WE HIT KERAK'S SADDLE HARD, and both of us yelped. Bruised hips all round, I thought, wincing. Thick smoke swirled around us, and the stench of burnt flesh made me gag. Rumal had a firm grip on the leather strap that held Kassie and I together, keeping us from going anywhere for the moment. Kerak dropped to the spot that Loi had shielded, the only un-burnt ground for miles.
'Hurry, Cat!' Alek yelled from Loushka's back as I struggled with the knot on the strap. 'Loi needs me!'
'Coming, coming,' I muttered and then with Rumal's help, got the right end, and with a firm yank I tumbled off Kerak. 'OUCH.'
Ugh, I always forgot how tall they were. Why not add some more bruises to the mix, my rational voice thought snidely. I scrambled to my feet and ran for Loushka, using my energy to aid the
