A series of hard metal clicks followed, and a chorus of squeaky groans as the stall doors swung open. The horses did nothing at first, the stable entirely still.
The crowd of voices grew nearer outside.
With a frustrated glance toward the rusty lanterns hanging before each station, Kallia snapped her fingers until the fires inside the glass seared brighter with white, burning light—exploding in small, vicious shatters.
Neighs erupted like a discordant surge of violins as the horses, young and old, blew out of their stations. Covering her ears, Kallia sought refuge in Sun Gem’s stall to avoid the violent wave rushing out. The floor shook under the force of their hooves racing across the stable. Soon, the shouts outside rose from discontent to terror. Chaos.
There was no leaving the way she came. Lifting her palm to the end wall of the stable, she pulled all traces of heat lingering under her skin, bringing it to the surface in a surge against the wood.
Any remaining horses whinnied and scurried out of their stalls from the blast. Sun Gem reared up on her legs from the shock of fiery light—which left a gaping hole at the end of the stable, straight for the Dire Woods.
Kallia’s heart lifted.
“Come on!” Patting Sun Gem’s neck, she ran through, the remaining horses thundering behind. Cold fresh air hit her instantly, along with the clash of screams and harsh neighs nearby.
The cacophony faded as Kallia halted at the edge of the forest, catching her breath. The horses gleefully ran straight through with the moon guiding their path, but Kallia withered before the towering, shadowy trees. Their dark silhouettes haunted her, and her nightmares.
Nothing was here to stop her now.
No monsters or illusions, nor their maker.
Kallia clutched at the cloth in her pocket and inhaled deeply, before letting go. She took a step toward the edge—
A flash of dizziness hit her.
A pull.
Jack, calling her back. Wielding whatever hold he had on her—or was it the madness? Taunting her, already? His whisper barely reached her ears before a cold nose pressed at her back. Jolting her.
Sun Gem’s long face watched her, waiting.
Now.
Kallia gritted her teeth, another small spike of pain surged inside her head as she grabbed a chunk of Sun Gem’s thick, black mane and the front of the saddle. Foot in the stirrup, Kallia grunted as she lifted herself over. Her arms burning, legs quaking. Sun Gem didn’t even need the command of the reins to be told to go.
It was like flying. Her hair rushed behind her, her bones knocking about with each hard gallop. The shouts and hollers behind them faded as they drew deeper into the forest, until all that was left was the rustling of leaves, the steady beat of hooves, and Sun Gem’s panting.
The dizziness ebbed from Kallia’s skull, little by little, but her hands grasped the horse’s mane tightly at every jarring turn and jolt. She barely caught herself as they navigated over serpentine tree roots that seemed to slither beneath them, rocks crawling and scuttling onto their moonlit path.
A person could go mad, imagining such things. But Sun Gem charged forward, determined and confident. As if she’d never once gotten lost and wouldn’t start tonight.
It should’ve worried Kallia more, but she had no map. No hint of Glorian beyond the rise of trees around her. If she could place her faith in anything of these Woods, it was the restless horse searching for freedom just like her.
“Stop, Kallia.”
Kallia bolted upright, nearly losing balance. Her breath grew ragged as she looked around for the source. No. He’d never ventured out this far without—
“Here, I give you everything.”
Memories of his voice blew in like a breeze that kissed roughly against her jaw. Wrapped around her neck, and tightened.
“Is that not enough?”
A sob ripped from her. Sun Gem huffed out sharply at the falter in her grip of the reins, the limpness of her legs. Irritated. They must’ve been nearing the border wall of Glorian from her impatience, or were nowhere close. It was hard to tell, as Jack’s words teased her. Forcing her to listen, willing her to stop.
Inhaling deeply, Kallia gave a hearty pat to Sun Gem before continuing on. Another harsh breeze swept through, carrying more of Jack.
“Glorian is not the kind of place for people like you or me.”
She leaned forward as they picked up speed, a sheen of sweat coating the back of her neck. Her legs burning, heart thundering.