"Hoping," I agreed. "And maybe we can back up a little faster?"
But with only a few more people still waiting their turn to make it through Torian's gate, the next group of riders rushed up. These, however, dismounted before they got close. One pulled a sword, another had a bow, and the third was wielding some weapon I didn't know the name for.
"A fucking morning star," Keir grumbled. "Of course it would have one."
"Do not," Hawke warned, "let that thing hit you. The ball at the end will break every bone you have."
And then I heard it. "Ride with me."
I spun to see the Huntsman walking toward us from the other side. "Guys!"
"Back to the gate!" Keir demanded, thrusting out an arm to all but force me back.
"Hunt!" Jack cried, darting out of the sky towards the Huntsman to claw at his face.
The grey, desiccated man swiped the bird away like he was a mere fly. "Ride with me, le Fae." And the other hunters paused, letting their leader take control.
"Go," I told Torian, pausing my retreat.
The Huntsman smiled.
"I didn't think you were supposed to talk," I yelled at him.
He pulled his sword, letting the tip drop to drag across the dampened earth. "The Hunt needs more riders. I see you. I can use you."
"Yeah?" I asked, lifting my sword. "Do you see my steel too? I won't let you take my friends!"
"They," he said, looking over at each, one after the other, "are not on my list."
"Keir?" I asked, raising my voice.
"Not complaining," Keir said.
"He is not a subject of the Queen," the Huntsman said. "Nor the jevadu." His cold, dead eyes moved again. "The Summer Prince is safe from me."
"I order you to leave here," Torian yelled.
"I do not take orders from you, but I vowed not to cause you harm."
"He's closing in!" Keir warned us, sounding just a little freaked out. "Don't let them cut us off!"
But Hawke had some good news. "Gate's clear!" he yelled.
"Go!" Torian ordered.
That was all Keir needed to hear. Grabbing me, he slung me back, using enough strength that my only options were to go with it or slip on the wet ground. I turned, hoping to keep my balance and realized just how close we'd gotten to the gate with our backwards retreat. It took me two steps and I passed through the gate, staggering out into the very dry and rather empty main office.
Keir came through next, hooking an arm around to me to guide me even further away. When Hawke burst through with his wings out, I immediately understood why. Like this, he took up a lot of room, but all of us paused.
Seconds felt like heartbeats as we waited. Just when I was sure Torian wasn't going to make it - when I was ready to rush back out there and help him - the Summer Prince walked through his gate and waved it away casually.
"What the fuck, Tor?" Keir snapped. "Did you stay for dinner with the man?"
"He said," Torian told us, "that he doesn't take orders from me. I needed more, so I asked before leaving." And he smiled. "He will take my prisoners, and Aspen needs us."
That was all I needed to hear. Turning, I hit the door hard and stormed into the hall to hear yelling. It came from close by - maybe the atrium? As I marched, the guys were right behind me. When someone began yelling - a man's voice I didn't recognize - I broke into a jog.
"Get your hands off my son!" the man screamed, sounding completely panicked.
