Erik and Ruari pursued the hunting party even as fat drops of rain began to plummet from the sky.
“This is to our advantage,” Ruari claimed with pleasure. “The women will return to the hall, to be certain. And when the party turns back, we shall be able to catch them for certain.”
They gave the palfreys their heels and the beasts galloped onward along the path beaten down in the forest undergrowth. There was a bright point ahead, then the horses leaped out into a clearing. The change was astonishing, no less because a deluge of rain poured suddenly upon them.
Erik sputtered and shook his hair from his eyes. The horse slowed its pace and he saw why.
A party of four horses emerged from the forest on the far side of the clearing.
The horses nickered at each other. Erik had no time to dra
