Page 96 of An Archer's Reckoning

Within minutes, the horses were tacked, and we mounted and slipped quietly away from the house. The sun had set, and the full moon in the clear night sky helped us pick our way across the snow-patched ground. There hadn’t been any additional accumulation in a few days, but the snow that lingered wasnow frozen solid and crunched with every strike of the horses’ hooves.

I pushed us into a trot but was afraid to go faster on the icy ground. Jess was still wrapped in Tessa’s blanket and pulled it tight around her shoulders.

Jess whispered to me, “Why are we going west? The coast is northeast, on the other side of Bo.”

I nodded. “That’sexactlythe route they’ll expect us to take. This will add a half day but hopefully throw them off our trail.”

“Our greater fear should be how many men they alert in the town. We will not make it past them before Lucas has a chance to raise the alarm,” Atikus said.

“Be ready to make a run for it if we have to. Jess, you’re the most important of us, and Dittler can outrun any horse they’ve got. If they close on us, you get away as fast as you can,” I said. “If that happens, we’ll find you.”

“No.” Her voice was iron. “I let someone talk me into splitting up once before.Never again.We either get away together or we are captured together.”

Atikus gave me a smirk.

The Queen had spoken.

We made it around the west side of town seeing no one, but as we crossed the road that led between Marlon and Bo, a pair of torches flickered in the distance, streaking quickly in our direction.

“That’s not good. Normal folk aren’t out riding at this time of night, especially in winter,” I said, kicking my horse into a canter. “Don’t stop. Let’s get away from this road, quickly.”

Several hundred paces past the road, I glanced back over my shoulder. The torches were still, unmoving—until they lurched forward in direct pursuit.

“Here they come. Push!”

Chapter 34

Jess

Ilurched forward as Dittler sensed my fear. We shot ahead of Atikus and Keelan, the gap between us increasing quickly.

I couldn’t stop the memories of my last desperate race for freedom flooding my mind. As the wind whipped across my face, Danym flashed before me. His dirty-blond hair flowed behind as he drove us ahead of the Constables in pursuit. He looked back at me, called out, begged me for more speed. His eyes were full of fear and concern.

He really did love me. I know he did.

I watched as he disappeared into the woods, supposedly to lead the Constables away from my trail.

When I snapped out of my memories and glanced back, Keelan and Atikus were nowhere behind. Dittler was lathered with sweat but sprinting faster than ever.

How long had I been lost in the past?

I reined Dittler in, slowing him to a trot. His breathing flared, casting giant clouds in the bitter night. Had I crossed the otherroad, the one that led northeast from Bo to Kitchton? Or had we run west, toward the other coast?

I had lost myself in memories. Now I was truly lost.

And alone.

Chapter 35

Ethan

Sweaty, unbathed men.

Smoke from campfires.

The persistent note of horse dung.

The reek of death would be added to that stench soon enough.

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