Page 66 of The Black Trilogy

The look on Luke’s face was priceless.

“I meant the horse, not you.”

“I got that. Are you sure he’s safe?”

His face suggested he thought Majesty should be shot at the first opportunity.

“I’ll be fine.”

With those words, Majesty decided that trying to unseat me wasted too much energy and did what he was told instead. We trotted up the lane, and as soon as I hit open fields, I urged him into a gallop. The world lay silent apart from the rhythmic beat of his hooves. While we flew over the white-blanketed landscape, snow crunching underfoot, all I could do was hope my hunch was correct. I didn’t fancy Tia’s chances out here after the sun dropped. That posh school she went to undoubtedly taught Latin and Shakespeare rather than survival training.

A couple of miles from the thicket, we crossed a small ridge. On the other side, in an otherwise pristine layer of snow, I spotted a single set of hoof prints heading towards the thicket at a trot. Another set came back, much faster. Unless there was another nutter out galloping their horse in the snow, I was heading in the right direction. Thank goodness for that.

I went to call Luke, but the signal had disappeared. Welcome to the world of mobile communications. The woods loomed closer as I carried on at a fast trot, only slowing as I ducked under the first boughs. The branches hung low, heavy with ice that twinkled in the last of the afternoon sun.

Hoof prints wound through the trees, deeper and deeper into the frosty wonderland. Majesty danced on the spot as a rabbit shot out of the bushes in front of him. At least somebody was having fun.

For some reason, an old children’s song popped into my head. “The Teddy Bears’ Picnic.”

If you go down to the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise…

I never had been keen on surprises. What was I going to find?

CHAPTER 22

“SHH, MAJESTY. IT’S okay.”

The horse spooked at a rabbit as I peered into the undergrowth beside the path. Light was fading, and the woods were gloomy and damp. Should I get a torch out? No, I’d ruin my vision. We’d been in the woods for ten minutes when I heard crying and knew we were in the right place. Up ahead, Tia hobbled along the path, tears streaming down both cheeks.

Was she okay? Not quite—she was dragging her left foot and holding her right arm crossed over her chest. Thank goodness I’d brought the first aid kit.

“Tia?”

She looked up, her face a juxtaposition of relief and peevishness. Should she be grateful someone had come to help or annoyed because it was me?

Eventually, she settled for whining.

“Why did you take so long? I’ve been out here for ages, and I can hardly move. And I’m freezing.”

I hopped off Majesty, who’d behaved impeccably after his initial high jinks, and tied his reins to a nearby tree. He snuffled for grass, then gave up and pawed the ground.

Taking Tia’s good arm, I steered her over to a nearby log and sat her down.

“What hurts? Your arm and leg, obviously, but anywhere else?”

“N-n-no, just my arm and my ankle.”

“What happened?”

“Gameela spooked, and I came off and landed on my side. I wrenched my ankle in the stirrup as I fell.”

I knelt and studied her. No, I didn’t like her colour, or rather, the lack of it.

“Did you hit your head?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Okay, I’m going to have a look. Tell me if the pain gets worse.”

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