I caught the plan instantly. “So Bran—Commander Fleur—allied with the rebels, since they were coming here anyway?”
“That’s right. And since all the Saxons will be dead by morning, there’s no contamination of the timeline.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. “We still have to get away, though.”
“Yes.” His fingers squeezed mine again. “If we get separated for whatever reason, you must not go back to the hall. Promise me that, Lila.”
I glanced at him, not understanding, and he sighed. “My comm-unit has gone missing, lost when I was captured. We can’t take the risk of that becoming a contaminant. Commander Fleur is laying a series of micro-explosives inside the hall, to coincide with the attack. There will be nothing left when they’ve finished.”
Jared
Finding Kai was easy. Jared spotted her across the now crowded courtyard, as she lugged a sack of something heavy toward the stables. He dodged and sidestepped around the milling Saxons and followed, checking first that she was alone before he approached her.
“Wolf!” The shock was evident in her wide eyes and startled voice. “Your thrall ring is gone.” Her fingers fluttered across her own heavy collar, with growing excitement. “Can you remove mine?” Her gaze took in his gleaming weaponry and fine leather armor, resplendent with Bran’s colors. “How did you…” Her voice trailed away, and she ducked her head. “You’re not taking me,” she whispered.
“I am, and we’re still following my plans. My friends,” his gruff voice cracked on the word, “have gone ahead, but will leave a pony for us.” Kai’s shoulders were shaking, and he closed his eyes and tried to put himself in her place. “I made you a promise,” he said gently, “and that hasn’t changed.” The stark relief that shone in her eyes hit him like a punch to the stomach. If he needed something to focus on, to help him cope with being alone, it was Kai. She was too young, too vulnerable to survive by herself. He would take care of her.
The robe he’d stolen was massively too big for the girl, but with a leather strip tied around her middle, the loose folds concealed her, draping well enough over her head and throat.
The Saxons in the courtyard would be a problem, and Jared thought quickly. “Go and stand in the far stable block. Shout
fire
at the top of your voice and then run out the back.”
It worked like a charm. The precious few seconds of distraction gave him the opportunity to carry a lit taper to the bonfire stack in the center of the courtyard. Tinder-dry kindling caught fire instantly. In moments, flames leaped up and outward.
“
Hai
!” Someone yelled behind him, and there was a rush of bodies trying to stop the fire, but it was already well ablaze. Praying that Kai watched him safely from the shadows, he ducked into the nearest of the three stable blocks and shoved the lit taper into the straw pile at the back. Heat and sparks flashed immediately, a burst of smoke blasting into his face. Behind him, horses stamped and whinnied, catching the smell. He ran down the length of the block, eight stalls, opening gates and slapping the horses to move. He didn’t need to worry about them getting free. He was nearly crushed in the stampede.
Had Kai done the same in another block? Flames shot through the roof, hungry for fuel, devouring the straw, the panels that separated the stalls, the oiled harnesses and bridles. Jared held his hand over his nose and tried to keep his face covered from the thick smoke. Cracking, roaring noises behind him, horses squealing, hooves clattering and men shouting. It felt like the entrance to hell.
Back in the courtyard, the central bonfire now blazed out of control. The Saxons gave up their efforts and tried to save the burning stable block instead, as planned. Jared bent over, gasping for breath, sucking in the cool evening air. Where was Kai? He scanned the yard, the state of confusion, people all ranks running to help, and then he saw her.
Kai lurked in the doorway to the third and last stable block, watching the frantic activity around her. She turned and disappeared inside, and Jared saw another taper glowing in her hand, just before it was swallowed up by the darkness. He glanced over his shoulder, taking a moment to wipe the dust and soot from his face. The first block was beyond salvage, and the second was now roaring too. The rising wind whipped at the flames, spreading them farther and faster than he could have imagined and, to his horror, he saw tendrils of fire reaching out to the third block. He darted round the inferno in the center of the yard and managed to dodge the charging horse that nearly flattened him.
“Kai,” he shouted, coughing from the smoke. “Get out. The roof is on fire.”
A massive chestnut horse screeched, setting the others off. Jared could smell their fear. Right now, he was scared Kai might be trapped at the back of the stables with the front already on fire. The smoke thickened, swirling round his head in a choking fog, and he gagged, fumbling at each partition to release the horses as he passed them. Three horses gone. Still no sign of Kai.
A sturdy black pony charged past him, hooves flying, and Jared pressed himself against the wall, struggling to see into the smoke filled depths. Feeling his way, he released the next catch, freed the pony inside and tried again to shout for her. He could feel the heat beating against him. Flames rippled along the roof. One last breath, he shouted her name and finally saw her, stumbling toward him, head down against the smoke.
He grabbed her robes, tossed her over his shoulder and staggered to the doorway, seconds before the timbers started to crumble. She coughed and gasped, but at least she was still alive.
They had the perfect distraction. Now they just had to get up to the field and find their pony.
Lila
I stopped dead in the middle of the field and yanked on Marc’s hand. “Does Jared know the hall is going to be destroyed? What if he’s still down there?”
“He doesn’t know, but he’ll be clear long before then. We all will.”
I let Marc lead me farther along, but my mind churned over everything he’d said. Something nagged at me, prickled at my brain and worried me. It distracted me to the point that I didn’t watch my step and misjudged a pothole in the ground. My false leg didn’t react as quickly as my real foot would have, and I tumbled over, hitting the ground with a thump and dropping the bridles.
Marc crouched beside me instantly and ran his hands over my legs, checking for damage. We lost valuable time as he hauled me to my feet and picked up the tangled leather tack. “Don’t worry,” he reassured me as he rapidly separated the two bridles. “It’s fine.”
It was anything but fine. I stacked the spare saddle and bridle in the shadow of the hedge, while Marc readied our pony. The beast tossed his head and spun on its hooves, lively and excited, with Marc hanging onto the straggly mane. He’d chosen the larger of the two for us to ride, but it was also the wilder of the pair. He was still yanking the saddle leathers into place when I heard hooves drumming on the hard packed earth. Horses galloping toward us.
Marc didn’t wait to see who it was. He grabbed me around the waist, dumped me on the pony’s back, and thrust the reins in my hand. I hitched forward to make room for him, while trying to hold the beast still. It took offence at me and sidestepped, tossing its head and making the bridle jingle.
“
Come on
.” I gathered the reins tighter, and it rewarded me with another show of resistance. Marc scrambled up easily and wrapped one arm around my stomach, his free hand ready with the sword.
He kicked the pony with both heels until it took off with a squeal, head up and fighting for control. I relaxed my death grip and leaned low over its neck, Marc tucked in close behind me. We charged in a reckless gallop down the field and toward the approaching riders. I shivered. Friend or foe?
There were two—no, three—horses before us, but in the dark I could see no more than vague outlines. I drew strength from Marc, his body pressed to my back, his fast breath in my ear. I felt his arm curl closer around me. “Keep going.”
The pony whinnied a welcome to the oncoming horses and began to slow its step. Marc and I both kicked hard.
Saxons
. They swore viciously when we tried to barge through them, their horses spinning and scattering.
“Harai mai!”
The shout rang out.
Come here.
We ignored it.
I don’t know what happened next. One of the horses collided into us, our pony reared, and the next minute Marc was gone. I clung to the reins, desperate to keep my precarious seat in the saddle, terrified Marc might be underfoot and trampled at any moment. The pony shrieked and spun some more. Dizziness assailed me. I closed my eyes, hung on for grim death and when the world finally slowed down, I saw Marc standing close by, sword drawn, fighting three Saxon warriors still on horseback.
I had to get to him. I jabbed my toes into the pony’s sides and yanked on the reins, but it started to rear up again. My chest tight with fear, I hauled again on the leather. “
Stop it
,” I cried to the animal. “
Turn around
.” Marc backed up until he had the solid hedge at his back and swung out with his sword.
Time seemed to stop. The scene before me, the battle sounds in the darkness, was all too familiar. In my head, I was back on the road in the Roman cart, hearing swords clashing, men dying, horses screaming. I blinked and shook my head, disorientated.
Glancing up from his frenzied movements, Marc saw me and yelled in our own tongue, “
Go
! Don’t stop for anything.”
That wasn’t going to happen. Leave Marc fighting one against three? I screeched at the beast struggling underneath me and pointed it toward the Saxons, whipping the reins against its neck in an effort to make it move. Finally it got the message and lurched sideways, slammed into one of the bigger horses, and jostled the warrior, nearly unseating me in the process. The warrior tried to grab me, snatching at my jerkin. I felt his fingers brush past my arm. The pony reared some more, and I saw Marc slump to his knees as he took a blow to the shoulder.
“
Go
,” he snarled at me, swinging out with his weapon. The warrior’s fingers closed around my arm. He tried to pull me to the ground.
No
! I dropped my head and sank my teeth into his bare hand. He shouted in surprise, relaxed his grip, and I wheeled away, kicking the pony with everything I had, driving him down the field and back toward the hall—and the only chance we had for help.
Jared
Jared grabbed Kai’s arm and led her toward the track that climbed up to the fields. They had to keep dodging the manic horses and ponies charging round, half-crazed from the smoke that filled the courtyard. The wind whipped and tugged at the flames, ensuring the central bonfire and all three stable blocks were beyond saving, and he was sure nobody would notice them slipping away.
His thoughts were consumed with Lila and her
ghardian
. They should have gone the moment they saw the fire and by now be galloping away from the estate. Just like last time, he’d never know if she made it. He rubbed a sooty arm across watering eyes and blinked a few times to clear his vision.
Kai snatched at his hand and stopped him. “Someone’s coming.”
She was right. Hoof beats drummed on the earth coming down the track and, as they moved to seek cover from a large hawthorn bush, a pony appeared, the rider low over its neck. Jared froze, his heart in his mouth.
“
Lila
?”
The pony shied away from him, and he leaped up, caught the bridle and hauled the beast to a stop. It snorted, foam and spittle spraying from its mouth, and Lila raised her terrified face to meet his gaze.
“Jared.”
He managed to avoid getting his feet stamped on and held the pony tighter, longing to take her in his arms. Why was she alone?
“They’ve taken Marc.” Her face twisted, and she rubbed at her eyes. “I need to find Bran. Have you seen him?”
Conflicting emotions tore at him. Unable to stand so close and not touch her, he closed one hand around her own. “I’ll find Bran. You take Kai and leave. There’s nobody on guard. They’re all fighting the fires. You might not get an opportunity like this again.”
“No.”
She shook her head, her gaze never leaving his own. “I’m not leaving you both behind. We go together or not at all.”
Kai shuffled her feet. “I’m not going without you, Wolf. And I know where the Averni chieftain was. I can take you to him.”
Short of tying them both to the pony, he couldn’t make them go. His brain started churning through their options. “We need to stash the pony. What happened up there?” As he spoke, he held up his arms to help Lila climb down. The moment she dropped into his embrace, he held her tight, breathing in her fragrance and wishing for the thousandth time that things were different. Kai took the pony and tied it to the nearest bush, off the track and out of view, while Jared tried to find the strength to let go of Lila. Dear God, he needed her.
She stumbled as she found her footing, and that gave him the excuse to wind one arm around her waist.
“Please take me to the chieftain. We don’t have much time.” She addressed Kai, and the girl nodded.
“I saw him in the wine cellars with some of his men. Follow me.”
Lila was limping. “Don’t tell me you sprained your ankle again.” He smiled at her, happy to make the most of this final time together. “What happened?”
She spoke in a shaky voice. “We were leaving the field when three Saxons came up the track and tried to stop us. Marc—” She hesitated. “Marc was knocked to the ground, and they attacked him.” She sucked in a deep breath, and he felt her tense. She turned to him and buried her face in his chest, her body shaking. “He couldn’t hold them off and yelled at me to go. I’m scared, Jared. I couldn’t help him. I couldn’t do anything.”
He squeezed her close and pressed his lips to her temple. “You did the right thing. Let’s go and find Bran.” If the
ghardian
was killed, how would he get Lila home? They were near to the courtyard and needed to be careful. He relaxed his hold and eased back, stroking a line down her face with his finger. “Stay close and keep your head down. The smoke is thick and will make you cough, but we’ll skirt round the edges.” Unable to resist, he lifted her chin and stole a brief, tender kiss. “Okay?”