But the Silver Guard soldiers were regrouping, swords leveled, advancing on foot. Nero looked up—too many.
“Nero?” River’s small voice cut through the chaos, and Casteel started in surprise as if noticing him for the first time, and his astonished gaze shot to Nero.
Nero stood, because he had totryeven if he lost. “I need you to run,” he said, drawing the stolen mercenary blade. One against twenty-three, not even he could do that.
But then the old stallion let out a cry that seemed torn from the ground they stood on. In all his life Nero had never heard a horse make that noise, and to be honest hoped he never would again. Each adult horse moved their way through the herd to stand in a line next to the stallion as if summoned. Nero gripped his sword and took a step but then without warning, with a thunder of hooves all the horses charged. Great bodies slammed into the mercenaries, hooves crushing shields, ribs, and flesh. From the corner of his eye he saw Casteel pull River against him, turning him so he didn't see, covering his ears so he couldn't hear.
One by one the twenty-three were driven to the ground repeatedly until they lay in a mass of broken bodies.
In under a minute it was over. Silence fell, broken only by the mare’s shallow breaths and the deadly echo of death.
The stallion turned and walked back to the mare, the other horses grouped so not even Nero could see the bodies. Nero tensed because neither Casteel nor River had moved, but the stallion just bent his head, and licked the wound on the mares shoulder, then backed away and with a heave she got to her feet. The wound hadn’t fully closed but to Nero’s astonishment it was getting there. Although why he should be surprised at other animals with unexplained abilities when he had a wolf inside him he didn’t know.
“More patrols will come,” Nero said softly. “We move now.”
Casteel relaxed his hold on River. “I know. I wish we could just stay here but we need to get to Morven.” A gangly foal with a black silvery mane pranced over to them, barely reaching River's shoulder. The little creature snorted and nudged the boy with its velvety nose, until River turned, making him giggle despite everything.
"He likes you," Casteel said, his voice softening as he watched the foal playfully circle the child.
River reached out a tentative hand, wonder momentarily displacing the trauma in his eyes. "Can I touch him?"
"Her," Casteel corrected them both gently. "And yes, I think she wants you to."
The foal butted her head against River's palm, then darted away a few steps before looking back expectantly, tail swishing in clear invitation.
"I think she wants to play," Nero said, a smile tugging at his lips despite the urgency hammering at him. "But we really need to move."
Casteel nodded, his hand resting on Miralisse's flank. "The Skellarae know these mountains better than anyone," Casteelsaid with utmost confidence. "They can guide us to Morven's estate through paths the Silver Guard won't know about."
The ancient stallion swung his head around, his wise eyes studying them all with unnerving intelligence. He dipped his massive head toward Casteel in what looked remarkably like a bow, then turned and walked deliberately toward a narrow cleft in the valley wall that Nero hadn't noticed before.
"He's showing us the way," Casteel said.
Miralisse nudged Casteel's shoulder, clearly expecting him to mount. When he hesitated, glancing at Nero, she snorted impatiently.
"Go on," Nero said. "I'll find my own ride."
As if in answer, a sleek black stallion with silver streaking his flanks trotted forward, stopping before Nero with proud bearing. He tossed his head once, then stood perfectly still, waiting.
"I think he's volunteering," Casteel said, a hint of his old smile returning.
Nero approached the stallion cautiously. He'd ridden horses before, of course, but never one like this. The animal's coat gleamed with impossible depth, and intelligence shone in eyes that seemed to see right through him. When Nero placed a hand on the stallion's neck, he felt a ripple of acceptance pass through the powerful body.
Within moments, they were mounted—River seated in front of Nero—and moving toward the hidden cleft, the remaining Skellarae staying behind still blocking the bodies from River's sight. The ancient stallion led the way, picking a path through the darkness with uncanny sureness. Miralisse followed with Casteel, while the foal whinnied softly and returned to the herd. They moved steadily for a while until they reached the end of the valley, and the stallion stopped. Understanding, Nero dismounted holding River who was asleep, and let Casteel saygoodbye to the mare. He smoothed his rough hand down his horse’s neck and met the old stallion’s gaze hoping his thanks was understood. The stallion whickered softly to the other two, and all three turned to canter back.
Behind them, the herd had already vanished. Where horses had stampeded, the valley looked untouched—just rock and shadow under the moon.
Casteel glanced at Nero. “They’re gone.”
They trudged up winding mountain paths until they slipped into a hidden grove beside a clear stream. It was dark—three to four bells before dawn—and Nero carried River, the boy still asleep against his shoulder. “We’ll rest here,” he decided, his enhanced senses sweeping the shadows. The spot was perfect: cover, fresh water, and animal tracks hinting at dinner close by.
Casteel gathered dry sticks while Nero kept the fire low. “I’ll find us something to eat,” Nero murmured, watching River sleep so soundly. Within minutes his wolf instincts led him to two mountain hares. He returned with the kills just as Casteel settled down beside the boy, covering him with his own cloak.
“Where did he come from?” Casteel asked softly.
Nero paused, knife in hand. “Burned farmstead. Silver Guard mercenaries slaughtered his parents and planned to sell him to slavers. I showed up too late to save them—but I got him.”
Casteel’s face darkened. “You couldn’t leave him.”
