They were halfway to the nearest village when Alyssa drew her horse up short. Her gaze was drawn to the tree line on their right. People. She could sense their evil intent.
“Is there a problem, Princess?” Sylbia asked.
“Yes, we are about to be attacked,” Alyssa was as confident of this as she was of her name.
“I see no—”
An arrow released, its whine splitting the air, and she jumped clear of the horse even as the guard nearest to them grew still and toppled forward. His horse took off, startling the others, and Alyssa dove into the long grass beside the road. Sylbia was surprisingly quick on her feet and followed only a moment later. The remaining three guards were slower to react.
“I should have taken my bow and arrows,” Alyssa griped, watching another guard fall. The other two we
