Before long, we all set off again. Tiernan doesn’t mention the nightmare, and I know better than to bring it up.
We remain amongst the trees outside the main route of the nearby village for as long as we can. Sunlight kisses my skin every now and then as we walk through open areas in the canopy. The leaves aren’t as full as they should be after summer solstice, the warmth of the sun holding very little power.
Chiyo and Ava walk alongside each other, seemingly engaged in a pleasant conversation. Isobel is chatty with everyone now that we’re temporarily off horseback, giving our steeds a bit of a reprieve.
I fight to keep my mind from mourning what I’ve left behind or worrying about the uncertainty of where we’re going. Instead, I focus on the sweet honey scent of the woodbine that twines upthe sides of the trees. The vines are a lighter green, the ordinarily brick-red flowers limp and muted in color. Tall stems of fairy thimbles fill the spaces between the trees, their fuchsia flowers also less vibrant than usual.
We pause every now and then, watering the horses and taking a moment to stretch our limbs and munch on blackberries from the brambles around us. We mount our horses again to get a bit farther before settling down for the night.
By dusk, my body feels heavy, my mind groggy. One of Tiernan’s arms wraps around my middle, pulling me against him, but I sit up straighter, opening my eyes as wide as they can go. Fighting the headache and the sleepiness trying to tug me under proves difficult.
“Try to relax,” comes Tiernan’s voice. “Take a nap. I’ve got you.”
“Tiernan, no. That’s not fair. No one else can just take a nap on their horses.”
He sighs. “Stubborn woman.” It doesn’t come across as an insult, but as a compliment. I find myself smiling through the sleepy haze before my head starts to droop again.
Tiernan tugs Ghendor to an abrupt halt. My head jerks up. Ava also stops and holds her hand up, commanding everyone else to pause. The smell of burning wood reaches my nose, the faintest glow of a fire somewhere up ahead. Ava leaps off her horse, her sword already drawn. Moments later, Tiernan does the same.
My heart thunders, all sleepiness forgotten. “What’s happening?” I ask as Ghendor’s ears flatten against his head in irritation.
A few figures rush toward us, and Ava deflects one of their swords with her own while Chiyo slips down from her horse. Sloan and Isobel join in the fight while Alys steers her horse outof the way. The attackers are dressed in dark colors, but they have no insignia to identify them.
Tiernan shouts something toward our group and Chiyo looks back at him, eyes wide. Tiernan reaches up to grip my knee. “Get as far away as you can,” he says, and my heart all but falls out of my chest.
“What? I’m not leaving without you.”
Chiyo pulls her dagger from one of the attacker’s chests and wipes it on her pants before practically taking a running leap onto her horse. Everything moves too quickly, my head swimming with the confusion of it all.
“You’ll have Sloan, Alys, and Chiyo. Stay between them. We’ll take care of these people.” He clasps my hand as I’m about to argue. “I will find you. I promise. Our journey doesn’t end here.”
I swallow, but he releases my hand and taps Ghendor’s rump. The stallion takes off at a gallop, shoving my body backward. I grip the reins in my slippery palms and steady myself as best as I can. Immediately, I’m flanked by Chiyo and Alys with Sloan riding behind.
Something flies past me, too close, sending a sharp sting through the tip of my ear. My pulse triples and I immediately lift a hand, prepared to form a shield. A figure in white appears directly in my path, and Ghendor skids to a stop. Startled, the horse rears up on his hind legs, hooves flailing. My heart lurches, my stomach bottoming out as I’m propelled backward.
With a shriek, I throw out a shadow shield just in time to break my fall, but I still land hard on my hip. Ghendor rears back again, and I roll away from him into the thick brush at the edge of this tiny clearing where he’s stopped. Lights and shadows waver through the clearing as Sloan and Chiyo dismount and get in front of me. They fend off more attackers as Alys crouches among the bushes beside me and I try to regain my bearings.
Our horses rush off the pathway, retreating into the woods. Chiyo and Sloan manage to get the attackers away from Alys and me, but a man in whitematerializesin front of me. A bright white orb in his hand sends light flooding all around us. In contrast, a black stone stands out on his finger.
I blink through my wavering vision while my head pounds. I stare up at the man as he towers over me, his limp black hair hanging out from beneath his white hood. He tugs a wicked, curved blade from his belt, but a second later, his eyes go wide as an arrowhead protrudes from his neck. I scramble to my feet as red seeps into the collar of his garb, more blood bubbling out of his mouth when he coughs.
He falls forward onto his face, and my eyes lock on to another man in white, an arrow nocked and ready to fly. I take in his ruddy face beneath a thick auburn beard. A bruise darkens the left side of his face, and his broad shoulders rise as his body tenses. Bright blue eyes meet mine, and my mouth suddenly goes paper dry.
Chiyo jumps in front of me, a dagger in her hand, but I shout at her to stop. She goes still, though she doesn’t look back at me. Osheen drops his bow and arrow, hands held up in surrender. Chiyo lowers her arm and steps to my side just as Sloan appears behind Osheen. The sleeve of their missing limb is unrolled, tattered and muddy as it hangs at their side, but the sword that appears against Osheen’s throat is held by a steady and sure hand.
“Sloan, no! Don’t kill him” I shout.
Sloan’s face contorts with confusion. Nausea rolls through me as too many emotions flood my body at once. I step back, but my leg gives out and I go down hard on my knee. Chiyo crouches beside me, her hand on my back.
Sloan asks something I can’t make out.
Beside me, Chiyo lifts her hand from my back and hesitates before signing as she verbally responds to Sloan. “Yes. His name is Osheen.”
Chapter 26
My stomach squirmsas Sloan lowers their sword from Osheen’s neck.
He’s alive.
