"I have never seen proof that any god exists," Esek said, swinging for Achan's feet, "let alone one who protects strays."
Achan jumped back and yelled. He took a deep breath and swung his sword at Esek's neck.
Esek parried Achan's strike and thrust for Achan's heart.
Achan sidestepped, spun back and nicked Esek's shoulder.
Esek yelled and stumbled back, then swung for Achan's arm. Achan parried, but Esek dropped under Achan's parry and nicked Achan's side.
Achan winced and drew back to middle guard. Esek swung from side guard. Achan moved to parry, but Esek faked, pulled Owr back, and stabbed one armed, slipping his grip to reach farther.
Owr pierced Achan's left thigh. He roared and snapped his sword down from high guard over Esek's extended arm, wincing as his blade severed Esek's limb above the elbow.
Esek shrieked and stared at the bleeding stump.
Achan's trembling arm fell limp at his side. He dropped his sword, horrified. His leg throbbed, hot pain gripping every nerve. Esek collapsed in a heap or red wool. Fainted? Dead?
"No!" Chora rushed forward and removed his cape. He balled it up and held it to Esek's gushing stump.
Achan fell back onto his rear and clutched the underside of his thigh. Blood oozed from the dark center of the wound and stained his britches. Panting through his teeth, he reached up his chain shirt and tugged his rope belt free. He pulled it under his leg and tied it above his wound.
A burning sensation rose from Achan's chest.
TAKE YOUR SWORD AND GO.
Achan obeyed. He hefted himself onto his good leg, picked up Eagan's Elk, and limped toward the horses.
YOUR FATHER'S SWORD.
Achan wheeled around and reached for Owr. He had to kick Esek's gloved hand off the grip. His father's ring caught his eye, wide and gold against the black leather glove. He dropped both weapons and pulled it from Esek's finger.
Achan jammed the ring on his thumb, picked up the swords, and staggered back, glancing from the severed arm to Esek and Chora, to the circle of onlookers. "Give up this fight. You cannot resist Arman's will. I don't wish to harm anyone, but continue to attack me and you'll suffer the consequences, no matter how…v-vile. Sir Eagan, Shung, we ride."
Achan stepped over Khai's body and approached the horses. His wounded leg shook beyond his control and he tried to keep his weight on his good leg. He clipped both swords to the saddlebag on Esek's courser. Shung and Sir Eagan helped him mount the horse, who, compared to Dove, seemed small and bony. Achan spurred the horse away, east, toward Light.
Sir Gavin, has Sparrow arrived?
They are just opening the outer portcullis for her now.
She is wounded. We're on our way.
Shung and Sir Eagan slowed their horses alongside Achan.
"How is your leg?" Sir Eagan asked.
"I've had worse." The light faded fast as they left the camp behind them. "No torch?"
Sir Eagan pushed a hand though his loose hair. "Didn't think to grab one."
"Should we be concerned?" Achan had cinched his belt so tightly his leg had numbed. He loosened the knot.
"I doubt anyone will follow. You defeated their leader."
Achan pulled the belt free and tied it around his waist, leg tingling with feeling now. "Think he's dead?"
"Depends on whether they have a healer nearby."
Achan closed his eyes, still shaken from the sight of Esek's bleeding arm. I'm sorry, Arman.
But was he? Esek had been trying to kill him, had taken Sparrow. It was the fool's own fault for never wearing armor. Still, Achan could have finished him rather than leave him to suffer such a death.
When he opened his eyes, the torchlight from Esek's camp had faded. Achan's horse tensed; Achan could feel the anxiety running through the animal. He rubbed the horse's neck, patting him down. In the woods on his left, something rustled. Achan's horse stutter-stepped and turned. Achan held the reins tight, hoping to keep the animal on the road.
The other horses neighed and stomped their feet. One set of hooves trampled away.
"Whoa!" Sir Eagan called out in the distance. The hoof beats slowed on the dirt.
What is it? Achan's horse rocked back on his haunches and whinnied.
Likely a wild animal, Sir Eagan said.
"Easy, boy." Achan patted the horse's neck and urged him on. "It's just some deer."
The rustling increased. The courser whinnied, trying to turn back. Achan held fast to the saddle horn and fought to keep his balance. His left leg proved useless to steady him. Maybe Esek had trained the animal and it knew it belonged elsewhere. Achan connected with the animal's mind. Fear overwhelmed him. He thought calming thoughts, hoping to somehow evoke Sir Eagan's gift of calming emotions.
But the horse continued to panic. Achan's heart thudded, unsure of what might spook a horse so.
The Darkness lifted suddenly to a dim twilight. Evenwall mist coated Achan's face. He had never been so relieved to enter this place. Shung rode just ahead on the right edge of the road, almost in the brush. Achan could see Sir Eagan stopped up ahead, looking back, his horse sideways on the road.
"You are well?"
"I'm fi-"
Something slammed into the side of his horse, knocking Achan into a pine tree. The sharp limbs snapped against his chain coat as he fell through branches to the fern-covered ground, landing on his back. Orange light flashed on the road. A terrible roar stifled the horses' whinnying. Achan scooted back on his elbows and right foot, dragging his sore leg.
Sir Eagan's panicked voice burst in Achan's mind. Your Highness! Where are you?
Achan paused under a patch of charcoal sky. He could see the dark shapes of Esek's half-downed, half-bucking horse and a massive animal. I'm okay. I'm in the woods. Another sudden burst of orange flame caused the horse to utter an unnatural scream and illuminated the beast. Achan lost his breath.
Arman help him. It was a cham bear, and his swords were with the horse.
Shung cannot connect with its mind.
Can you, Sir Eagan? Can you calm it? Achan asked.
A moment of silence passed. Achan squinted at the scene on the road. The cham roared again, ears flat, eyes flashing in its own orange fire. It seemed intimidated by the bucking horse, though Achan could see the large gash in the horse's side. It smelled oddly like roasted venison.
Sir Eagan finally answered. Someone controls it.
What? Who?
I know not, but its mind is shielded. An animal cannot do that.
Achan's shaking arms gave way, elbows bucking. He picked himself back up and stared at the road. The cham's dark eyes focused his way. Bile snaked its way up his throat. His movement had gained the cham's attention.
The beast crept toward him, illuminated in a flash of twilight between the trees. It was the size of a bull, shaggy, with matted, brown fur. Its paws looked as big as Achan's head.
He reached out, felt the shields around the cham's mind, and pushed past them.
Hello, Yer Majesty. Yer not the only one who can master an animal's mind, Atul said.
Achan withdrew, concerned Atul might be able to storm him. Atul controls it. Should I run? Climb a tree?