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The horse blinked at me as if to say ‘you’re lucky that I’m deigning to listen to you’. Black as night, he struck a regal picture.
“I ought to give you a real name.”
I ran through a few options as I trudged through the underbrush. The limb didn’t match the trees around it, hinting that it had blown away from its origin. Pulling it close, I examined the limb beneath the moonlight.
Back in her world, Yvette had spent a lot of time with plants and many in this realm were the same, or so she said. As a slave, she could no longer indulge in that hobby, but she’d still taken every opportunity to teach Anna and me about trees, flowers, and even herbs in the rare instances when some landed on our plates. The branch I held looked like it could be from an elm, walnut, or hickory tree.
Suddenly, I stilled, realizing that I stood in a wild forest. Yvette claimed that elm, walnut, and hickory were often mistaken for ash. So the branch might even be from an ash tree.
My mouth went dry at the thought.
I’d never seen an ash tree. They weren’t planted in Sangrael for a very good reason. That wood was the only type that could be fashioned into stakes that killed the royals. But the vampires didn’t scour the forests for ash trees. Why would they when the vampires held complete control in their cities, villages, and estates?
If this was ash, the Fates had gifted me a boon indeed.
Of course, the chances were slim, but I decided to take them. I needed a stake anyway, and it was better to begin working on it now.
Finally, I settled on an offshoot about the right diameter and length for a stake. Using my dagger, I sawed off the section I needed and trimmed the thin ends. Eyeing the perfectly sized wood, I smiled. Now, I could work with it.
I made my way back to my horse, who snorted loudly.
“How do you like the name Judge?” I teased, for he appeared even more exasperated with me than before I left him to go hunting for wood.
The horse snorted again, though a bit more softly, which I took as an affirmation. “It’s settled then, Judge. I’m Neve.”
He looked away, which made me chuckle. At least he remained true to his character.
“Come on, then.” I pulled his reins, and despite being generally unimpressed by me, Judge followed. Once we got into a rhythm and I felt certain that he’d walk alongside me, I released him. The horse didn’t break step, so I pulled out my dagger to work on the stick.
Used to crafting items and working with my hands, it didn’t take me long to transform the stick into a stake. I held it up to the moonlight, examining my work. Not beautiful, but it would do.
Finally, properly armed against vampires as well as other foes, I listened harder for running water. I needed to make good on my promise to Judge.
Water, however, wasn’t what I heard first. A few minutes later, the sounds of hounds baying in the distance, causing my spine to straighten.
“Bleeding skies!” Quickly, I rammed the stake into the interior pocket of my cloak. “Come here, Judge!”
I gripped the reins tighter, and the horse threw his head in protest, but I slid my foot into the stirrup and hauled myself over him anyway. Water and rest would have to wait.
I needed to ride east, toward the Winter Court of the fae and cross that boundary line. I shivered. Master Aldéric claimed that my birth mother died trying to run from the Winter Court. It felt ominous to be returning, but no matter her reasons, right now, the border between this court and Winter’s Realm meant relative safety. I had to make it there before vampires tore me apart.
Digging my heels into Judge’s sides, I spurred him forward. The horse began a slow trot, an obvious protest to not getting what I promised.
“Faster.” I dug my heels in harder. The horse responded to the command with an annoyed snort. “I know I said water, but if you value your life, you’ll run.”
The baying of the hounds grew louder. Fates, how close were they? Were they following my direct path?
My throat dried up. The vampires used hunting dogs for sport. They related to the creatures as hunters and killers. The masters and royals loved their dogs, and they alternated kills with them.
Heart pounding, I leaned over Judge’s neck as he trotted slowly through the trees. Soon enough, a dusting of snow appeared on the forest floor. It wasn’t cold enough for that, not here anyway, but in Winter’s Realm it would be far colder. I had to be close to the border.
“Judge, please, go faster!” I said and tried to get the creature to speed up again, but this time, he refused.
Instead, the horse turned south, and I learned why as, through the trees, I caught the glint of moonlight on water. Judge had sensed running water, a wide river from the looks of it. The horse slowed, determined to get the drink he was owed.
“No!” I gasped. “We can’t!”
Done taking my orders, the horse cantered straight for the water, paused at the bank, and drank deeply.
