Apprentice (The Black Mage, #2)(108)

Try to catch me now.

As soon as my work was finished, I forced myself into a crouching posture. I dug my heels in and whooped, letting my charge take off as the other two started and scattered.





****





Twenty minutes later I came across another galloping party. It was too dark to see clearly, but there were only three who could possibly be roaming this road at night. And I could not wait to find out which.

Pulling at the reins sharply, I steered my horse into a hard turn, taking off in a different direction.

"Ryiah, is that you?" the other rider shouted.

This time I turned the mare with much more ease, answering my brother's call with one of my own. "Alex!" Then: "Where are the others?"

"I lost them a couple miles back by the river. They think I am following the stream south. Where are your two?"

"They don't have their horses."

It was too dark to see Alex's face, but I guessed he was grinning. "I'd like to hear that tale."

I swallowed, uncomfortably aware of my pain and the searing heat of my hand. My brother would faint when he saw me in the light. "Alex," I said quietly, "we have to keep going through the night. We won't be safe until we are through this pass."

"I know." He paused, "But let's take the rest of the trail at a walk. If either of us hears something, we can take off, but these horses need a break. I can barely see in this awful darkness…" He chuckled. "I don't know about you, but I have almost fallen off twice tonight and am not willing to test my luck."

I knew better than to comment. "Let's head out" was all I said.

My brother let me lead –I had a better head for directions-and the two of us quietly found our way back to the main path without further delay.

After another hour of hushed passage, we finally left the shadows of the forest behind and continued the remainder of our journey underneath the moon's soft glow and the occasional glitter of starlight.

Fortunately, we were both too exhausted for Alex to notice any abnormality in my appearance. Instead, the two of us remained silently alert, using the remainder of our energy to listen for any sounds of others approaching.

But we did not have to worry. Not once did we cross paths with the outlaws. And several hours later, just as the sun had risen, we came to a very welcome sight. Just beyond the way, a large, homely looking inn stood out among the hills like a god among men.

Alex took off with a hoot, and I launched into chase close behind, eyes glued to the vision ahead.