Dragonblood by Mirren Hogan

Author:Mirren Hogan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Mirren Hogan

Chapter Sixteen

Andon tied their belongings to Tomaya's horse and tethered it by rope from its bridle to his saddle. "Come on," he barked. "Do you need a hand up?"

Brish was shaking so badly he wasn't sure he'd manage to mount up without help. Mutely, he nodded and let Andon give him a boost.

"Hang on and don't let go," Andon said, climbing up onto his own horse. "I might not have time to stop and help if you fall off."

He wasn't joking, that was clear. Brish gripped the saddle, his fingers white, and gritted his teeth. Ahead, Andon wheeled his mount with an expert touch and kicked it into a trot. Brish's mount followed, bumping him until they broke into a canter. Copying Andon, he leaned low over the saddle, letting the horse run faster.

The landscape was a blur as they flew past. The wind whipped tears from his eyes. That's all it was, he told himself, he wasn't crying. He could hardly think, let alone feel anything at the deaths of the two women. And yet, a worm of regret uncoiled inside him.

Tomaya had been harsh. How much of that was because of what had been done to her? And Emmin—in spite of everything, he understood that she just wanted to keep her people safe, just like him. She was complicit, but it was Bakel they needed. Or was it? Haze, surely he was as much a victim as Tomaya?

Brish shook his head. Life dealt hard blows. That didn't excuse murder. He suspected then that he'd never be capable of killing anyone. Nothing was simple. One person's good was another's evil. He didn't think he could tell which was which anymore.

He growled in the back of his throat. Nothing made sense anymore.

By the time they reached the train station, he felt sick to his stomach. Between the situation, and the motion of the horse, he felt queasy. He slid off the horse before a woman from the way station moved to take it. The poor animal was lathered in sweat.

Weary, he followed Andon to the stationmaster's small office.

"We need a train, now," Andon demanded.

"Sorry sir, the last one left half an hour ago," the man said, looking pale.

"We'll catch up," Andon said, "The horses will go faster."

Brish glanced over at theirs, their sides still heaving with exertion.

"Not those horses," Andon spoke abruptly, "there must be others."

"There are, but . . . I mean yes sir." The stationmaster hurried away.

Andon smirked at the man's back. "Let's get our things off Tomaya's horse."

Brish didn't relish the idea of another hard ride, but he helped Andon untie their things and re-tie them to their new horses. His gave him a wary eye, but didn't mind when he pulled himself up.

"Good man," Andon said, nodding at Brish before kicking his horse. "We'll follow the tracks."

Brish hung on and let his mount have its head. It seemed to know what it was doing, which made one of them at least. He leaned forward and watched the blur of the tracks fly by.

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