Page 10 of Kissed By the Sun
“What's a horde?” I asked.
“It's similar to what we encountered when we were on the road and you had the protective bubble around you. It's corruption that has spread to all the fae in the area, and they're being driven to attack others.
“How far away is Duskden?” I asked.
“It's a few hours by horse. It’s also the closest they've come that I'm aware of,” he said quietly. He took a deep breath and added, “Change into your battle leathers. I'll get weapons and meet you at the front gate.”
I nodded at him as he left a few moments before I realized the problem: my battle leathers didn't fit me anymore. They had been taken in to fit the form before Wyn worked her magic. I rifled through the cupboard that was on one wall, pulling out anything that looked like it might fit me.
As I sorted through layer after layer of clothes, I realized that the only things that fit me were not appropriate for battle. It was like the last person that had stayed in this room had left behind all the garments they had worn to court, which made me wonder what had happened to them?
Without any other option, I pulled on the thickest clothes I could find, hoping that I would be able to find battle leathers elsewhere. I ran down to the armory and the practice ring where I'd been with Thorn not too long ago. Thankfully, the quartermaster was in his office.
“Excuse me, sir? Thorn is taking me out on a mission, but my battle leathers no longer fit. Are there any extras?” I asked,trying not to let the urgency of the situation influence my politeness.
“You can check the lost and found,” he said as he gestured toward a box over in the corner.
There were a surprising number of items in it. As I rushed over and sifted through them, I found a leather jerkin and some trousers, which looked like they would fit. I wasn’t holding out much hope for shoes or any actual armor, but with speed being of the essence, I would take anything that would work.
I hurried into one of the changing rooms, swiftly swapping out the court gown for the leathers. They were loose and clearly men's clothes, but they would do. I went back for a belt I thought I had seen in the chest, along with a pair of boots, which were too big, but better than court slippers.
Ready to go, I called over my shoulder, “Thank you!” The quartermaster gave me a quizzical look, and as I turned to run toward the front gate I saw him glance at the dress that I’d tossed into the lost and found chest, seeming more confused than ever.
When I got out into the courtyard, Thorn was there, along with seven other men, all warriors in their own right, all mounted on horseback.
“Do you know how to ride?” he asked.
I shook my head. Not confident enough with riding fae horses into battle when I hadn't even ridden one for a walk around an arena. I didn't know if they responded the same way human horses did, or if they were different somehow. So, I figured this was the safer bet.
“In front of me then,” he said as he extended a hand down toward me. I swung myself up, and as I landed snugly in the front part of the saddle, Thorn murmured in my ear, “Hold on tight.”
I did as I was told, twining my fingers through the horse’s mane as I remembered the speed with which the horsescould move. Our little group set off without another moment’s hesitation and we made it through the city at a brisk trot.
As soon as we were clear of the pedestrian areas, the horses leapt into a full gallop, speeding across the countryside to the point that everything blurred in my vision. I had to trust that the horse knew what it was doing because I couldn't direct it. Not that I needed to, with Thorn right behind me, but it made me wonder how he managed to keep it going in the right direction. It was something I would need to figure out eventually, but for right now, I just closed my eyes and held on.
The coarse hair of the horse's mane in my hands, and the smell of oiled leather in my nose, along with the scents of the countryside, all helped keep me anchored as I could feel the world flying by me. None of the scents were ones I was used to, minus the oiled leather. It was like a tantalizing mystery haunting me as we made our way toward Duskden.
I knew as soon as we were close because of the tang of blood in the air. The horses must have picked up on it, too, because they slowed slightly, but still covered the ground at amazing speed.
“Take this dagger; it’s no sword, but it’s better than nothing,” Thorn shouted in my ear as he held out a dagger, still in its scabbard to me.
I did so, thankful that I wasn’t going to have to fight with just my fists or scrounge for a weapon from the dead, though it wouldn’t be the first time.
“We're going to dismount, but the horse is only going to pause before running away from the battle,” Thorn said in my ear.
“We're going to dismount while it's still moving?” I asked, clarifying.
I felt his nod as he replied, “Yes. Just hold the dagger to your chest, tuck your legs up and trust me.”
A few moments passed and my anxiety grew.
“Ready?” Thorn asked though his voice was almost completely carried away by the wind before it could even reach my ears. It was mainly the rumble in his chest that let me know he had spoken.
I nodded, and pulled my legs up so my feet were almost level with my hips. I couldn't get them any higher with the saddle being the way it was and Thorn's arm in the way as well. He had wrapped it around my waist earlier, pulling me as close to him as possible. It seemed like he thought I might fall off the horse if I was left to my own devices.
His body tensed, his leg muscles straining behind me, pushing against me as he launched himself up off the horse and tucked us into a roll. With no small feat of dexterity, he landed on his shoulder, moving the two of us fluidly, as though I was barely even there before popping to his feet.
Once we were standing, he let me go and I stumbled forward. I let my arm hang down the so-called dagger almost to my knees. It was short, yes, but it would get the job done.
