Page 49

And as she did so, a strange anticipation tightened her belly. Aye, now that their hunters were closing in, something inside her didn’t care for those warriors’ plight at all. It only spoiled for a fight.

Fern could have fled then, disappeared in the distance, and left them to deal with this alone. But she didn’t. Holding Cern in check, she bounded just ahead of Thicket.

Rùn thundered close behind.

The horses were pushing hard, but they weren’t fast enough though. Nearly three days of hard travel had taken their toll. They were both starting to tire.

The pinewood pressed close, ancient branches tangling overhead in places.

Cutting her gaze up ahead, Ailsa caught flashes of movement through the trees.

They’re here.

Somehow, they were outdistancing them now, racing through the trees, a blur of leather and iron and flesh, moving far too fast.

Warriors burst out onto the track ahead of Fern.

Cern skidded to a halt, rearing back on his haunches, and both Darach and Kayla hauled their mounts to a violent stop.

“Turn!” Fern shouted.

Darach hauled Rùn around, preparing to flee south.

But a wall of panting warriors, faces slick with sweat, eyes glowing silver, blocked their way.

15: TOGETHER

REACHING OVER HIS shoulder, Darach drew the blade strapped to his back.

The wall of bodies had shifted; warriors encircled them now.

There were at least fifty—far more than Fern had guessed.

And their eyes glowed like starlight.

Their chests heaved with the force of exertion. Aye, they were exhausted, but the pungent odor of campfire and pine swirled around them now. Sweat poured off them, yet the sigils along their arms still glowed.

Even extreme fatigue wasn’t slowing them.

Throwing his leg over Rùn’s withers, Darach leaped to the ground.

Likewise, Ailsa slid off the stallion’s back.

The rasp of iron against leather followed as she too drew her weapon.

They let their mounts go and shifted close, back-to-back.

Fern growled something under her breath. “I’m not used to dealing with this much iron or earth magic.”

Darach cut her a look. The huntress’s face had drained of color, and she was sweating. Iron was bad enough, but the circle of earth magic was affecting her. He remembered her reaction in that tattooing alcove back at the fort, how blood had trickled from her nose and she’d swayed on her feet.

His beast snarled then, its claws raking against his ribs.

Let me out.

Darach clenched his jaw.

Not yet. Ailsa, Kayla, and Fern were too close. He didn’t want to attack them.