heal more quickly.”
“No.”
Khirro struggled to a sitting position, grimacing at the pain of his shredded muscle as he reached beneath his tunic and brought out the vial, showing it to everyone.
“Bandage it and this will do the rest.”
Elyea looked at him questioningly, but Athryn simply nodded and tended the wound. Relieved, Khirro remembered the uncomfortable feeling when Bale healed him with magic. The healing power of the king’s blood was more comfortable. Shyn approached Ghaul, leaving the others to care for Khirro.
“How did this happen?” He held his sword by his side; Ghaul didn’t reach for his weapon.
“He crossed in front of my bow,” Ghaul said, one side of his mouth curling in a smug smile. “The rain made my fingers slick and my hold on the arrow slipped. An accident.”
Elyea paused in bandaging Khirro’s shoulder.
“What kind of soldier can’t keep hold of his arrow?” she demanded.
Ghaul only shrugged in answer. Shyn looked at Khirro then back at Ghaul.
“Had he not stepped in front of you, that arrow would likely be embedded in my chest.”
“Perhaps.”
Shyn moved a step closer and Ghaul reached for his own sword, but the border guard moved quickly, grabbing his wrist and pulling him close so they stood chest to chest. Taller than Ghaul by almost six inches, Shyn looked down into his eyes.
“Were we not being followed, we would settle this right now.”
They looked at the tall soldier in surprise, except Maes who busied himself wiping the dirt from Khirro’s face.
“What?” Khirro asked pushing the little man’s hand away.
“Followed by whom?” Athryn added.
“A one-eyed man follows, a half-day’s ride behind. There are soldiers another day or so behind him.” Shyn turned his back on Ghaul and mounted the black horse. “We must make haste or he’ll be upon us.”
“How do you know this?” Ghaul asked, suspicion plain in his voice.
“I saw him. He wears the armor of a moneysword. If it’s who I think, we’re better not to meet him.”
“Suath,” Athryn said under his breath as he finished with Khirro’s wound. “There could be none more dangerous on our trail.”
They moved quickly, fixing their supplies to the mounts. Khirro helped, though his wound made it difficult. It would feel better soon, he knew, but would be a day or more before he could use his arm. The second time his pack slipped from his grasp, Ghaul caught it and helped him.
“I didn’t intend the arrow for you,” he said in a voice quiet enough only the two of them could hear.
Khirro looked into his eyes, discerning nothing from them. Was this his apology? Did he mean the rain caused his grip to slip? No matter who he pierced with the arrow, it was inexcusable if done on purpose—they’d agreed not to kill Shyn if he returned in good faith. Unsure of Ghaul’s meaning and motives, Khirro only nodded in response. This man had kept him alive when he wouldn’t have survived on his own, for that he owed him the benefit of the doubt. Ghaul offered his hand and helped Khirro climb onto the chestnut horse.
“Who is this Suath?” Elyea asked as they set out.
“A murderer of women and children,” Shyn said gravely. “A wretch. A devil disguised in the skin of a man.”
“Why would he follow us?” Khirro’s voice was breathy and weak with pain. He held the reins delicately with his right hand and held the vial against his wound with the other.
“Men like Suath do nothing without payment in gold,” Shyn said. “Someone’s paid him to follow us.”
“But who?”
“Take your pick,” Ghaul said.
They formed a rough line with Shyn leading the way and Ghaul at the rear, undoubtedly to keep an eye on Shyn. Khirro sat in the middle, with Athryn and Maes ahead and Elyea behind.
“The soldiers following Suath are Erechanian,” Shyn said over his shoulder. “He may be scouting for them.”
“Or they could be chasing him,” Athryn added without conviction.
Ghaul laughed. “I think it best we don’t find out.”
“Ghaul’s right. Our best chance is to be asea before we’re caught.” Shyn pointed ahead of them. “We are only a few days ride from the port of Sheldive. If we reach it and get a boat before he finds us, we should be fine.”
“How do you know we need to get asea?” Ghaul asked. “Khirro?”
He’d revealed their journey during one of his watches while Shyn was bound to a tree, but now he remained silent, feigning exhaustion from his wound. Ghaul let the subject go, though Khirro was sure it would