Part 12 (1/2)
”Oh, you ht, lad,” Hornsbuck said levelly ”You just didn't think of anyone, save yourself”
And Mika knew it to be true
”Well, what do you intend to do now, Master Wolf?” Hornsbuck asked in a cool,tone ”What is the plan?”
”Ride fast,” Mika muttered softly
”Oh, ride fast Yes That's a wonderful clever plan Would never have thought of it myself We'll certainly shake those monstrosities off our tails in no time”
”Well, ould you do?” asked Mika
”I'd cut that wagon loose, for starters,” said Hornsbuck ”Then I'd ride for the hills We'll never lose theht stand a chance in the hills”
”What hills?” asked Mika
”The hills outside Eru-Tovar along the southernout the landmarks on an oiled leatherthe er ”The hills are there, two days hence”
”Do you think we cana leap within his chest”
”Aye, probably, if we abandon the wagon and ride for all we are worth,” Hornsbuck said slowly, turning the situation over in histheir chances
”Gnolls are lazy bastards They would not venture from their lairs and stick to us like this unless there was so 'e and torture, but how et a chance to enjoy the behind him to see how close they were
”Nah! This is si,” said Hornsbuck ”Anyone can follow in a straight line But will they follow us if we make it difficult for them? That's the question”
”We can try!” said Mika
”You understand, though, that it could work against us”
”Why?” cried Mika
”They are creatures of darkness,” answered Hornsbuck ”They can see better at night and uard at all tireed Mika, relieved that Hornsbuck was still an ally
”And Mika,” said the older ht have avoided this, had you been straight with ether if we are to survive”
”No more secrets,” Mika assured ”You have alloped swiftly back to the wagon where Mika called a brief halt
Weary men slid from their saddles and poured out a small ah to wet their parched on,” Mika told Hary ”There is no other way I have told Hornsbuck everything We have iht to knohat it is they die for”
Hary's blue eyes blazed for a ue, but he nodded briefly and bit back the words that rose to his lips
”I can see that it is necessary,” he said ”I appreciate all that you are doing for us I will go and tell Recknass” Dison
While Hary was ether
The air was cool and fragrant with the s to set, bathing the prairie in cri birds ca quarrelsomely
The nomads trotted up, one at a tiue Wolves sat on their haunches alongside their hu the for hi that the words he spoke would affect their lives
Mika looked into their weary eyes and felt as though he were the enemy And, in a sense, he would have to admit that he was, since his actions, and the lack of the would accoive hi what this is all about-who this aran A loud murmur assured hion,” Mika continued ”A lady who lies in a ical sleep froed with taking her to Eru-Tovar where there is said to be one who can break the spell
”It would see the city, but I aed to see that she reaches it in safety”
The no the Mika continued, speakingthe wagon so that wethe southern march It should take us two days to reach them We hope to lose the army in the hills and enter the city unharmed”
”Abandon the woman!” called one of the eastern nomads, a dark, hawk-nosed man unfamiliar to Mika ”Give her to those who follow and spare us a needless death”
”I have given my word,” said Mika ”I will not leave her”
The round, his comment on the value of Mika's word
Mika was spared froe by the appearance of Hary and Recknass as they e down lightly, then held his ariant But Recknass ignored hi each of the noile charge their right to life None spoke
Only when he had stared the the princess in his arms like a tiny waif
It would have taken a very brave or a very foolish iant appeared even larger and on
His face was now a mass of purple, yellow, and black bruises, and his nose was still flattened against his cheek He stared at the ood eye They drew their horses back a step and lowered their eyes, unwilling to aggravate the brute
Mika had eyes for the princess alone, having seen h of Recknass But she was completely swaddled in the soft pink coverlet and all that could be seen of her was a few glossy curls
Hary and the driver Cob passed al bulky trunks and bits of luggage to the sides of the on
”What are you doing?” asked Hornsbuck