“That’s right,” Desa whispered. “Keep running.”
A short time later – ten minutes, maybe fifteen – she heard the footsteps of horses and saw the approach of distant lights. Rojan marched up to her, scowling. “That,” he said, “was entirely reckless.”
Desa stood up, exhaustion hitting her like a tidal wave. She pressed the heel of her hand to her forehead. “Unavoidable,” she replied. “We had to subdue it or it would have overpowered us. I think I bought us some time.”
Folding his arms with a sigh, Rojan tilted his head to one side. “And how did you do that?”
“I wounded it.”
“Fine,” he said. “Let’s put as much distance between us and this place as possible. We’ll march another two hours.”
Clouds filled the sky on their fifth day of travel, bringing with them a dreary, sombre mood. Everyo
