‘He’s likely going the long way around,’ Roul replied. ‘We could go searching for another bridge, but it’ll potentially add days to our trip. And if we don’t find one, the current will be twice as strong that close to the mountains.’
‘Then we cross here,’ Eda said, sounding braver than she felt.
‘We could tie the horses together,’ Alveye suggested. ‘So we don’t lose anyone.’
Blackmane shook his head. ‘Then if one goes, we all drown.’
‘What if one of us crosses with a length of rope,’ Tatum said, ‘and secures it to a tree on the other side? That way if we lose a horse, we’ll still have its rider.’
‘How much rope do we have?’ Roul asked.
‘Enough if we join it all together,’ Alveye replied.
Eda held her breath as she waited for Roul to decide. He was hanging on to his horse’s bridle, watching the water.
‘All right,’ he said. ‘I’ll take it across.’
‘Shouldn’t someone else take it in case it goes wrong?’ Tatum asked.
Blackmane let out a heavy breath. ‘I’ll do it.’
Roul nodded his consent. ‘Suttone, you’ll cross with me. You have the smallest horse, which means you’re at the highest risk of being swept away.’
Eda glanced at Basil. ‘What about him?’
Roul walked over to the donkey and removed its halter. ‘There’s no way he’ll make it across.’ He gave her an apologetic look before returning to his own horse.
Now free, Basil walked over to stand with Eda, ears twitching back and forth.
‘I suggest you stay away from the village,’ she said quietly, ‘unless you want to end up hanging from a hook.’
Everyone was busy removing boots and cloaks, packing them away in the vain hope of keeping them dry. Eda decided it was best to take off her dress. No one said anything as she stripped down to her chemise and packed the gown into her bag.
When everyone was ready, Alveye handed Blackmane one end of the rope and secured the other end to a nearby tree.
‘We’ll see you on the other side,’ Tatum said as Blackmane nudged his horse towards the river.
Blackmane only nodded.
His mare needed a lot of encouragement, but the defender surprised Eda by being very patient with the animal, and eventually, they entered the water.
‘Easy, girl,’ Blackmane said as water rushed over the horse’s legs and belly, causing her to panic. She lifted her head high as spray hit her face. Blackmane continued slowly forwards, the water rising to his thighs. They were halfway across when the river floor seemed to disappear from beneath his horse. The mare’s head dropped beneath the water as they were swept downstream. Blackmane used the rope to slow their descent, enabling the mare to find her footing and get back on her feet. Steam now rose from her rump.
‘We’ll move the rope down when he exits,’ Roul said. ‘The depth seems to be more consistent in that part of the river.’
No one replied, because they were all watching Blackmane. There was a collective exhale when he finally reached the other side. It took him several tries to exit the water as the soft edges of the river crumbled underfoot, but eventually the mare scrambled up to safety.
Alveye untied the rope and moved it farther downstream, and then Blackmane secured it to a tree on the other side.
‘You sure about this?’ Roul asked Eda.
She met his eyes. ‘Can you imagine the look on Blackmane’s face if I changed my mind?’
‘He’d likely throw her in the river—assuming he made it back,’ Tatum said behind them.
Roul glanced over his shoulder at the defender. ‘Fair point. In that case, Suttone, you’re up next. I’ll follow.’
Eda looked back at Basil, who was a sensible distance from the water, watching them.
