The dark, featureless figure stood upright, spreading its arms. Rachel dimly sensed a command directed at their mounts.
In unison, the horses reared. Rachel and Corinne slid backward off Aram’s big stallion. Rachel landed hard. Croaking for breath, she lunged for the reins of the horse as it bolted away. She fell short, sprawled in the dirt, one hand inches from getting crushed by a rear hoof.
Raising her head, Rachel saw Aram clinging to the side of Mandibar’s saddle. Tearing free a bundle of gear, the little man skidded into the dirt, bouncing and rolling, embracing the rescued equipment. Tark had fallen with a foot snagged in a stirrup, and was dragged dozens of yards down the road, spewing a dusty contrail before wrenching his leg free.
All three riderless horses galloped away down the pass.
Rachel called out to the horses in Edomic, asking them to return. It was tricky to tell if they even heard her.
“Whatever happens,” Galloran commanded in his perpetually hoarse voice, “take no aggressive action involving the lurker.” Drawing his beautiful sword, he strode directly toward the dark figure blocking the road, as if he could see it.
“Servant of evil,” Galloran announced. “Stand your ground and meet your ruin, for I have dispatched others of your kind with this blade.”
“No,” Jason whispered.
Sword held ready, Galloran advanced without hesitation. Rachel held her breath. When the lurker was almost within reach, the creature crouched and sprang up against the wall of the gorge, then with another tremendous leap, soared over Galloran to land in a sprint. A dark blur, the figure dashed down the road faster than the horses had run.
Rachel gaped at the inhuman speed of the lurker. Turning, she saw Jason regarding Galloran with astonishment.
“How did you do that?” Jason asked.
“The torivor knew I spoke the truth,” Galloran said, sheathing his sword. “Unarmed, it would have fallen.”
“But you’re blind,” Jason said.
“I could feel the mind of the lurker,” Galloran replied. “I knew where it stood. It knew that I knew. Also, it had nothing more to accomplish here. It succeeded in slowing us, and now hastens to urge our pursuers to increase their pace. The complexion of our race has taken an awful turn.”
“Tark is injured,” Ferrin called, crouching beside the short musician in the road. He had not moved since twisting free of the stirrup.
“Is he conscious?” Galloran asked.
“No.”
Galloran sighed. “Rachel, any chance of calling the horses back?”
“I’m trying,” she replied.
“I can try to fetch one,” Nedwin offered.
Galloran shook his head. “It will cost too much time. Who will carry Tark?”
“Where is my size when I need it?” Aram lamented. His clothes were torn and filthy from his fall, but he seemed unhurt beyond cuts and scrapes.
“I’ll carry him,” Drake said, trotting over to him. Ferrin helped Drake situate Tark over his shoulder. Dust billowed from Tark’s cloak. His hair was caked with dirt and blood.
“Is that your gear?” Ferrin asked Aram.
“Leave me with it. Give me ten spheres of orantium, and I’ll buy you some time.”
“Give me the sword,” Ferrin said.
“I’ll carry the armored shirt,” Nedwin offered.
Eyes closed, Rachel kept calling the horses. She could envision them clearly. Why wouldn’t they come? Had the lurker struck some primal chord of panic within them? Or maybe the torivor was blocking their return?
In the distance, she heard another explosion, closer than before.
“Second trap,” Drake said. “They’re gaining too fast.”
“Why don’t they get off the road?” Jason asked. “You know, run parallel. How many mines does it take?”
“Most of the terrain off the road is rugged,” Drake said. “If they leave the road, they won’t catch us.”
“Are we ready to proceed?” Galloran asked.
Nedwin draped the ring mail across his shoulders and rubbed his chest absently. “Ready.”
As they continued up the pass, Rachel kept calling the horses. She repeatedly instructed them to be calm, combined with the request to come to her. The incline of the road soon became torturous to Rachel’s fatigued muscles. She and her companions were basted in sweat. The way twisted and turned, preventing them from seeing far ahead or behind. The weary group shambled forward, failing to go much faster than a brisk walk. Corinne seemed on the brink of collapse. Rachel plodded forward in an exhausted haze, cresting a rise only to find the pass winding onward and upward with no end in sight.
Hoofs pounded behind them. Rachel felt a brief jolt of panic, but the emotion turned to relief when her mare and Mandibar loped into view. Drake hastily draped Tark over Mandibar’s saddle and had Corinne mount up to stabilize him. Galloran climbed onto the mare, and they hurriedly packed Aram’s gear onto Mandibar.
With the help of the horses, they managed to pick up the pace. The effects of sleeplessness and relentless exertion were impacting Rachel. Her eyes itched, her legs ached, and her throat felt raw. Jason kept his head down and wore a constant grimace.
When the third explosion rumbled behind them, Rachel cringed. It sounded nearer than the previous blasts.
“That one wasn’t far behind where we joined the road,” Drake said. “They’ve ridden hard to close this quickly. The horses may tire.”
“No,” Galloran warned. “The lurker will be behind them, driving them forward. Only death will slow those steeds.”
“Then they may beat us to the gate,” Drake said.
“I can climb the wall of the gorge,” Nedwin said. “I see a position where orantium could provoke a rockslide. And I’ll be out of their reach. I’ll need globes.”
“Include a gatecrasher with his supply,” Galloran said.
Dorsio rapidly prepared a knapsack of orantium spheres, including one of the larger globes.
“There will be negotiations at the gate to gain admittance,” Drake said. “Galloran should ride ahead.”
“Tark, Rachel, and Corinne will join me,” Galloran decided. “The rest of you make sure you have orantium ready.”
Nedwin was already heading up the side of the gorge, climbing deftly. Dorsio checked that everyone had some orantium globes.
“Sit in front of me so you can guide the horse,” Galloran told Rachel.
“We’re not leaving them to make a last stand?” Rachel checked as she mounted.