The door creaked louder than I wanted. The horses stirred, ears twitching. One of them let out a low, uneasy snort.
“Easy,” I whispered, easing the door closed behind me.
The stables were dim, shafts of afternoon light bleeding through the high slats. Dust drifted like smoke in the air. Onegrey mare pawed at the straw, already saddled. Another—a bay—stood further back, nostrils flaring at my scent.
I crossed quickly, staying between the beams where my shadow wouldn’t give me away.
I reached for the reins—then froze.
A voice behind me. Quiet. Feminine. Uncertain.
“You’re not one of them.”
I turned, slow and smooth.
The girl couldn’t have been older than sixteen. Pale braid. Too-large tunic. Holding a pitchfork with trembling hands.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” I said.
“You won’t,” she replied, braver than she looked. “Because I’ll scream.”
I sighed. “And get both of us killed? Crown and sentinel soldiers are crawling all over your camp. If they find you helping me, you’ll hang too.”
She faltered. Just slightly. Eyes flicking toward the grey mare.
“I just need the horses,” I said. “You didn’t see me. You were on break. You were never here.”
She swallowed hard. Her eyes flicked to the grey mare.
“That one bites,” she said.
I blinked.
“And the gate on the left is warped. Use the one by the well.”
I gave her a nod, already moving.
And just like that, I had our way out.
The girl didn’t follow me. Smart. The moment I slipped through the gate, I was already swinging into the saddle.
The grey mare tossed her head but didn’t fight me—bless her. The bay surged forward, reins trailing behind.
We were almost clear.
Then I heard it.
“Oi! Stop—!”
I didn’t. I dug my heels in, urging both horses into a gallop. Behind me, the stable door burst open. Boots pounded. Shouts rang out, steel scraped from sheaths.
Godsdamn it.
The wind hit my face like a slap. I didn’t look back. Just pushed harder. The forest fringe wasn’t far. I just had to get there before they caught up.
**
Phoenix
