“Oi—what are ye doing?”
Arianna froze. Walter had risen from his bedroll and was staring directly at her. His eyes widened as he realized what he was seeing. Arianna did not hesitate.
She spun toward him and seized a fallen branch. With all the strength she could muster, she flung it at him. The crack echoed through the clearing as it hit his head.
Walter staggered back with a roar of pain. “She’s loose!” he bellowed furiously.
The camp exploded into motion. Men scrambled to their feet, overturning cups and crates as they grabbed for weapons. Arianna vaulted onto the horse’s back in one swift motion, barely pausing to steady herself.
“Stop her!” someone shouted.
She dug her heels hard into the horse’s sides. The animal bolted forward into the dark forest.
Branches whipped past her face as the horse crashed through the underbrush, its hooves pounding wildly against the uneven ground. Behind her, she could hear the furious shouts of the raiders as they rushed to mount their own horses.
“There she goes!”
“After her!”
Arianna leaned low against the horse’s neck as the forest rushed past in a blur.
Cold wind stung her eyes while her heart hammered violently in her chest. She had no saddle, no reins, only the horse’s mane clutched tightly in her fists.
Ride. Just ride.
Behind her, the thunder of hooves grew louder. Walter’s furious voice cut through the night.
“Don’t let her get away!”
Arianna glanced back over her shoulder just in time to see three riders bursting from the trees behind her. One of them raised a bow.
Her breath caught. The arrow whistled past her ear and struck a tree ahead with a dull thud. Another followed.
She ducked low against the horse’s neck. The forest floor grew rougher as roots and stones jutted from the earth. The horse stumbled once but recovered quickly, charging forward through the darkness.
“Faster!” she whispered desperately.
Branches clawed at her cloak as she pushed deeper into the woods. Another arrow flew past her shoulder.
“Stop her!” one raider shouted.
Arianna urged the horse onward, her muscles burning with tension as fear and determination drove her forward. She could not see clearly where she rode, but she did not slow. Behind her, the raiders gained ground. Hooves thundered closer.
Suddenly, a rider surged ahead of the others and cut across her path. The horse reared violently as the man grabbed its bridle. Arianna cried out as she was thrown from the animal’s back and crashed hard onto the forest floor. Pain shot through her side as rough hands seized her before she could rise.
Walter rode up moments later, blood still smeared across his cheek where she had struck him.
His eyes burned with fury. “Did ye truly think ye could escape me?” he snarled.
Arianna struggled fiercely against the men holding her. “I would rather die than remain yer prisoner,” she spat.
Walter laughed harshly. “We’ll see about that.”
He gestured sharply toward the camp. “Take her back.”
The raiders dragged her to her feet and began hauling her through the trees once more. Arianna’s heart pounded wildly as exhaustion and frustration surged through her. She had been so close.
Yet, even now, she refused to surrender. As the campfires came back into view through the darkness, she lifted her chin stubbornly.
