Page 75 of Oath of Rebellion

"What are the eagles?" she gasped, looking over their shoulder.

He grunted, "They're big enough to cart off a horse."

And princesses. He clenched his jaw and pulled her back against his chest as he wove Ryder back and forth around trees, no path in sight.

He had to get them to safety but still avoid the beast. Assassin vines descended from the trees ahead, and he cursed. He took his axe from its strap on Ryder's side, swinging deftly as they tried to grab both of them out of the saddle.

They'd reached the part of the forest where his magic didn't work.

Eirwyn gripped the horse's mane and held on for dear life as he tried to protect her. A whoosh sounded overhead, and he ducked to the left barely avoiding a crash with a tree.

He looked back to see a giant talon jerking out of the vines, but they wouldn't give up that easily. They turned and went deeper into the forest, and he breathed easier as the plants and giant bird battled each other.

Eirwyn looked around his shoulder, her voice gasping. "Did we make it?"

He grunted and pointed his axe. "Yeah, but the fly traps are ahead. Do you still have that little stiletto dagger of Scarlet's?"

She nodded, pulling it out from her sleeve. "Yes, but I'm not sure I can do this."

He gave her a quick hug from behind. "Of course you can. I believe in you. You killed the adder, right? And got us out of the spider swarm. Here the fly traps come. Can you take our left flank, and I'll take the right? Aim for the stalk, not the head with all the teeth. Sever it if you can."

She nodded, her body rigid as she scanned the area around them and took a deep breath. "Don't you have more of the glowing sticks? Do they work on fly traps?"

He shook his head. "No, they don't. It just works on insects, not plants or wildlife."

She shivered as the giant fly traps rose in front of them, half as tall as the trees. He wrapped his left arm around her waist in front of him. He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. "You're doing so good, princess. Keep fighting."

She shivered again and leaned back, twisting her neck and nuzzling into his neck. He barely dipped his head and hugged her tight when the ground began to slope slightly downward. He could feel her fear, but he couldn't–no, he wouldn't–let anything happen to her.

He pulled back, tightening on the reins.

They were going in the right direction and almost to there. The first fly trap latched onto her leg like a dog. He tensed, ready to turn to cut it and free her. But she sliced it off under the head, and it rolled to the forest floor.

He grunted approvingly and turned back to the right, swinging his axe repeatedly. He felt one bite his left boot, but she shifted in the saddle, swiped, and it fell off with a thud.

The axe split the hard stalks relentlessly. He wrenched it from the side of the head of one with just enough time to strike at another. Over and over, the axe became an extension of his arm, and he lost himself in the battle.

Thankfully Ryder barreled ahead, used to the terrors of the forest, and they eventually made it to the other side. As the last of the fly traps fell away, he panted and looked around, petting Ryder's side

"Good boy," he murmured.

Eirwyn panted. "Good boy? What about me?"

He chuckled and kissed her hair. "Good girl, princess. You fought like a true warrior."

She sighed and leaned back against him. He wrapped her in his arms and reached for his wayfinder, turning Ryder to circle the ever descending basin.

She wiped the juice from the fly traps off on her cloak and took a deep breath. "What's next? Is there any break in all this, or is it this constant battle into the center the entire way?"

He showed her the wayfinder. "The helroses are next, then there is an abandon ruin where we can stop for a few hours rest. It's haunted, so I'm not sure how safe it is, but it should be better than the forest."

Her lips thinned and then she sighed. "Great. That's just what we need. Ghosts."

He grinned and felt her ass pressed against his groin. His hunger for her had only grown since he'd been with her yesterday. He'd woken up this morning with a huge hard on, but there had been no time to remedy it. The movement of the ride and pressure from her body was growing increasingly difficult.

Now that it was fully light, she'd thrown her hood back. He leaned forward and kissed under her ear, feeling her shudder and whimper as he whispered, "It could be worse."

He pulled her back against his chest and wrapped his arm up to cup her breast. "I didn't get to play with these earlier, but next time..."

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