Road, not too far from the entrance of Fumagalli.”
Cal and I nod silently and follow Lord Daniel’s lead as he kicks his horse into a gallop. We ride hard in the opposite direction of the rest of the group and follow the northern stars for a complete full turn of the moons. Eventually Lord Daniel flicks his reins and begins heading east, the three of us never breaking our steady gallop.
I don’t know for how long we ride, as the Plains around us all meld together in a forever expanse of yellow, but at some point I look up to the sky and notice the moons nearly at their apex as we continue riding in speed. Stormfall is still fast asleep and perching against my neck when Lord Daniel finally brings his horse to a walk at the midnight apex, signaling to me and Cal a break in the ride as we need to refresh and cool the horses. I dismount quickly and pull out a small bowl from my travel pack and grab the canteen of water. I fill it up and hold the liquid towards Millie, her mouth frothing at the sides and a true testament of how hard we rode. I hold her muzzle strong and caress her body, smiling when her breathing starts to settle.
“Take care of yourselves as well,” Lord Daniel nods and takes a seat on the ground, “we won’t stop next until we reach the Great Road.”
Cal and I join the Lord in silence, the three of us passing around food and water for another full turn of the moons. Once Daniel determines the horses are fit to ride, he nods at us to saddle up and we take off again.
We continue in another strong gallop with our heads down and the moons sinking behind our backs. My ass is the sorest it’s ever been, and my legs are so tired they’re nearly shaking. But each stride from Millie and the rest of the horses brings us closer to the early morning before dawn, so when Daniel yells next to us that he can see the road farther ahead, the relief in both my face and Cal’s is immediate and apparent.
I sigh with a small smile and slow Millie to a walk at the Lord’s side. Cal does the same and grabs his canteen, passing it around to me and Daniel as we all look towards the plains ahead. I don’t see anything that resembles the Great Road, but I know better now than to question a Discerni’s eyesight.
“The group will join us at dawn?” Cal asks, taking his canteen back from Daniel.
I look up at the dark sky. Dawn won’t be for another full turn.
“Yes,” Daniel runs a hand through his wind-blown hair, “give or take. They should come up from the south at some point.”
“Will we wait here for them?”
“No,” the Lord shakes his head, tying his hair securely to the nape of his neck, “we will continue down the road. Either our group or theirs will recognize the horses’ prints in the dirt and will catch up with the rest. We’ll take this at a walk for now and give the horses another break, then we’ll ride hard after dawn.”
Cal nods, his own auburn hair tangled from the wind as well. I feel Stormfall move against me, the Bird of Ash finally waking up as the Great Road comes into view a ways down.
“Do you hear that?” Lord Daniel turns in his saddle with a frown.
I shake my head as Cal does the same, the three of us riding slowly towards the road.
“I thought I heard something to our right...”
I look over my shoulder and see nothing but the vast darkness beyond.
But then, very subtly, the feel of hoofbeats begins to rumble against the ground below us. I squint my eyes to the group of travelers riding directly along the Great Road, the group too small to be our own.
“That can’t be them,” I shake my head, “where is everyone else?”
“It’s not them,” Lord Daniel scowls and moves his right hand towards the ground, “Cal, do you see the road just farther ahead?”
“Yes,” my big friend grimaces.
“If this does not go well, you will take Lady Alexis and continue down the road to Fumagalli. Do not stop until you enter the Black Forest.”
Cal nods in hard understanding just as a protest forms on my lips. My friend sheathes a large dagger from his waist while Lord Daniel gives me a stern look, the three of us now turning to face the riders as they move closer.
