Page 69

Again, positive, Ziva!

“We have plenty of food to eat and water to drink. We have a horse. Can you imagine if I had to drag you all this way with my own strength?”

I’m strong, but I’m notthatstrong.

“We’re going to make it,” I say again. But Kellyn doesn’t acknowledge a thing I say.

When we approach the bridge over the river, I recognize where we are instantly.

Especially with the hacked-down tree covering the whole thing.

A crew of bandits runs up from the slope to the river.

“Good evening, friends,” the bandit leader—what was hisname?—says. He must have found new men to replace the ones we killed, because he’s toting a full gang.

“Devran,” I say as the name comes to me, and an edge of warning enters my voice.

“How do you—” he starts, and then his eyes go wide. “You!” he shrieks, taking a few steps away from me. “Didn’t you just come through here? What are you doing back?”

“I really haven’t got time for this.” Not that I had any time when we first met, either. “Move this tree out of my way, or I will kill all your men a second time!” Then I realize how that sounds. “Not the same men, obviously. I’ll kill the new men. I’ll kill lots of different men like I did before!”

Sometimes I think I’m getting braver at speaking out, but then I go and make a fool of myself.

“Of course!” Devran says, and he makes a motion with his hand. “Move the tree, lads!”

“But we haven’t been paid yet,” one of the smaller ruffians says.

“This one already paid the other time she came through.”

“You only make ’em pay once?” another asks. “That don’t seem too profitable, boss.”

“Just shut up and do your jobs.”

“I don’t think she looks very scary,” says a third.

“Any man who doesn’t put his back into moving this here tree will be cut loose from the gang, you hear?” Devran snaps.

And slowly but surely, the men crawl atop the bridge and get to work. I sigh in relief. I don’t think my horse could make the jump carrying me and Kellyn.

When they’re done, I wait for the brigands to step away before making my way across. I halt before I reach the end.

“Devran?”

“Yes, miss?”

“Don’t let me catch you on this bridge a third time.”

“No, miss. I mean yes, miss. You won’t.”

“Good.”

“But don’t you mean a fourth time?” he calls at my back while I ride away.

He really needs a new job, but I don’t see how he’ll find anything good if he can’t count properly.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The castle couldn’t have come into view any sooner. Kellyn keeps losing balance and listing out of the saddle. I have to constantly wrestle him against me at the same time I hold the reins, yell at people in the street to move, and egg on the horse.