PLEASANCE WAS TOO HORRIFIED to move. She watched him pull the horse up next to a couple of bales of yellowed hay and step up onto them. Then he jumped onto the horse’s bare back and shifted until he was sitting upright, with his long legs stretched down the horse’s heaving sides. He spoke softly to the huge creature as it spun and shuffled with alarm.
When he’d gotten the horse under control he glanced at her. Alfric reached down and wiggled his fingers as an obvious signal for her to grab his hand.
Pleasance crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head.
He frowned. “I’m not leaving you behind.”
She glared at him.
Voices sounded on the other side of the big barn doors and the door creaked heavily as weight was apparently applied to it.
Alfric leaned close and spoke softly. “Whe
