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An approving word from Lucan meant more to Sebastian than he could express, and certainly more than he wanted to express in front of the brigands who were ushering them from their camp.
They moved through the forest relatively quickly, eschewing large trails for smaller goat tracks for several minutes before the sound of thundering hooves began to make itself known on the verges of their collective earshot, low at first and swiftly increasing in intensity as riders bore down through the forest, riding single file and at full gallop through the trees.
The forest was very dark at night, but the main path was clearer than the rest of the woods thanks to the absence of trees, and moonlight shone down upon it in an illuminating fashion. Though their little group was likely very well hidden from any on the path, everybody nevertheless took cover. Lucan reached for Sebastian, but it was Kinsey who pulled Seb down into the bushes.
Sebastian caught an expression of dark irritation in his knight’s eyes. Lucan did not like Kinsey, Sebastian could tell that immediately. Kinsey did like Sebastian and he also liked Lucan, Seb could tell that too. He had developed a sense at court that allowed him to understand social dynamics fairly quickly. Kinsey was a criminal, but a handsome and charismatic one, which made him almost not a criminal in the eyes of many. Quite often in court, a rake and a scoundrel would get away with terrible deeds simply by appealing to his father. Thadecus would probably have liked Kinsey. There was even some chance their paths had crossed in the past.
Kinsey was almost certainly going to take advantage of them, Sebastian knew that. Any interest or kindness he might be showing was simply redirected self-interest.
A horn sounded, drawing Sebastian’s attention to the small spaces through the trees where the riders could be seen flashing through leaves.
“MAKE WAY FOR THE DEATH KING!” A herald shouted the words to the night world at large as riders came through the forest trails, dressed in red tabards and wearing blackened armor. Their mounts were similarly attired in red and black barding. They made an imposing, intimidating sight, quite different from the gleaming silver of the knightly attire Sebastian was used to seeing. They passed by as quickly as they came, disappearing in the same direction Lucan and Sebastian had intended to travel.
There was a pause, a long silence in which every brigand’s eye, including Kinsey’s, and of course, Lucan’s, was on Sebastian. They wanted to see the prince’s response to the riders, and to seeing the king who had slain his family and stolen his throne.
Sebastian felt utterly nauseous and terribly afraid. But there was no way he was going to show that to the assembled strangers. He knew better than to openly project weakness.
“Death King,” Sebastian snorted. “Stupid name.”
“If he is the Death King, then you are the Poisoned Prince,” Kinsey said, flashing that rakish grin. Sebastian did not bother correcting him by telling him that he had not taken any of the poison.
Lucan saved Sebastian the trouble of responding further.
“If you had not come upon us, we would have very likely been in the road when the riders came. You have saved our lives.”
“Seems like you owe me a debt of gratitude, sir knight,” Kinsey said, his tone teasing and mocking.
“It would seem so,” Lucan agreed, quite serious.
“No need to worry. Where we live, no king or usurper dares tread. You boys will be safe enough in the valley.”
“The valley? I am not familiar with such a geographical phenomenon.”
“You’re not familiar with a great many things, I’d wager,” Kinsey laughed.
They followed Kinsey and his men through the forest for several hours. Sebastian was tired, angry, and rather irritable at their sudden company. He very much missed having Lucan to himself. There were many things he wanted to say to Lucan that he could not say due to the many ears around them. He was also very tired. He had perhaps slept three or four hours, and it was not enough. There were going to be bags under his eyes. His skin was going to break out. He was going to be made ugly, and that upset him deeply.
Finally, they arrived… somewhere.
The forest thinned at the edge of an unexpected great limestone crevasse. Trees gave way to grass which gave way to white rock dropping sheerly into an abyss. Ropes and ladders led down into the depths, rickety looking structures that gave Sebastian no confidence whatsoever in their construction.
“You can put your horses in the pens,” Kinsey said, gesturing to a few such structures, which had hay and water already in place. “They’ll be safe enough there, we have regular checks in place to ensure the animals don’t come to harm. This forest has many eyes.”
