31
They rode hard and fast over the next two days. They’d been delayed enough, and with a winter storm on their heels they needed to hurry or risk being caught in the coming snow.
When Lu let out a warning whistle, they all came to an abrupt halt. Rasha rode up beside Lu as he c****d his head and stared into the woods ahead of them. “What’s wrong?” she asked in a whisper.
“We’ve got company.”
“What’s wrong?” Jak asked.
“The royal guard doesn’t come out this far to meet or greet princesses. Besides, no one is supposed to know we’re coming today, which means they’ve been set up here for some time.”
“How many?”
Lu jumped down from his tuskin, leaving Chiza to hold the reins. He pulled out his eye gear and disappeared into the woods. None of them spoke as they waited for Lu’s return. A
