Corruption of Honor, Pt. 1: The Burning of Riverend by A.M. Rycroft

Author:A.M. Rycroft [Rycroft, A.M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mighty Quill Books
Published: 2017-12-27T23:00:00+00:00

15

SHAUN crept toward the brown and white speckled mare. The mare paused and raised her head from the stand of bushes where she was grazing. She regarded Shaun and snorted, twitching her tail. Shaun stopped.

She kept her voice low. “It’s alright. We won’t hurt you.”

The mare’s tail swished once more, then fell still. Shaun took another step forward, hardly daring to breathe. The mare watched Shaun, but made no other move. Shaun’s hand shook as she reached out and placed her hand on the horse’s speckled neck. The mare turned her head, regarding Shaun with calm brown eyes.

She ran her shaking hand over the horse’s thick neck, whispering, “You’re alright. I won’t hurt you.”

Shaun took hold of the horse’s bridle. She did not shy from Shaun’s touch and let Shaun lead her out of the bushes and back to the covered wagon.

Thomas took down a coil of rope from a hook on the side of the house-like structure and cut a long section from it. He tied one end to the rig’s front axle, the other to the mare to keep her close.

Shaun watched him loop the rope through the horse’s bridle. “We need to go back for Sara and Myra.”

Thomas nodded without looking at her. “You go. I’ll work on repairing the broken harness.”

“Maybe there are some bandages inside. For your shoulder.”

“Maybe.” He walked away.

Shaun sighed, hands on her hips, and turned back in the direction of where they left Sara and Myra. If that was how he wanted to be, so be it.

The itch in her leg started again, then the ache, despite the tighter laces on her boots. She paused near the hiding place where Sara and Myra should be and wiped away the thin sheen of sweat coating her forehead.

Her brow furrowed as she crouched to rub at her leg again. With the intensifying ache, she could not be sure she could still carry Myra on her back and manage to walk back to the wagon. Asking Sara to get Thomas and the horse to carry them both back was not what any of them needed either.

She stood again, slowly this time, willing herself to rise above the pain. “Sara?”

Sara and Myra stood up from the brush. Shaun picked her way through to them.

Sara gasped. “You’re hurt again.” She reached out to touch the bruises on Shaun’s face, but Shaun dodged her hand. Sara’s brow furrowed. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She paused. “It’s nothing. I’m alright.”

Sara let her hand drop. She handed back Shaun’s mail shirt. “You don’t look alright.”

Myra asked, “What about Thomas?”

“He was wounded, but he should be fine as well.” Shaun slipped the mail shirt over her head and took her sword from Sara, avoiding her eyes. “But we should hurry back. His wounds still need wrapped, and I don’t trust that he can defend himself if someone comes looking for the Mordwellians we killed.”

Myra nodded. “I think I can walk on my own, as long as it’s not far.”

Shaun allowed herself a sigh of relief.

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