“And yours?” he asked, his tone dry but softening.
She brushed a hand over the stallion’s neck.
“Obsidian.”
For a moment, warmth lingered between them, lit by lantern glow and the children’s laughter. Then Viktor straightened in the saddle, voice firm.
“Let’s get you back to camp.”
Darkness closed in as they left the redwoods behind.
Ahead lay nothing but open desert, rock glinting under a rising moon.
Time bled away as they pressed on, the horses driven hard across the barren flats.
At last, Viktor pulled Obsidian up short and dropped to the ground. Evander turned back reluctantly to find him crouched beside the stallion, one hand pressed to the hoof.
The shoe lay twisted and broken in the dust.
Amerei swallowed hard, turning her face away to hide the devastation in her eyes.
Viktor, beyond exhaustion, pressed his fingers to his brow, knowing a hard decision was upon him.
Every choice had a cost.
This one would be measured in distance—and faith.
He rose and ran a hand over Obsidian’s neck.
“Will he follow, or need to be tied?”
Amerei’s voice came quiet but sure.
“He’ll follow.”
Viktor tightened the straps of his runners, pulled his hair back from his face, and straightened with grim resolve.
“Then ride ahead. I’ll run the rest of the way.”
Evander spurred his horse forward, but Amerei clutched his arm, her voice breaking.
“We’re not leaving you out here alone.”
Viktor’s eyes lingered on her a breath—steady as a frozen river.
“I’ll see you safe to Sevrak.”
He drew Evander’s knife from his belt and pressed it into his hand.
“Trust your horse—she can see in the dark. Run her as hard as she’ll take you, and stop for nothing.”
He slapped Alabaster into motion, the horse leaping forward.
Amerei glanced back over the saddle, her eyes finding his—and holding.
Whatever it takes…
He would not leave her to the dark.
