Across the river they rode the horses hard. Up the otherside of the gully, it took Sastra a while to realise they’d crossed the gorge she’d found herself perched on, a few days before. Something tightened in her core, whether it was fear or a sense of destiny she couldn’t be sure. But chose to keep the sensation to herself as Jason led the way. The sound of horses and dogs haunted them, echoing down each hill that they climbed, or ridge that they rode along, just below the ridgeline to avoid being seen. As though Jason had a map of the wild forests fresh in his mind, he was masterful in his route through the forests. Whatever hounded them, they managed to stay just ahead. Although there was no time to rest their mounts or to find pause themselves.
Any sense of peace that Sastra’ had regai
