Page 164 (1/1)

"Is he safe?" I ask, twisting to see behind aze is onmore than toilet paper in his way

"Nay," is the honest, quiet response

I don't recognize his voice either

"But we e and comes for you"

"That doesn't sound like a bad idea," I h that you are alive, and so will he be I cannot return you to hietic - yet firm, youthful and confident

"Who's your father?"

"The Desert Knight"

That's not good He's ar My chances of escaping aren't proo with him, and there's nowhere for me to run in the narrow pass with steep cliffs on either side

We reach a pair of horses being held by one of our captors He motions me to one and mounts the other

I watch hi itto haul my ass on top of a horse than anyone around rip the saddle My reins are handed over to the man who brokered my freedo on, I glance back oncehe's waiting until I'm clear of the shallow valley to unleash his fury and then come killa little hurt that he acted like I'ainst his ene trot that turns into a smooth canter The man leads us out of the pass into the forests on the other side His horse takes off e hit a path through the forest, and I hold on for dear life

The forest opens to reveal a wide dirt road running atop a cliff overlooking the ocean, and I lift aze from the horse's mane to stare at the dark depths of the ocean A full h the mists overhead and reflects off the waves far below They appear black, and I'reen and blue beneath the surface of the ocean

A cold wind sweeps up the cliff and overmy breath away I shiver and huddle closer to the horse's neck, unable to taketo the horizon