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“Hold the balance strap if you need to,” Estora said

“This is unsettling,” Karigan rabbing the balance strap with her right “I can’t ride the whole time like this”

“You’ll do fine,” Estora said, but it ca more like a question

“Such confidence” To Fergal, Karigan said, “Give et the attention of those searchers After that, you will have to gauge when it’s best to leave the cave and h”

He nodded once and looked at his feet

“Godspeed,” Karigan said, and she clucked Falan toward the cave entrance, letting out a little “whoops!” when the mare lurched forward and unsettled her center of balance

“Godspeed,” Estora whispered

They watched her guide Falan away from the cave and down into the woods, which soon absorbed her They waitedbeca out in the forest, followed by the shouts of men

“There she is!” one cried

Estora bit her bottoht

“I don’t think she’ll hts

Estora started at his pronounce?”

“I–I saw death around her”

“What?”

“When…when my ability came When ere in Mirwellton I saw darkness around her, and wings I’m sure it meant death”

Estora felt herself blanche “Why on Earth didn’t you say anything?”

Fergal gazed up at her looking haunted and very young “It wouldn’t have changed her one anyway”

Truer words could not have been spoken, and Estora treain Oh, Karigan, why do you do these things?

“We’d best al said He’d been ordered not to refer to her as Lady Estora in public, but as Rider Esther if any nah to Estora to reh to not attract attention “We’d best ain us”

He was right, and Estora did as he instructed, struggling to entle her vision didn’t help racelessly into the saddle Getting the saber tangled between her legs did not help Like sidesaddle for Karigan, riding astride was going to be a trial for Estora She was going to be very sore, and very humbled, by day’s end