The hilt of her sword whacked me, knocking the air out of me. The moment I gasped, she tugged at it.
“Maybe I should take it off!” It was impossible for her to adjust it.
“Leave it. You may need it.” I desperately hoped she wouldn’t.
“Did you just say I’ll need it?!” She jerked her head over her shoulder, looking back at me.
“Do you really trust Soren?” I asked.
“No.” Her reply was barely audible over the wind, but I heard it all the same.
Every turn we made, I was bracing myself.
My mare’s ears flared in the wind. She wasn’t running as fast. I rarely pushed her this hard, and it had been hours.
Ashlyn’s sword knocked the air out of me again. I began to hate that cursed thing.
The villages we had traveled past before were silent. I recognized one from the journey in.
I wished I had paid better attention to the rest.
Edward’s horse raced alongside Merda as we passed the last. “I think we’re close to Sygil.”
“How close?” Lack of sleep was wearing on me and on her. I could feel her growing heavier against me.
As we carried forward, glimmering golden light flickered through the trees.
“The divide!” Ashlyn yelled.
“Where is the gate?” We needed to get to it for her to cross back into Nythrel.
I hadn’t even figured out how we would handle it if it was heavily guarded.
“We may need to stop and reassess,” Edward yelled. “I thought we should have been near the gate a while ago.”
Leather tugged at my palm as I pulled back on the reins.
Ashlyn slid back into me as we halted. “If we don’t find it?—”
“We’re finding it.” We had to. I scanned the stars in the sky, hoping they’d orient the way. It was something I studied long ago, and rarely relied on.
“Let’s try to travel south.” It had to be close. He couldn’t have gotten the path back that wrong. “Let’s go.” With my swift command, Merda raced onward.
Swaying in the wind, the golden light seemed to have no end as we raced alongside it.
The trees grew taller along the edge.
“Do you hear that?” Ashlyn gripped my hand. “Fyn. Tell me that’s not what I think it is.” She leaned back into me when the sound of hooves echoed in the distance.
They grew louder.
Too loud.
“We’re not giving up.” I whispered in her ear as I steadied her against me. “Edward!” I called to him, gesturing for the trees.
They’d give us cover at least temporarily. Merda was too tired to outrun them.
The hooves raced faster as we dove into the thicket.
