He glanced over. “We will follow the edge of the rocks, then slip into the forest. Once shielded by the trees, we can ride undetected.”
Elspet nodded.
He kicked his steedinto a canter.
“Over there!” a man called.
Cailin turned.
Snow flew as a group of knights galloped straight toward them.
God’s blade, the guard had left some men behind to keep a lookout! They weren’t close enough to the forest to reach it. “Returnto the rocks!”
She whirled her mount, dug in her heels.
Broadsword drawn, he rode behind her as she galloped into the narrow opening between the boulders. A short distance inside the maze, they halted. He dismounted, secured a bow and arrows on his back, then started climbing theuneven stones.
“Whereare you going?”
“There are only five men headed our way. If I can get a clear shot at the knights when they enter, I should be able to pick them off. I willna be long.”
With deft movements, taking care given the slippery snow, he scaled the rocks, then lay where he had a clear line of sight but kept himself hidden from their view. He nocked anarrow, waited.
A soft scrape of stone sounded behind him.
He glanced back, muttered a curse as Elspet crawledup beside him.
“I told you to stay there!” he hissed while visions of her taking an enemy arrow flashed in his mind.
She nocked her bow, edged closer. “I willna sit there while you risk your life. And I can shoot as well as most men.”
Cailin wanted to throttle her for placing herself in danger but recalled Taog’s assuring him that her skill was impressive. He grimaced. Alone, who knew what mayhem she’d get into? At least at his side, he could keepan eye on her.
Cailin glanced down to the rock entry. “I expect the knights to—”
“I saw them ride this way,” a deep voice called from close by. “Keep watch, and let me know if you see any sign of them.” A man with shoulder-length black hair and a muscled frame cantered into view, a rider in his wake.
Body tense, Cailin drew his arrow back, aimed.
“Wait!” Elspet whispered. “I have seen that man in Taog’s camp.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded.
Errant snowflakes drifted past the mounted knight as he halted. Eyes narrowed, he scanned the area. “I think whoever we saw was farther away than we believed and has left,” he called behind him.
Two warriors rode past the large rocks to join him, then the last two riderscame into view.
Elspet gasped.
Cailin glanced to his side. Her face wasdeathly white.
“T–the last rider,” she whispered. “’Tis Blar!”
Jaw tight, he stared at the rangy man with shoulder-length, straight brown hair he’d seen at Tiran Castle days before, and an unsettling thought crept into his mind. “Your stepbrother is far from the castle.”
“He is, but as the master-at-arms said Blar has been riding with the earl’s men.”
