Vhulkar froze and creakily turned his upper body around. Those dark eyes glared at me while his spindly fingers rubbed against one another. “You are mistaken, woman. You will be coming with me.”
A growl at my back forced my attention in that direction. The hideous nethral that had dragged me here took a step toward me and bared its fangs. I scrambled to my feet and shrank away from those jagged jaws.
“Now come,” Vhulkar demanded as he resumed his shuffling down the hall. “We shall see what magic you hide.”
Chapter 8
Wounded men leaned against every available tree. Their less weathered comrades hurried to and fro, administering aid in the form of bandages and brandy.
The king himself cleaned and wrapped wounds, and was just finishing covering a long gash when one of his men hurried up to him. “Your Majesty, I have to report that we can’t find the horses anywhere. They must have bolted to the road.”
Scalyvar didn’t look up from his work. “And what of the cart donkey?”
“She was slightly injured, but remained near the vehicle.”
The king finished his work and stood. “Can she pull the cart?”
“I think so.”
Scalyvar turned to face the camp. “Place those who can’t walk in the cart. The rest can follow behind while those least injured will guard them.”
Titus sauntered up with one of his hands bandaged, and his keen eyes focused on his king. “You sound as though you’re not coming with us.”
“I’m not. I will follow the trail of our foes and see if I might rescue Lady Holt.”
His companion frowned. “But how will you follow them without a horse?”
A faint smile slipped onto his lips. “There’s still one nearby.”
Scalyvar put his two fingers in his mouth and blew. His shrill whistle echoed through the woods, and a whinny answered him. Something white flickered between the trees, and Niveus emerged from the woods. Twigs stuck out of his mane, and his coat was covered in sticks and dirt. His hooves were soaked in the black tar, the blood of his victims.
The king turned to his subjects. “God willing, we will meet again at the inn.”
The company erupted into sharp shouts, and many of the wounded struggled to their feet.
“You cannot follow them alone, Your Majesty!”
“We will not hear of it!”
“Allow us to come with you!”
Secundus stepped forward. A bloodied bandage covered his forehead. “I must protest this, as well, Your Majesty. While your eagerness to help is admirable, as we all know, the nethral don’t keep captives. The woman is no doubt dead by now.”
Scalyvar nodded at his men. “These nethral weren’t acting in their usual manner, otherwise, they would not have fled after they succeeded in whisking her away.”
Titus grabbed his lord’s reins. “Allow me to go in your stead, Your Majesty. You can remain with the others and lead them to safety.”
The horse threw back its head and snorted. Scalyvar stroked the back of the animal’s neck. “I am grateful for all your offers, but you know as well as I that Niveus won’t allow anyone else to lead him.”
Niveus threw back his head and pawed at the ground. Scalyvar stroked the fine steed’s mane. “Yes, we’ll have our revenge on those fiends.”
“Then allow me to run after you,” Titus insisted.
Scalyvar leaned over and clapped his hand on his friend’s shoulder. Titus couldn’t hide all of his grimace. “You hide your wounds well, old friend, but you are as injured as the others. I will be charged with her rescue and meet you at the inn in a few days.”
Titus stretched himself to his full height and lifted his chin. “I still wish to go with you, Your Highness.”
The corners of Scalyvar’s mouth tightened. “Don’t make me command you.”
