And, deep in the woods, the clop of hooves.
She opened her eyes, still attuned to the sound of the hooves and started forward at a furious pace. Hunters tended to come through the forest at night searching for their prey. She made it her mission to run off these pesky hunters. They weren’t wanted here.
Ardan stomped through the forest, his noisy steps scaring off any animals. Snow wasn’t used to all the noise of snapping sticks and crunching leaves. Her steps were stealthier and placed with purpose. Irritation clawed through her that he insisted on following her.
Up ahead was the clearing where she had rescued the unicorn not so long ago. There was no unicorn or hunter there tonight.
“Shouldn’t we have a torch or something?” As he said it, he stumbled over a fallen log.
“I can see fine.”
Indeed, her eyes adjusted to the nighttime shadows with ease. Because she was so much a part of this world, she was at home. With no moon, though, it was quite dark. She suppressed a snicker at the thought of Ardan having trouble seeing. Likely why he continued to make so much noise.
Faradill was past the clearing, but the horse’s hooves she heard came from the south. She stopped there and waited, stretching her senses to attune to the world around her. It was definitely a horse. Not a unicorn.
Ardan stopped next to her, looking from the clearing to her and back again.
“What is it?” he whispered.
“Someone is coming.”
“How do you know?”
“I can sense it.”
Again, his gaze swiveled from her to the clearing and back again. “You can?”
“Yes. Now shh.”
She waited there, her hands clenched at her side in preparation to use whatever means necessary to stop the intruder.
The horse came into view then at a slow walk. The man on his back was nothing but a silhouette against the backdrop of the forest night. He held the reins loosely in one hand as though he were on an evening ride without a care in the world. He rode through the clearing northward. When he was closer, she stepped into his line of sight, spooking the horse. It whinnied its distress.
The man, startled, pulled the horse to a stop. “Whoa, girl.”
“Who are you and what are you doing in these woods?” Snow demanded.
He sat tall and still in the saddle. Shadows concealed his face. “I’m passing through, my lady. That’s all.”
“Passing through? No one passes through these woods.”
Even as she said it, she recalled Master Harwin’s words of travelers who once came through these woods looking for respite. Was this man one of those?
“Well, I am.” There was a distinct smile in his voice.
“At this time of night?” she asked.
Ardan stepped up next to her, his shimmering blade in his hand. She hadn’t heard him move, nor did she realize he had unsheathed the dagger. The stranger remained still in the saddle for a long moment.
“Yes, my lady. I was hoping to find a place to stop and rest the horse and myself for the night.”
“There is no place to stop here,” she said, her voice hard and unforgiving. “You should turn back.”
He gave a small laugh. “I’m afraid I can’t do that.” He inched the horse closer to the two of them. “You have an interesting blade there, my lord.”
“I am no lord,” Ardan said. “And this is an enchanted blade.”
“Indeed?” The man sounded intrigued. Then he dismounted the horse, coming around the front and holding onto the reins. He walked toward the two of them. “May I see it?”
