“Presuming they are behind me, I believe I was turning in the other direction, toward the forest, which is where we are headed, is it not?”
He nodded.
“I’d suggest you let me storm off, as if we’ve argued. Then you give chase. That provides us with an innocent excuse for speed.” Before he could reply, she took a step back. “Truly? Truly, you blame me for that? I asked an innocent question —”
“I did not mean —”
“Did you even hear what I asked? I’ll wager you didn’t. You were too busy ogling the serving girl and giving her our hard-earned coppers. I’ve had enough. Find your own sleeping blanket tonight.”
She wheeled and broke into a run.
FORTY-NINE
Tova shot from his hiding place, caught up, and raced along beside Ashyn when he could, behind her when the forest grew too dense. Ronan took over the lead. They’d barely gone a hundred paces before he stopped her.
“Enough. We’ll not hear them pursuing if we’re crashing through the woods.”
She stayed behind him as he cut a silent path through the forest. In truth, she wasn’t even certain which direction to go. It all looked the same in here. Ronan seemed to know, though, stepping surefootedly through the dense undergrowth.
Then he stopped, his arms out to halt her, as if she might barrel past. He tilted his head and peered into the woods. Tova’s nose worked madly, as if he too had picked up something but was equally uncertain if it posed a threat. When Ashyn herself listened, she heard only the sound of a small animal scurrying. After a moment, Tova grunted, as though agreeing that’s all it was. Ronan didn’t look quite so certain, but they started forward again.
When Ashyn heard the snorting of their horses, Tova went still. Then he started to growl.
“Mind your hound please, Seeker,” said a man’s voice. “We wish you no harm.”
Ronan glanced over his shoulder.
“And do not bolt, please,” the man continued. “We can see you better than you can see us. There are more of us. We’re better armed, too, I’ll wager. Now, come into the clearing so we can speak.”
Ronan tried to stop Ashyn, but she moved past him with Tova at her side. Four mounted riders waited in their campsite. The one in front swung off his steed. He looked to be on the cusp of his second decade. Bronze-skinned and gray-eyed, with wild hair in desperate need of a comb. His clothing was simple, but she recognized the high quality of the fabrics. He wore a fur-trimmed cloak with a sleeveless tunic under it, the cloak pushed back to reveal his arms, tattooed from wrist to shoulder in wolves with yellow eyes.
“I am Dalain,” he said. “Son of Lord Goro Okami. I believe you were traveling to my father’s compound, Seeker?”
“You are mistaken, my lord. I’m not a Seeker.”
He glanced down at Tova, his brows lifting as if to say, Truly? He smiled. “Your hound might be explained away, my lady, but I suspect if I ask you to lower your hood, your hair will betray you, as do those blue eyes. You are Ashyn, Seeker of Edgewood. You traveled with Prince Tyrus, and you are here to meet with him. So I am here to escort you.”
“And Prince Tyrus?” she asked.
“He’s in my father’s compound. I was out on patrol when my father’s men found me to say you’d been spotted at the inn.”
“I do not wish to doubt your word, my lord, but as you know, the situation is difficult. I trust the prince and few others. I’ll ask that you bring him here before we’ll enter the compound walls.”
The young Okami hesitated. As he did, Ashyn motioned behind her back to Ronan.
Dalain cleared his throat. “I fear I was untruthful, my lady. Tyrus is not at my father’s compound —”
Ashyn turned and ran. Behind her, she heard the clink of Ronan’s swords as he leaped to defend her retreat.
“Wait!” Dalain said. “I can explain. Tyrus was here. He told —”
Ronan must have lunged in attack. Dalain stopped short. Thumps sounded as the warriors leaped from their horses. A clash of metal. Then footsteps pounded. She turned to see Ronan racing after her. Dalain stood behind him, his blade drawn, as he ordered his father’s men to run them down.
“Go!” Ronan said. “Don’t look back. Just go!”
Ashyn obeyed. Tova did not. He circled back behind Ronan, snarling and snapping, startling Dalain and his men and slowing them.
“Seeker!” Dalain shouted. “Ashyn! I won’t harm your hound. Call him off and listen…”
The young man’s voice faded as they ran. A crashing sounded behind them, and Ashyn did look back then to see Tova tearing after them.
“Why didn’t they attack?” Ashyn panted as they ran.
“Because they are pious men. And because we’re in their forest. They think they can run us to ground easily.”
“Can they?”
“Probably. Just keep going. Once we can no longer hear them, we’ll find a place to hole up and think.”
He took the lead again, his eyes better in the darkness. He ran, short blade in hand now, slicing through vines and branches. Ashyn had her dagger out, too, ready for attack, but it wasn’t long before the sounds of pursuit faded.
“They’ll get hounds,” Ronan said. “The Okamis are renowned hunters. They’ll give us time to escape, and then send the hounds after us.”
“Then it won’t help to hide, will it?”