Page 54 of Chained Knight

“That was awful,” she continued. “But I think we lost ’em. You did good, you know that? I was scared too.”

It was so much easier talking to an animal, even one with sharp hooves, pointed teeth, and a few hundred pounds’ worth of muscle on her. The equine’s ears swiveled, and she thought it was probably waiting for direction, some sign that its rider knew what the hell to do.

She had to figure this out, not just for herself but for this poor creature. As usual, Ari doubted she was up to the task.

A headshake and a horsey snort, mane flying, and the equine took a step. Then another, more tentative than she’d thought such a heavy critter could be. Its ears swiveled again, and Ari held her breath.

She heard it too. Hoofbeats.

So she wasn’t alone after all.

The pale dappled grey burst from a screen of foliage, Hannixe on its back moving with natural grace. She spotted Ari, and even at a distance her relief was plainly visible. Ashen hair a banner, skirts floating, she aimed her equine in their direction and managed to slow the beast, leaning back, reins stretched taut.

Not only that, but Keners was right behind her, bending low over the neck of his slightly darker mount. The streak at his temple glowed, and Ari realized the sun was high and the angle of light saidlate afternoon. When had that happened?

Then Darjeth appeared, clinging to the saddle of his chestnut. He sagged, and Ari’s heart lodged in her throat.

He looked hurt. Or sick. They were all so graceful and healthy, it was a shock to see.

“My lady!” Hannixe, calling breathlessly. She leaned back a little further and her equine obeyed, coming to a halt precisely at Ari’s side. The white beast made a sound that had to be a greeting, tail flicking, and Ari realized she was both hopelessly rumpledandhappy to see at least quasi-familiar faces.

“Hannixe.” Her lips shaped the word, silently.Oh, hey. I’m so glad to see you, even if I was ready to do all this alone.

Well,readymight be an overstatement. But still.

“Are you hurt? Let me look at you.” The grey-haired woman freed one hand from the reins, reaching out; Ari’s own fingers lifted, questing blindly. “By silver, I am glad to have kept you in sight. You ride well.”

Liar. But she meant it kindly, Ari decided. Her voice wouldn’t quite work, despite being perfectly usable a few seconds ago.

“Have a care, Hannixe.” Keners arrived on the Grey Lady’s other side, his equine stopping on a dime. “Come, just downslope; we may halt, and rest the mounts. I like not to be so easily seen upon a ridgetop.”

Darjeth’s mount clipclopped up, forging past them. The blond man was pale, and great clear drops of sweat stood out on his forehead. “Thank the Moon,” he said, shortly. “We have outpaced both help and harm; let us take some rest and counsel.”

“Are you all right?” Ari’s fingers finally found Hannixe’s, tangled together briefly before separating. The contact was powerfully soothing. “The others?”

“They were in battle, last I glimpsed.” Darjeth sagged, wincing. “Do not fear for them overmuch, my lady. Our lord prince is with them, and that counts for a great deal.”

“Oh, aye.” Keners made a chirruping noise, and the equines began moving as a pack, picking their way downhill. “Yet until he is fully free, contagion is a risk. Still, he?—”

“Hush.” Hannixe sounded stern, for once. “Of course he will be well, and our other companions too. Perhaps they are already upon our trail, though ’twill be difficult with the forest shifting through renewal.”

Yeah, let’s hope for the best. Mom would be proud of her for even thinking it. Ari arranged her reins, though the horselike thing was deciding where to go and she was simply a relieved passenger. “Darjeth? Are you all right?”

“Well enough, my lady Ari.” His grin was a shadow of its former self, and he held one elbow stiffly clamped to his side. “Though perhaps not for long. Safety is of more import, let us seek what shelter we may.”

31

YET MORE LOSS

They haltedsome distance down the hill. Ari found she could half jump, half fall out of the saddle while Keners was busy helping Hannixe and Darjeth struggling with his own dismount. The blond man hit the ground hard, staggered, and his chestnut equine gave a restless tail-flicker.

“What is it?” Hannixe bustled to his side, though Keners looked like he wanted to restrain her. “Darjeth?”

“Not much,” he said, and caught the chestnut’s reins with a wince. “Not so wide as the Keep’s door, but deep enough. I have some time before it becomes serious.”

Bright red spattered his side, his leather jerkin and blousy shirt bearing a ragged slash. Keners dealt with the equines while Hannixe and Ari helped the blond man to sit on a boulder; carefully, the grey-haired woman folded blood-drenched cloth aside, hissing quietly through her teeth as she saw the wound. Ari wondered briefly that these attractive, graceful creatures bled the same way she did.

It hadn’t seemed possible.

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