“I’ve never…”
“Time to learn!” Taking her by the wrist, he hauled her up behind him.
“Truth, Rolan,” she gasped, wrapping her arms around him to steady herself. “You’ve put on some muscle.”
Rolan cursed the circumstances of the day, which made it almost impossible for him to bask in the utter euphoria of that comment.
“Hold on tight,” he said.
Apple seemed to show no signs of tiring as he cantered up the road, responding to Rolan’s slightest signals. What people they did pass cried out and stumbled clear of the horse’s mighty hooves.
When they reached the apothecary, Rolan turned to Anaya.
“Apple can only carry two,” he said.
“It’s fine. I’ll get her. Wait here.”
But she didn’t need to. The door was already opening, and Evaine stepped out.
“Anaya! I’ve been looking everywhere for—” Her voice stilled as she took in Rolan’s expression. “What happened?”
Rolan tried to explain, but all the words and exhaustion and fear tangled in his throat and he gave only a broken sob.
“I’ll get my bag,” said Evaine. “Wait there.”
Moments later she stepped out again, a heavy satchel on her shoulder.
“Stay here,” she said to Anaya, catching her as she slid off the horse. “Lock the doors.”
Anaya nodded, shrinking into the doorway and giving a soft wave.
“Home, boy,” Rolan whispered to Apple once Evaine was seated behind him. Her arm wrapped around his shoulders while the other secured her bag.
The horse burst forward.
The ride out of the city felt impossibly long. The rain fell so hard now he could barely see where they were going, but he trusted the horse to find the way and let his eyes shut. Not all the water on his cheeks was rain.
“How bad is he hurt?” Evaine asked in his ear, her voice barely audible over the roar of the rainstorm.
“I—I don’t know. I left before…”
“I see.” She rode easily, as if she’d grown up with horses. He’d never really heard about Evaine’s background, but somehow the idea didn’t surprise him.
“It was my pa,” he confessed. “I messed everything up, Evaine. It’s all my fault.”
“Hush, Rolan. Do not blame yourself. I know Luc would not.”
If he’s even alive,Rolan thought. He was trying hard not to consider the worst, but the possibility loomed heavier than the rainclouds above.
Apple could not gallop over the thickening mud, and they had to go at a frustratingly slow trot. Rolan held on grimly but suspected it was Evaine holdinghimup now, more than the other way around.
“I feared it was Rabb’s crew who took Anaya,” she said. “And that it had something to do with this conspiracy against Luc.”
“You know about the conspiracy?”
“I know there are bad men stirring up trouble, as there always have been and always will be. As there will always be men like Luc in their way.”
The rain began to slacken, but the road was still a ruin of mud. Apple had slowed to a brisk walk, picking his way over the treacherous ground.
