also meant to cause him constant pain. A cruel practice that made Eva want to throat punch whoever had come up with it.
Two men rounded the boulder on foot. They were dressed like Trateri, but leading horses Eva knew at a glance weren't Trateri horses. After a year caring for Hardwick’s herd, she knew the difference. These were closer to the hardier mountain ponies of the Highlands, a sturdy breed but slow as molasses traveling uphill during winter.
The horses were short and squat, their coats still possessing the slightest heaviness from winter. Their owners were preoccupied with following the tracks in the dirt and mud, only lifting their heads at the last second.
"This is where you ran off to. I’m sure Pierce will make you pay for that later," the first said.
The second man elbowed the first, tilting his chin at Eva, when the first glared. Both stilled at the sight of her standing beside the mythological.
They glanced around, ensuring Eva was alone. The taller one grinned at the shorter one before addressing Eva, "What are you doing out here?"
"Why don’t you step this way?" the shorter one said as he adjusted himself suggestively.
Eva's lip curled. Definitely not Trateri. Their behavior confirmed it.
"What are you doing with that horse?" the tall one asked suspiciously, finally noticing the knife in Eva's hand. She hadn't paused in her effort to cut away the net. "Don't go getting any ideas. That monster is property of the Trateri."
"Is that so?" Eva asked.
These guys hadn't done their research. Fallon and Shea had banned hunting of the winged horses. If any Trateri was caught trying to capture one, they would face a traitor's reward. It wasn't pretty.
Eva had only seen it once and she still had nightmares.
The winged horses had helped Shea during her adventure to the heart of the Badlands. Even if they hadn't, Eva didn't think Fallon would have tried to capture the magnificent creatures. They were too tempting as an ally.
It was hard to convince someone to work by your side when you were guilty of enslaving half of their race.
The fact the two men didn't know something so simple made Eva relax. It meant her guess earlier was correct. These were Highlanders.
"It is so, and unless you want us punishing you for your disobedience, you'll come over here right now," the shorter one ordered. "I've got something you can help me with."
Eva's let her silence answer for her. No need to get lippy when her actions would speak plenty loud enough soon.
"Hey! Are you stupid or something?" the shorter one shouted.
Eva shot them a look, unable to hide her derision. Almost through.
She slid a glance at Caia, standing protectively next to Eva. The dappled gray was smaller than the mythological at her side, but she was still taller than the men's two mountain ponies.
More importantly, she was descended from a long line of war horses.
"Forget this," the shorter one said, starting forward. "She's an insignificant girl. We can take what we want."
"Caia, forget everything I said about biting."
"What?" the short man asked.
The sound Caia made was gleeful as she reared. A scream ripped from her throat. Her front hooves hit the ground and she charged. The men dove out of her way, but Caia was faster. She whirled, lifting her legs high as she tried to stomp the shorter of the two into the ground.
Eva would have snickered at the high-pitched screams if the situation hadn't been so dire.
The taller of the two found his feet, charging toward her. Desperation lent Eva strength. The rope split and she jerked at the netting around the mythological’s wings.
A hard arm grabbed her around the waist, yanking her back. The netting came with her.
"What have you done?" the tall man shouted. He screamed at his friend. "Quit playing with that horse. He's almost free."
Eva sagged in the tall man's hold, a nasty smile on her face. "If I was you, I'd run very far, very fast. If he doesn't kill you, the Trateri most certainly will."
The mythological busied himself shaking free of the rest of the netting.
"Fuck you. I'm not playing. This horse is trying to kill me!" The shorter man scooted on his back as Caia chased him. He might not be playing with her, but she was certainly having fun playing with him.
Caia grabbed one of the man's pant legs and dragged him across the ground like a dog with a bone.
"You like him so much. You can be the first one he