Anyone who wears buffers daily does so because they expect to be in brawls and altercations involving weapons. I know that.
Butthis?
No. There is no way I can be a part of this. I have to hide. Figure something else out—anythingelse.
I don’t stop running until I make it to the dirt field just outside of Redclaw. I plant a hand on a tree trunk, sucking in gulps of air as I peer over my shoulder.
Then I hear something.
Rapid clomping.
Horse hooves beat into the ground, coming closer, growing louder by the second.
My heart plummets when I spot the line of people on horses galloping in my direction. I take off again, running full speed as my satchel slaps against my waist, and the straps of my rucksack dig into my shoulders. I kick up dirt, racking my brain to remember how to return to Meriva.
What was I even thinking following him into Redclaw? I must be losing it. That or I’ve gone full-blown delusional. Trusting a stranger with swords and too many daggers to help me cross the world. Did I really think this was a good idea?
Under so much duress, it’s nearly impossible to retrace my steps.
The galloping beats through me, rattling my bones.
I run harder.
Faster.
But it’s not enough.
In one smooth movement, I’m swept off the ground in a magical grip. I scream as I realize Thane is the culprit. He’s riding the black-and-ivory horse mere feet behind me. Just as quickly as I was picked up, I’m placed down on the horse’s back and planted firmly behind him.
“Orvena help me!” I cry, locking my arms around Thane’s middle so I won’t bounce off the horse and fall to my death. I mean, really. I’ve made it this far. It would be anticlimactic to die in a mere horse-riding accident.
I glance behind us, and there are people chasing us. Seven of Garyn’s men ride horses, too, weapons raised and teeth bared.
“Look out!” I yell.
I duck as one of them rides to our side and swipes at Thane’s head with an ax. Thane ducks in time and throws up a hand, sending the man flying off his horse with a strong burst of gold.
Another appears, and Thane conjures a dagger, flicking with a flourish of his wrist and stabbing it into the man’s forehead. I gasp as I watch blood gush around the blade. Then Thane’s magic yanks it out and returns it to him. The man falls off his horse and slams to the ground.
“Oh, gods. I’m gonna be sick,” I groan.
“Throw up on me, and I’ll shove you off this horse,” Thane threatens over his shoulder.
One by one, Thane finishes them off.
When the last man standing quite literally loses his head, we come to a halt and survey the damage. We’ve left nothing but innocent horses wandering an open field among the littered remains of dead riders. Not an image I ever thought I’d see and surely not one I’ll ever get out of my head.
The horse beneath me grunts as Thane whips the reins.
We ride off, leaving destruction in our wake.
…
It’s not until we reach the bridge outside Meriva that we come to a full stop. I immediately climb off our steed and stagger away, bile rising in my throat. Eventually, I can’t hold it in anymore. I turn and vomit on a pile of silver rocks. Farewell to the bread with raspberry spread I had for breakfast.
I spit the acidic taste out of my mouth as Thane swings a leg over the horse and hops to the ground. “You ran the wrong way.” His tone is much too calm for my liking right now.
I swipe the arm of my tunic over my mouth while holding up my other hand, waving him off. “You need to stay away from me!”
