She stood and clutched at his sleeve. “Kadya, wait!”
“Go to hell, Katkin. Oh, and I am taking Ajax, by the way.” He turned away and gathered up his cloak and traveling bag.
He would have ridden away, but Katkin caught Ajax’s halter and held on as Arkady dug his heels into the horse’s side. “Get out of the way, b***h, or I will ride you down, I swear it,” he said angrily.
Katkin did not let go. She said, through gritted teeth, “Look, I don’t give a damn what you think about me, but we have to save Huw together.”
“Why?” he spat back. “You don’t seem to care about him, or the Brunner children.”
She looked stricken at this but did not dispute it. “Maybe you are right — but remember this, Kadya. You don’t know how to find Bryn Mirain. You will never get there without my help.”
Abruptly he
