The Second Coming
Chapter 6

The two men ridethrough the countryside: there is a great lake on one side and a large mountainrange on the other.

“Remember,William, The Blood works most effectively when the person uses instinct insteadof reason. Other methods of using powerare weak in comparison; by the time a Priestess of Revan has considered heractions, you have already completed yours.”

Williampauses. “But what of the risks of actingfirst and thinking later?”

The older mangrunts dismissively. “There are dangersin everything we do, and that is one of the risks one with The Blood musttake. If you follow your instincts youwill replace the right path.”

They continue toride until they climb a hill, which looks down on what appears to be acamp. The older man pulls his mount to amuch slower pace and William follows suit. “Kiran, why are we slowing? This is just a caravan.”

“This is noordinary caravan. Unless I am mistakenthey are slavers, coming into your country looking for human goods.”

William raisesan eyebrow. “Slavers? I didn’t think slavery was permitted inSuria.”

Kiran gruntsagain. “It isn’t. These are from Areza, which is a place thattolerates a lot more than your native land. I would wager that their mobile cages are empty.”

William urgeshis mount forward. “Then we must stopthem! They cannot be permitted toenslave innocent folk.”

Kiran waits forWilliam to move ahead of him before nudging his own horse forward, which leavesa gap between them.

William’s horsesoon makes up the ground towards the camp and he is met by five men, alllightly armoured and holding swords. William raises his voice. “Youare to leave these lands and never return. We will not let you go any further.”

The men laugh,mockingly. One of them responds. “And how do you plan on stopping us, boy. Youare but two, with no weapons, and your friend doesn’t appear to share yourconvictions.” The accent is foreign,similar to but much harsher than Kiran’s.

William looksaround and notices that Kiran is not alongside him. He sets his jaw and turns back to theslavers. “This is your lastwarning. Sheath your weapons and turnaround.”

The foreign manignores William and addresses his companions. “We shall enjoy ourselves here, my countrymen. If this is the best defence Suria has againstus, we will take all their people back with us! I have heard their women are even more submissive, so we should have noproblems having some sport first! Whoknows, this fool probably has a wife at home begging for one of us to show hera good…” The man suddenly freezes on thespot, as if held by an invisible force. The other guards are all thrown backwards and crash into the ground,their necks broken. Others around thecamp shout in consternation, but they too are thrown from their feet, and hitthe ground like ragdolls. Within secondsit is over, and there is not a living soul remaining in the camp. All that remains of the man William used as achannel is a blackened corpse, which collapses to the ground, smouldering.

After a fewmoments, William’s senses return, and he turns around at the sound oflaughter. Kiran nudges his mount towardshis companion, and claps him on the back. “You, my friend, have done both The Blood and your country proud.”

William surveysthe carnage with a look of horror on his face.

*

Carly stirred, rolled over and winced as something dug into herside. She reached under her blanket andpulled out the culprit: a large twig, which felt at least five times its actualsize the moment before. It was then sherealised she was not in her bed in the temple: she was in the wilderness, ashort distance from the trading road. Olbane and Michael had driven a relentless pace, but they had found nosign of their quarry and had been forced to stop for the night.

Carly felt a pang of anguish as she realised what she had sacrificedthe day before: years of devotion to Revan and His church were lost. She would remain an acolyte, confined tomenial duties until she met Him at the end of her life. Carly looked around, and wondered whereOlbane, Michael and the two horses were. Had they gone on without her?

Carly heard Olbane’s voice first. She turned in its direction and saw that the two young men were sat ashort distance away, talking quietly and eating breakfast. It was Michael who noticed she wasawake. “Good morning, Carly. Would you like some breakfast? We plan to leave soon.”

Carly gingerly got to her feet and found that her muscles ached aftersuch a long ride the previous day. Shewinced and made her way over to where the others were sitting. “You should have woken me earlier. I have my morning prayers to recite.”

Olbane raised an eyebrow. “Howlong do they take?”

“Usually at least an hour.”

Michael responded sharply. “Wecan’t wait an hour.”

Carly felt helpless, like a girl in a woman’s world. Olbane interjected and kept his voicesoft. “Can you recite your prayers onhorseback, Carly?”

Carly considered that. It washighly unorthodox, but she could not recall anything she had read or been toldthat said she could not. “I… I supposeso.”

Olbane moved closer and put one hand on her slender shoulder, thenoffered her some bread. “Here, take whattime we have here to eat. We will beriding hard today, and you’ll need your strength.”

Michael rose. “I’ll go and makesure the horses are ready to leave.”

“Thank you.” Olbane nodded in Michael’s direction before turning hisattention back to Carly. “How are youfeeling this morning?”

Carly was a little thrown by the question, and she had to quicklyswallow a mouthful of bread. She thengulped down the cup of water that Olbane hastily offered her. When she had composed herself, sheresponded. “I’ve felt better,Olbane. Everything I have worked forduring the last four years is for nothing, and my dreams of making a differenceas a Priestess are shattered.” She looked up at him and her large brown eyeswere filled with tears.

Olbane held her closer and put his other arm around her; Carlystiffened, but did not draw away. “I donot know as much about Revan as you, Carly, but I do know He does not alwaysmake his subjects’ lives easy. If youcan help to save Lia and bring the murderers to justice, that makes your lifeworthwhile, even if that is just to me. Perhaps this is your Test.”

Carly hadn’t thought of it that way. She was not convinced by what Olbane said, but it did make her feel morepositive. She gently drew away from him. “Thank you, Olbane; you are a very wise man.”

Olbane rose to his feet. “I musthelp Michael. We shall leave when youhave finished your breakfast.”

They left shortly afterwards and Michael rode a short distanceahead. Carly said her prayers onhorseback, which was a strange but enlightening experience, and she extendedher usual hour to nearly two. Happy toremain with her eyes closed, she focused on asking Revan to watch over Lia andbring her home safe. She consideredpraying for herself, but was not comfortable doing so after leaving the temple:guilt was still prominent in her consciousness.

Carly was disturbed from her prayers when she felt her and Olbane’shorse slow to a trot, and she opened her eyes. Michael had already dismounted, and was examining one of three stillforms on the ground. “They are dead!”The young man’s voice was filled with anxiety. Olbane swung himself down from their mount and jogged over to joinMichael. He then hung his head in a signof respect.

“Carly! These men need you!” thetone of Michael’s voice was at least two octaves higher than normal.

Carly knew what Michael meant and she clumsily slid down from thehorse. She paused to compose herself andthen walked briskly towards the still figures.

Three male forms were lying within yards of each other and all hadgrievous stab wounds. Two of the menalso had piercing wounds that indicated arrows had been used. With a sharp intake of breath Carly realisedthey had also had their throats cut. Thethree were all wearing fine clothing.

Olbane broke the silence. “Bandits. These men were set uponfor their riches, without doubt. Banditsare the scourge of travellers everywhere; I suspect their horses have beentaken as well, probably for sale in some market.” Olbane was clearly moretravelled than Michael, and he looked and sounded calmer.

Carly knelt down at the first corpse and recited a prayer ofpenitence. It was the same verse sheused only a day before in Lia’s home. She repeated the process for the other two corpses, and then rose to herfeet. “We should cremate the bodies tohasten their souls’ departure to His domain.” Olbane and Michael started to object, but Carly held up a hand. “I understand that time is critical to us,but it would be inappropriate to leave these poor men in their current state.”

They reluctantly agreed, and used dried leaves and dead branches tomake a funeral pyre. Once the pyre wasbuilt, they lifted the three corpses onto it and started a fire. Finally, Carly said a prayer and asked Revanto protect and nourish their souls.

A few minutes later, with the fire burning well, the three turned backtowards their horses, and left. As theirhorses broke into a trot, Olbane wondered out loud. “What were those unfortunate fellows doingtravelling on their own? It is usual formen with wealth to have protection with them, particularly in remote areas suchas this.”

Michael responded. “Perhaps theywere separated from their protection, or their protection fled?” Carly did her best not to flinch; she hadn’tconsidered that there would be unscrupulous types on the road.

Olbane nodded. “Well, we had best be on our guard. Whoever killed them might still be aroundhere. Michael, I suggest we ride side byside until we are well clear of this area.”

Michael grunted his agreement and his hand moved to hissword-hilt. “Sounds sensible to me; Iwill watch left, you watch right.” Carlygripped Olbane’s waist involuntarily, which caused him to turn around and lookat her. “Michael and I both haveexperience with a blade, Carly, and the men who were killed did not. We will be fine.”

Carly was afraid that her voice would reveal how she felt, so shemerely nodded. Her heart was poundingand she felt completely out of her depth; better she was an acolyte scrubbingfloors than a hero attempting to rescue a friend in need. Olbane was about to say something else, butCarly stopped him. “I will be fine,Olbane. I am going to relax for a fewmoments.”

The young man nodded and kicked his heels into their mount’s side,which urged it to move faster. Michaelfollowed suit.

After settling herself in for what she expected would be another tiringand bumpy ride, Carly loosened her grip around Olbane’s waist and forcedherself to relax. At first she wasconcerned that using Revan’s Peace would not be safe while on horseback,but she found she was able to maintain an acceptable level of balance. Eventually, she slowed her breathing down andfelt the familiar feeling of light-headedness, and she attempted to empty hermind of concerns. Maintaining ThePeace over a long period was something every acolyte could do, and for ashort while time became irrelevant.

Even though her eyes were shut, Carly saw the bandit take aim with hisbow: immediately her eyes snapped open and she screamed. “Look out!”

Suddenly, Olbane and Michael pulled hard on the reins and both horsescried out in shock. Within a moment anarrow shot past, directly in front of Michael, followed by a second that flewover Carly’s and Olbane’s heads.

Michael appeared to gather his wits about him first, and he pointed toa cluster of trees a short ride away. “Over there! Quickly!” He andOlbane ordered their mounts to lurch forward, which prevented Carly beingseriously injured: an arrow sank into the rear of their horse, narrowly missingher leg. The horse cried out in pain,but Olbane continued to drive it forward, and Carly knew it was their onlychance of reaching cover. She heardcurses from behind them as their attackers regrouped, and within moments Carlyrecognised the sound of horses drawing closer. Michael’s mount, which was carrying a single rider, streaked ahead andreached the trees comfortably. Immediately he dismounted, dived behind some undergrowth and drew hisblade. “Six of them!” he shouted. “Hurry!”

Olbane kicked their injured mount harder and forced it to run as fastas it could. He then risked a lookbehind and Carly followed suit, a decision she immediately regretted. There were indeed six bandits, all mountedand lightly armed, and they were moving closer by the second. Fear completely gripped Carly, and sherealised the inevitable: they were going to die, and Lia would be consigned towhatever fate her kidnappers had planned for her.

As they headed towards the trees she caught a glimpse of Michael’s face,which was white. Hiding in undergrowthmight have made it difficult for arrows, but the six bandits would easilyoverwhelm them with their swords.

Olbane spoke, and his voice was surprisingly calm. “I am going to jump off the horse when wereach the trees. Take the reins and keepgoing, no matter what you hear.” Hemoved forward on the horse, and allowed her to take the left hand part of thereins while he maintained a hold on the other side. In what Carly perceived to be a remarkablefeat of horsemanship, he manoeuvred his left leg up the horse so he was ridingside saddle. “Promise me you will notlook back.” He paused, as if he was expected her to complain. “No objections. Ride and get help!” Olbane leapt from the horse, and Carlygrabbed the other side of the reins. Shewatched in awe as he landed on his feet, a few yards from where Michael washiding in the undergrowth. Within amoment, he had drawn his blade and positioned himself directly in front of thetrees, and was almost challenging the bandits to advance. Olbane’s act of idiocy drew a similarresponse from Michael, and both merchants’ sons stood shoulder toshoulder.

“Go, Carly!” That time it wasMichael who shouted.

For a few moments, Carly did as she was told and let the horse gallopaway. She then heard a clash of steeland turned to see both Olbane and Michael defending themselves against two ofthe bandits, who were still on horseback. With the height advantage, however, it was not a fair contest, and thefirst grunt of pain she heard was Michael’s as he took a slashing blow to theshoulder. She cried out with anguish,but Michael fought on, and caught his opponent in the leg. Olbane fared better and managed to fend offhis opponent’s attacks, but moments later the remaining four bandits appeared,swords drawn.

Instinctively, Carly screamed. “No!” The acolyte felt a tinglingsensation go through her body and the four horses were thrown back as if theyhad hit a wall, which caused their riders to topple to the ground. The two remaining men cried out in shock, andfor a moment Olbane and Michael also stopped, open mouthed. Fortunately, Michael came to his senses andpulled his opponent from his saddle, an action that Olbane repeated. Within moments both bandits were on theground and had a sword point next to their throats.

Carly did her best to control her horse, which was struggling badly dueto its injury, and turned it around. When she re-joined the others, Olbane was negotiating with one of thebandits. “… no, we will not kill you incold blood, that would make us no better than you… you murderers!” Olbane wasshaking with what was probably a mixture of fear and rage. Michael had hold of the two bandits’ blades,as well as his own, which was pointing in their direction.

Carly dismounted and looked at the mare sadly. “She is wounded. Can you do anything?”

Olbane risked a look in her direction before he shook his head. “I am no physician. We will take horses fromour friends here instead.”

One of the bandits spoke up. “Are you going to leave us here?”

Olbane raised his voice. “Youare fortunate we are not as you are, or you would be dead!” He looked at the four riders who wereincapacitated. “I believe your friendswill live, and while I wish we could take all of your mounts, we cannot.” Heturned to Michael. “We should leave,now.”

Michael nodded. “My horse isfine.” He looked across at Carly. “Do you want a mount of your own?”

Carly shook her head; she did not feel confident riding alone. “No, I will continue to ride with Olbane.”

Olbane looked towards the two nearest horses that were still standing,took the largest by the reins and stroked it on the head. “This one will suffice.”

Michael sheathed his blade and climbed onto the back of his mount. He then turned her, ready to continue theirjourney.

Before he mounted, Olbane moved his blade point closer to one of thebandits. “If you consider chasing afterus, be warned. Even a good man has hisbreaking point.”

*

They rode in silence and Michael set a hard pace. After a short period, it was Carly whoremembered he was wounded. “Michael, weneed to stop so I can take a look at that injury.” They were riding adjacently, and she couldsee that his shirt was bloodstained.

Michael turned around briefly. “We cannot afford to stop so soon. I will be fine.”

Carly was about to object when Olbane interjected. “He is right, Carly. If we stop now and the bandits decide to givechase, they may catch us. We must presson.”

Carly grudgingly agreed. “Wewill need to tend to the wound when we do stop for a rest, which should not betoo long. I expect the horses will needwater soon.”

Michael grunted. “Fine. We ride until we replace water.”

While they rode, Carly considered what had happened. There was no doubt she had connectedwith Revan during the brief fracas with the bandits; she could replace no otherexplanation. She felt a pang of anxietyat what she had done; she had acted to save the lives of her friends, but ithad been raw and instinctive, not the actions of a Priestess. Carly also felt a pang of joy; Revan had notdeserted her, as she had feared. Shewished that Priestess Thereza were with her; she would know what to say and do. Carly closed her eyes, concentrated on herfeelings and was intrigued to note that she still felt a slight tingling; itwas not on the scale she felt when she erected an invisible barrier in front ofthe bandits, but it was there nonetheless. Carly gently focused on that feeling inside her and searched for Revan’sGrace once more, but she did not feel anything special. Carly forced herself to relax and forced downa cry of frustration.

They found waterwithin two hours, when Olbane spotted a small stream a short distance north ofthe trading road. They drew their horses to a trot and dismounted, and Carlynoticed that Michael winced at least once as he did so. Carly also dismounted, left the two horses totake a well-earned drink, and allowed herself to think of Lia. “I wonder how far ahead of us they are?”

Olbaneshrugged. “It is a five day ride toSurian from Crossmoor, but we do not even know if that is where they aregoing.” He looked at Carly. “We musthope that Revan keeps her safe until Francisca smiles on us enough to replaceher.”

Michael noddedsadly. “I still do not understand whyanyone would want to abduct Lia and murder her parents.”

Olbane turnedhis eyes away from the others. “I have atheory, but it is not a pleasant one.”

Michael steppedforward a little. “Well? You might aswell tell us.”

Olbane lookedMichael in the eye. “I have heard thatslavers sometimes go to extremes to capture one they believe will fetch a highprice. That could well be Lia’s fate, ifwe do not replace her first.”

Michael lookedsceptical. “But Lia is not much morethan a girl! How could she be worth somuch?”

“Sometimeswealthy men like personal slaves, andare willing to pay a lot for an attractive one, particularly if she is fromanother culture.”

Michael lookedat Olbane and his fists clenched angrily. “Are you saying they are taking Lia so she can be sold to somemiddle-aged man who wants her for sport?” Carly’s chest tightened; slavery was bannedin Suria, but the neighbouring lands of Areza were less civilised.

Olbane opened his hands in a gesture of submission. “It is the only theory I have arrived at,Michael.” Olbane turned to Carly. “Doyou know of anything in Lia’s family history that can explain this?”

Carly shook her head. “Nothing;Francis has been a scribe for a long time. I have no real memory of Lia having much family; it was not something wediscussed a great deal as children.”

Olbane moved back to the horses. “We must hurry if we are going to catch them before they reach the endof the trading road. If they reachFrodsby before us, it will be very difficult to replace them, as they could enterAreza from a number of different routes.”

Michael raised an eyebrow. “Frodsby?”

Olbane nodded. “Frodsby is thenext town of note, before the road takes two paths: south to Surian, or northaround Lake Moor.”

Michael moved towards his own mount and winced. Carly held out an arm to stop him. “Michael, please let me take a look at thatshoulder. It needs attention.”

Michael opened his mouth to object, but closed it when he saw the lookon Carly’s face.

“Take your shirt off.” He did as he was told and grimaced as he pulledthe shirt off the injured area. Thewound itself was long: the sword had caught Michael on the arm below his leftshoulder and the cut ran almost to his collar-bone. Carly had seen worse during her times helpingin the temple surgery, and wasn’t fazed. “It’s not that deep, fortunately, but needs binding to keep it fromgaining an infection.” She tore asection from the bottom of her robe, dipped it into the stream and gentlycleaned the wound; Michael winced but did not cry out. Carly then tore another two pieces off andused them to make a crude bandage. “Hopefully that will be enough until we can replace someone more skilled tohelp.” She looked at Olbane. “Do youknow where the next town is?” Carly feltguilty that she couldn’t draw on Revan’s Grace to heal the wound, but hopedthat it didn’t show on her face.

Olbane thought for a moment. “Ibelieve there is a village on the south side of The Great Forest.” He pointed to the north-east, where a largegroup of trees was beginning to take shape in the distance. “Whether there is a skilled physician there,I do not know. If not we will have towait until we reach Frodsby.”

Michael tentatively moved his shoulder around, winced, but smiled. “Thank you, Carly.” He pulled himself up ontothe horse and gritted his teeth. “Wehave a friend who needs us. Let us makehaste.”

*

They rode almost constantly and only stopped for a few hours overnightwhen the night was so dark it was treacherous to continue. Lia slept poorly, despite being exhausted,and woke accompanied by a strange feeling of death. Rastlin completely ignored her while they atetheir simple meal of trail rations, and apart from the leering glances of theother two she had no company to speak of. Since the early part of the morning they had ridden with The GreatForest on their left side and its old and large trees dwarfed everything aroundthem. The Great Forestwas an ancient place that had always been part of Surian folklore, and tales ofsavage creatures within had always kept it protected from those who wished toharvest it. They had not encountered anymore travellers, for which Lia thanked Francisca. While she had not accepted whatever fateRastlin had for her, she did not want any further bloodshed, and had decidedthat if any risks needed to be taken she would take them alone. What fate did Rastlin have in mind forher? How could she be the key toanything? While she and Goadsby rode,she alternated between marvelling at the size of the forest and attempting tofathom why she was important enough for five people to be murdered, includingher parents.

It was a short while later when Lia noticed a small settlement ahead,which was on the top of a hill. Perhapsshe could slip away there? SurelyRastlin and the others wouldn’t try to murder a whole village. As they approached the settlement Lia’sexcitement grew. When they were but afew hundred yards away, however, Rastlin turned his mount slightly south andmoved into a small wood on the other side of the trading road. It was at that moment Lia realised he wasgoing to avoid contact with strangers unless it was not possible to do so. Within the wood there were no obvious tracksto move their mounts along, and the journey was slow and treacherous. Lia was relieved when they re-joined the roadand left the village behind them.

An hour or two later they stopped for a brief rest, and allowed thehorses to drink and graze. The tradingroad was still deserted, and Lia wondered why they had encountered so fewtravellers. Even though she had not beenalong the trading road before, Lia knew it was the main route across centralSuria. She wondered if the road was lessbusy due to the recent festival in Crossmoor; perhaps merchants had alreadyvisited the town with their latest wares and were travelling home tore-stock. Lia once again thought of herparents and uttered a silent prayer to Revan: she hoped their souls were atpeace. When she opened her eyes, Liainvoluntarily jumped; Rastlin was standing in front of her, with an inquisitivelook on his face. Lia recoiled,angry. “Am I not even allowed to say aprayer in private?”

Rastlin took a step back. “I amsorry, my dear. I did not mean tointrude. Please, continue.”

Lia shook her head. “Somehow myheart isn’t in it any more.”

Rastlin looked a little alarmed at that statement. “Do you really mean that?” He put a hand onhis chest, over his heart. “Your heartis what drives you, is it not? Withoutthat, there is no point in anything.”

Lia was not sure what to say. Aphilosophical discussion with her parents’ murderer was not something she wasexpecting. “I... I am not sure Iunderstand.”

He smiled briefly, and his dark eyes softened. “Even in the direst circumstances, even whenyou think everyone and everything is against you, never stop listening to yourheart.”

“At the moment my heart is full of grief.” Lia wasn’t sure why she saidthat; she certainly didn’t want him to know.

His dark eyes continued to focus on her. “Of course it is, and that isunderstandable. You have suffered agreat loss.”

Anger rose in Lia and she lashed out. “Why are you asking me these questions? You and your thugs are the reason for my grief!”

His voice remained calm. “True,but as I said before, everything is done for a reason. What you do with your grief and anger,however, is up to you.”

Tears ran down Lia’s cheeks. “What do you care how I feel?”

Rastlin paused. “You are the key to everything that it important to me,Lia. That is why I care.”

Lia looked at him incredulously. “How can I be the key to anything? I’ve never left Crossmoor! Myfather was a scribe!”

“Your father wasn’t aware of his ancestry any more than you are, Lia.”He said it quietly, almost nonchalantly.

“My ancestry? What do you knowof my ancestry?” Lia’s head was spinning.

He once again paused. “We cantalk more later; perhaps when we stop for the night. For now, we need to continue on.”

Lia was about to protest, but he held up a hand. “I know I am the last person in the world youshould trust, but I give you my word all will become clear.”

Lia tried to gather her thoughts. Rastlin appeared to be a man of many contradictions: how could amurderer and kidnapper ask to be trusted? She admitted to herself she was intrigued by his words, however, and ifnothing else wanted to hear what he had to say about her heritage.

They were a short ride from the town on the hill when Franklin told them that a caravan wasapproaching. “There are five largetrailers, all covered with tarpaulins. There are at least twenty guards, but they are not the usual hiredhelps.”

Rastlin raised an eyebrow. “Whatdo you mean they are not usual?”

“They are all dressed in different clothes, a rabble really. They don’t look professional like hiredescorts usually do.”

Rastlin paused, then continued his questioning. “How far away are they?”

“No more than thirty minutes away, coming in this direction.”

Rastlin nodded. “We will goaround them.” He looked around him for asuitable path, before they all heard a crack that sounded like a boot ona rotten branch. Both Franklin andGoadsby drew their blades and the latter almost caused Lia to topple off theback of their mount.

Rastlin hissed. “Off the road! Quickly!”

Rastlin led the way, and drew them a short distance south. Lia felt more confident, and queried theirresponse. “Do we really need to go sofar to hide from them? Isn’t it just acaravan?”

His response was calm, as usual. “There is something about Franklin’sdescription of the guards that concerns me. I fear there may be more to this caravan than meets the eye.” They arrived at a group of trees. “We will wait here until the caravan haspassed.”

Lia did not know how to respond to that, but for the first time wasglad she was with Franklin and Goadsby.

They waited, and as Franklinhad predicted they were able to make out the outline of six trailers, a typeLia had not seen before. They wereroughly six feet tall and probably twenty feet long, each pulled by two horses,and had very defined corners that were visible through the tarpaulins thatcovered them. Franklin’s estimate of the number of guardsdid not seem accurate, however, as Lia could only make out ten forms.

The caravan moved past the spot on the road they had left, and Lia beganto relax. It was Goadsby who broke thesilence. “Shall we move on?”

Franklin frowned. “Idefinitely saw more escorts than that.”

Goadsby snorted. “So where arethey?”

Franklin turned to Rastlin and didn’t acknowledge Goadsby’squestion. “I would advise we keeptravelling south for a few miles. Theyhave not just disappeared.”

Lia interjected. “What was thatcaravan? Why are you so concerned?”

Rastlin ignored Lia and nodded in Franklin’sdirection. “Agreed.” The two urged their mounts forward, and theycontinued moving south. Somewhatreluctantly, Goadsby followed suit.

They had travelled for only a short while when Franklin again raised the alarm. “They are out here, I can feel it.”

Goadsby opened his mouth to speak, but the look Rastlin gave him madehim shut it again. Rastlin’s voice was awhisper. “Where?”

Franklin drew his mount closer to Rastlin’s. “I would say that there are some just east ofhere, some south.”

Rastlin nodded. “Then they musthave seen us and sent some of their force to catch us.” He looked around at Lia briefly, before heturned back to Franklin. “We must get her to safety.”

The other man nodded and turned to Goadsby. “Ride back west, then cut north, back to thetrading road. With any luck the caravanwill have passed, and you can continue east. We will join you later.”

Lia opened her mouth to complain, but Rastlin spoke first. “Goadsby isan excellent sword, as you have seen. Hewill protect you.” His eyes searched outher soul once more. “Remember, follow yourheart.”

She nodded as best she could and fear once again gripped her. Franklinslapped the rear of Goadsby and Lia’s mount and barked a command. “Go!”

Goadsby turned his horse towards the west and forced her to gallop asfast as she could. As they sped away,Lia turned to see Rastlin riding to the south and Franklin to the east.

Goadsby drove the mount across dangerous terrain, and Lia was about tothank Francisca for their luck when the horse’s hoof caught an exposed treeroot and they were both catapulted from the saddle. Lia cried out as she fell, but that timeFrancisca did smile on her and she landed on a patch of soft grass. After a few moments Lia realised she hadescaped significant injury: she felt pain down her left side, which had taken thebrunt of the impact, but she managed to walk over to where Goadsby lay. He was on his front, and not moving.

“Goadsby?” There was noresponse; Lia bent down and with considerable effort, turned the man over. Goadsby had blood all over his face and appearedto be dead. She noticed a large,blood-covered rock, which was where his face had just been. Lia felt mixed emotions: he had been at leastpartly responsible for the murder of her parents, and she was not about to prayfor his soul, but she became acutely aware she was alone. Lia decided she needed to arm herself, andfumbled around in Goadsby’s clothing and gear until she found a dagger, whichshe felt she could use if necessary. Liathen looked for the horse, which was nowhere to be seen; it appeared she hadsurvived the fall and taken off, for which Lia could not blame her.

Lia wasted little time and decided to move on. She could have headed east and hoped thatRastlin and Franklin would replace her, or she could attempt to replace the villagethey had bypassed earlier. Lia looked upat the sky, noted the position of the sun relative to what she believed was thetime of day, and ran where she thought was north-west.