who smiled back at him.
"Not enjoying the ride, eh?" Stracker baited.
"Not one bit of it, least of all the company."
"Look at it this way, priest. Your mother's probably dead by now so your sister's presence is no longer essential. Plus, as you haven't seen her in anni, it wouldn't matter if she were dead too." His green tatua moved on one side of his face as he lifted a lip in a cruel smirk.
Kilt stared at the general. "One day I'll make you regret saying that."
Stracker made a tutting sound. "Threats of violence. And from a man of Lo. Shame on you, priest."
Kilt knew Stracker had probably seen through his disguise right away, but at least the general had no idea of his true identity. The problem was, he couldn't use his advantage because none of his own men knew where he was. And on top of that, his secret was in danger of being discovered...he couldn't risk that again, not yet. He was so out of practice, too; using his gift felt clumsy and cumbersome. He never thought he would have to consider its presence again, but now, in the space of a day, he had called on it twice. Would it ever leave again?
Kilt twisted in the saddle, trying to distance himself from the still sneering general, when a sound like a thousand thunderclaps exploded on his right, blue flames erupting from the trees. The horses screamed and reared. Kilt was aware of Vulpan falling off his horse, and an arrow striking a nearby soldier in the chest. He was struggling to wrestle his horse under control when a second explosion sounded to the left and this time all the horses panicked as one. Kilt definitely saw a second guard go down, an arrow pointing out of his chest, and suddenly everything fell into place. Jewd was here! Lo bless his disobedient but loyal heart. And Jewd would need his horse.
Pandemonium ensued and he lost his sense of direction as the horse twisted beneath him, smoke all around them. As Kilt struggled to maintain his grip on the reins, Stracker's ugly face leered out of the smoke. He was growling something unintelligible and then he was grabbing for Kilt's reins. Kilt tried to fight him off but the general was much stronger and a far more able horse man, than he. Leaning forward, Straker slapped Kilt's horse's rump and the animal leaped forward in a freshly panicked gallop. Kilt could see Stracker in front of him as they cleared the smoke, the general dragging Kilt's horse by its reins. It was all Kilt could do to keep his seat.
"You're coming with me, priest!" Stracker howled.
Kilt could hear Vulpan's high pitched-shrieks and hoped one of the arrows would hit home, into his throat, and end the vile man's life. He could see nothing over his shoulder, bent low like this as he gripped the horse's mane. Without reins he felt helpless. He looked toward the general and was surprised to see that Stracker was suddenly no longer in front of him. And then he too was falling.
Leo's heart was hammering but he was proud that although internally he was churning, his arms and legs still obeyed him calmly. Jewd's witchflame had been ignited first and Leo had counted dutifully to twenty before he ignited his own. Without pausing to watch its effects, he had emerged from behind the large tree and loosed his arrows with calm efficiency. The smoke had hampered his aim but he knew one guard had taken a shot high in his chest and would be unlikely to live to tell the tale. Another had got an arrow embedded in his leg and he hoped that the third might have been fatally wounded, though he couldn't be sure.
He despised himself for not aiming for General Stracker - but he couldn't see the general and Jewd had urged him to get as many soldiers out of contention as possible. Now he was running toward one of the loose horses. From the corner of his eye he saw two people bolting, and although one was definitely Stracker, he couldn't tell if the other was Kilt.
He could hear his own breath, was aware of his steps thumping over the grass. He crashed through the low hedge-row and grasped for the panicked horse's reins. Its eyes were wide and terrified.
Suddenly the Wikken stumbled through the clearing smoke, blinking and cursing. Without thinking, Leo dragged Faeroe from its scabbard and