Page 157 of Bloodguard

If horses can cry, that’s what Star and Hilltop do through their whinnies and bodily strokes.

I carefully hand Toso to Caelen. “Take Toso and the estrellas back to the city. Star can carry them. Leave Hilltop and Knight. Both need to eat before they go any farther.”

Giselle claps as loudly as she can with those thick gloves. “All right. You heard him, little ones. You need to come with us.”

“We’ll place Toso and the other injured in the tub,” Caelen says. “Giselle left it filled with healing herbs.” The medicine that remains should help the estrellas. Star allows them on her back, on her head, and even permits them to cling to her tail and mane.

Hilltop stands before Knight, attempting to protect him from me. It takes me saying, “Maeve sent me,” for her to hop aside. I edge closer and reach out to stroke Knight’s head. I barely smooth the first few hairs between his eyes before it occurs to me why Hilltop is so worked up. A contusion the size of my fist protrudes from the side of his head. I’ve never heard of anyone knocking out a moon horse. Somehow these fuckers did, and poor Knight must have the mother of all headaches.

“It’s okay, old boy,” I say. “Maeve sent me here to take care of you.” It’s not explicitly true, but she would have if she could.

Knight flicks his ears. Maeve’s name has power over everything and everyone, including me. Even in her absence, the love behind her name holds strong. And fuck me if Old Erth doesn’t need more of that.

Slowly, I lead the horses past where the cottage used to stand, my heart feeling as scorched as the land. With Knight’s injuries, it takes some time to reach the falls. I listen for any indication we’re not alone as the horses follow me down the path and past the adoni wisteria, stopping before the small waves can wet their hooves. I remove their saddles, keeping only their bridles and reins to guide them.

In the moonlight, I get a clear view of what they endured. Soro’s soldiers spared neither people nor animals. To them, it’s hunting season all year round.

Hilltop bears gashes and scratches in need of attention, and Knight has been burned all along his hide. If the hair in those spots grows back, it will likely never have the same luxurious sheen.

Moonlight streams across the small waves batting at the shore where the horses wait. The smell of the minerals mixed in with the water bothers them. They snort and paw the ground, clearly uneasy. They may not be keen on drinking it, but giving them a drink isn’t why I brought them here. I may not be able to fit them in a tub of Maeve’s healing herbs, but I can do this.

I remove the boomerang blade from my belt and toss it up into the trees. It easily slices through the curtain of branches hanging above us, causing leafy limbs with large bundles of berry nuts to fall to the ground. Hilltop and Knight devour everything I offer. I forage through the perimeter of the trees, using everything Maeve taught me, and return with a stack of edible wildflowers. Knight munches steadily on the greens and Hilltop finishes off the nuts while I fill my empty flask with water from the falls.

Hilltop jerks as I pour water over her injuries, hitting me with what could only be described as a horse’s dirty look. But her brown eyes soften as her pain eases.

“You want more?” I ask. Her chuffing is enough of a response. “Then get in the water, old girl.”

She doesn’t move, choosing to eye me while Knight chews on the last of the flowers. Again, I collect more water. She lifts her nose away from the scent, the mineral-heavy aroma making her suspicious. Yet the sense of relief she feels when I pour more from my flask is all the incentive she needs to step in.

She wades into the lake, creating ripples as she wanders deeper in to thoroughly soak her injuries. Knight lifts his head to watch Hilltop.

Trust is important. Tonight, it’s everything.

As he chews on the last bits of wildflower, he eases his way into the water, pausing when he’s about chest deep to flap his gums with relief. Yes, that’s it. The cool and medicinal water soothes all those scrapes and superficial burns. It’s the perfect cure for all those sore muscles. He has ways to go before that lump on his skull clears up, but he should be good enough to return to the city soon. Back in New Arrow, I’ll get him everything he needs.

The water’s reprieve tempts him deeper.

It doesn’t take long for them to relish the waves. If anything, they can’t get enough of the lake.

I stand with my arms crossed, alert to anything that may harm them. Regardless of my vigilance, they spot something I don’t initially see.

A new wave of energy hits them, powering them across to the opposite side of the lake. And damn if I didn’t realize moon horses could swim.

I don’t really see the woman in gray. She’s one with the moon, melding into her surroundings, her veil of silken mahogany hair blending into the darkness.

She wraps her arms around Knight’s neck and turns in my direction as he stumbles to shore.

Maeve is here…with me.

chapter 55

Leith

Time stops, as does my heartbeat.

Maeve looks up from stroking Knight, and her gaze meets mine.

She may start running first. I don’t know. I only feel the ground beneath me rip apart as I race around the lake toward her.

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