Page 144 of Fires of the Forsaken
Well, I wasn’tleadingher. She’d thrown a holy fit when I’d tried to slip a rope halter over her head. She’d thrown an even bigger tantrum when I took the saddle off. I’d managed to, but only after she’d bolted and nearly dragged me through the forest.
“Ye sure ye don’t want me to kill her?” Braxton had asked.
“Positive,” I’d gritted my teeth and yanked the saddle off, tossing it to the ground. Abby Normal’s back had immediately clenched into a violent, painful-looking spasm.
Braxton frowned as he watched her muscles twitch. “She’shurtin’,Addie.Might be a mercy to kill her.”
“Absolutely not.”
“And how are ye proposing to bring her with us if she can’ be haltered?”
“Errr…” I’d stepped forward, reaching for the discarded halter again.
With a loud huff, Abby Normal had taken the same step.
Interesting.
I’d taken another step, and another, and another. She’d followed each one.
“That’show.” I’d beamed at Braxton.
My venomous bodyguard plodded docilely next to me as we navigated the forest. Occasionally, she played with the end of my braid, nipped at the shaft of my poleaxe, or fiddled with the straps on the holster. Like an oversized, affectionate dog. Which, on any other day, would’ve given me the warm fuzzies. But, to be honest, I wasn’t paying much attention to her. Not when Cheriour looked two seconds away from keeling over.
And the bits of conversation drifting back from the other soldiers didnothelp to ease my mind.
“Elion wasthere…”
“Cayden led a group south. I think they went right into Elion’s trap.”
“He infected thebirds.”
“How long was he planning this?”
“Hewantedus to flee into the woods.”
“Braxton, have you heard any news of the rest of the army?”
“I have not,” Braxton answered the last question with a sigh. “Elion brought terror to this forest. The animals are hidin’.”
Things werereallylooking peachy keen around here.
And it only got better when we found another section of our army. About thirty people. Or more. It was kinda hard to tell, considering their body parts were strewn in a dozen different locations. Arms stuck out of bushes. Legs draped over tree roots. Torsos filled large ditches. And heads sat atop tree branches, their blank eyes watching as we trudged by.
My stomach churned. There wasso…much…blood!Crimson droplets splashed onto my legs as I stumbled through the puddles.
“Keep your eyes forward, Addie.” Cheriour turned in the saddle, his gaze finding mine. A bead of sweat trickled down the side of his face. “Don’t look at them.”
But I did. And I pictured his body on the ground with the others.
Pain lanced my chest.Do not chase that rabbit,I scolded myself.He’s a tough guy. He’ll make it.
But as the hours wore on, he continued to deteriorate.
At dusk, we found a small stream. Braxton and I helped Cheriour off the horse and guided him over to the edge of the water.
“Addie, do you want me to do this?” Braxton stared grimly at Cheriour’s blood-soaked bandages.
“I’ve got it,” I said. “But I need more fabric.”
