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The part that bothered? It was obviously someone not only familiar with her routine, but also with the fact she loved to ride.

Avera pulled ahead of Josslyn’s mare, her hair streaming like a banner at her back. The air was so fresh and clean. The field of hardy grass, needing little rain to grow, stood barely knee high, short enough for her to see anyone hiding in it.

What slowed her run was noticing a strange totem sitting between the road’s edge and the mown crop. Shaped like a lizard, the statue appeared quite hideous.

Josslyn cantered a few paces past Luna before turning around to see what had Avera staring. “What is that ugly thing?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t like it and think we should head back.” Avera and Gustav had not told Josslyn of the snake in her room and the clay statue that caused it.

“It’s just a silly statue,” Josslyn laughed.

A statue that suddenly emitted vapor that began to take shape.

“Run!” Avera shouted. “Back to the palace.”

She turned Luna around only to stare in shock as more plumes rose from the field, a half dozen at least.

“Avera, what is that thing?” Josslyn whispered.

Avera turned her head to see the mist from the statue had taken on a lizard shape, its leathery exterior ridged a mottled gray-green. Its tongue flicked between pointed incisors and its eyes glowed a strange green. A quick glance behind showed the other vapors in the field had also coalesced into monsters.

“Ride for your brother,” screamed Avera, pulling her dagger, and flicking the button to extend it into a sword. She could already hear the rooks at her back galloping to reach them. Avera swung as the lizard lunged for Luna’s legs.

She missed.

The lizard hugged the ground too low for her to reach. Luna understood the danger and reared, trampling its head. The lizard hissed but didn’t die.

“There’s more of them coming,” Josslyn announced.

Indeed, they scurried from the field, all heading for Avera. The rooks slid from their mounts and stood, weapons at the ready, to engage the monsters.

Luna whinnied as the lizard whipped her front leg with its tail.

They had to get out of there.

“To the woods,” Avera shouted, digging her knees into Luna’s sides.

Only the path forward disgorged more monsters. One stood in their path, hissing. Without missing a beat, Luna soared over it. The horse landed and kept running, leaving behind the ambushing creatures and the sorely outnumbered rooks. Would the monsters disperse now that their target had fled?

A glance over her shoulder had Avera gasping to see her protectors on the ground and the lizards scurrying for them. Josslyn raced by her side, expression intent.

Their plot to trap the traitor had gone horrifically awry. Then again, how could they have planned for this? Magical statues that disgorged monsters? She worried for Gustav, especially once they entered the woods where she could clearly hear the sound of fighting. The ringing clash of blades and shouts indicated more danger. Avera should have turned around, but given the choice between the monsters or Gustav, she chose the latter. At least he seemed to be fighting men.

Josslyn cried out, and Avera half turned her head in time to see the duchess yanked from her mare as a man stepped out from behind a tree. The lady didn’t go quietly or easily.

“Let me go!” Josslyn thrashed and yelled.

Avera slipped from Luna’s back and raced to Josslyn’s rescue, sliding low and slashing her captor behind the knees.

He screamed as he slumped, and Josslyn stumbled away from him, wide-eyed and afraid, as Avera gritted her teeth and jabbed, killing the attacker.

But he was only one of many.

“What are we going to do?” Josslyn panted.

Avera didn’t know. A battle raged all around. There were at least a dozen brigands fighting Gustav and his men. Twice as many as Gustav had brought. Many more than they’d expected. Just how deep did this conspiracy to remove her run?

With two choices—run or fight—Avera chose the latter. Gustav and the soldiers fought to save her. Would die to savetheir queen. A queen should be willing to do the same for her people.