Page 79 of Lady Knight and the Thief

“Not unless we can outrun them, but the horses…”

“Have been running all day,” Cypress finished grimly.

What was out there that caused even the Wyld forests to take pause, as if the trees themselves were holding their breath?

“So are we making a run for it, or are we facing whatever chases us?” Torren asked, bent over his horse’s neck.

It took Cypress all of three breaths to decide.

“Face it,” She said, then sat deeper in the saddle, pulling lightly on the reins to slow Seren.

Torren did the same with a shouted “whoaa,” and then they turned, facing back the way they’d come.

Almost immediately, Cypress could hear the sound of pounding hooves, the metallic clink of armor rattling against chain mail.

“I didn’t know they were so close,” Cypress muttered, checking that her sword was clear in its scabbard, and then readied her bow.

The bow was light and meant for small game, but would be deadly enough if Cypress’s aim was true.

“The Dryaads have allowed them to pass since you decided not to run,” Torren muttered, similarly preparing for an attack.

Cypress whipped her head back toward him. “Could we have asked for their help?”

Torren sent her a wry grin and said, “Survive this, Lass, and I’ll tell ye why I didn’t ask for more help than what they'd already been providing.”

She muttered a string of expletives, double checking that her sword was free.

Torren chuckled, but didn’t say anything before a group of riders burst around a corner at a gallop.

Horses screeched and reared as their riders yanked on the reins at the sight of Cypress and Torren standing calmly in the middle of the road.

One of the horses screamed again as its rider yanked back and to the side on the reins. The horse reared. Then it fell backward, directly on top of its rider. None of his companions reacted, or even bent to check if the rider was alive.

The leader of the band came to a skid stop before Torren and Cypress, the emblem of Grethnah embossed in his armor.

Cypress’s stomach dropped.

“Lieutenant Oswald,” Cypress greeted and slowly looked at the other members of the party.

All of them were guards at the Keep. Which meant the rider who fell was likely Johnah. He always did pull too hard on the reins.

“Lady Cypress, Prince Torren,” Oswald said, then reached into one of his saddlebags. When he withdrew his hand, a few rolled parchments came with it.

“What’s all this?” Cypress asked, unable to shake the feeling—the forest was watching. Waiting. That the Dryaads would weigh her soul against the outcome of this interaction.

“Unfortunately, we are here with warrants for your arrest.”

Cypress reeled back in her saddle and nearly dropped the bow. “What!”

“See for yourself,” Oswald said, then threw the rolled papers to Torren.

He deftly caught them, then broke the wax seal. Torren’s face went a little pale at whatever he saw. He did the same for the other two scrolls.

When Torren was done with his examination, he shook his head.

"What is it?" Cypress demanded. The steady and rapidthud, thud, thudof her pounding heart filled her ears.

“He’s telling you the truth, Lass.”