stirrup.
" No," she yelled back. "We have a real emergency, at least eight men in tan uniforms, mounted. They attacked Master Jeramy on sight. Go to the post, warn the troops."
" That's not the way the drill is supposed to be." Kyle heaved himself up on his horse and trotted down the path.
She let Phantom walk, and catch his breath.
The clearing was small, the pursuers not in sight. Perhaps they had stopped at the river. But there was no point in staying when there was no one to bring any messages to relay onward. She walked Phantom north, back into the trees. Less underbrush, taller trees, no real concealment. Kept her head cranked around. The trotting horses made very little sound when they entered the small clearing behind her. They spotted her immediately, and charged. Phantom slid smoothly into a canter, and then flattened out to run. She reined him back a bit to keep a steady distance. They didn't know Kyle was ahead, carrying the message. The tan uniforms behind kept coming, confident of their ability to catch a heavier horse.
Did they know they'd run into a message relay system? Did they know there were troops on maneuvers ahead? Did they know how few well trained troops were ahead?
This was supposed to be practice, not the real thing!
Phantom jumped the first stream without slowing down. The second was a bit wide even for him. She tried to rein him in but he shook his head and jumped from the top of the bank to the narrow sandy shore, across the stream, and leaped up the opposite bank in three economical strides. Through more woods, and into a clearing where Kyle was gesturing and the next rider was shaking his head and they were both standing still. Phantom galloped straight for them, and the troops in the tan uniforms were only a hundred feet behind. "Run!" she yelled. She passed the relay riders, and kept going. She glanced back, saw Kyle spurring frantically after her, the other fellow on his heels, and the troops close behind them.
That was the last relay. Five miles straight to the Post, and hope like hell the officers were there and watching today.
They cleared the line of trees and Liz flattened along Phantom's neck and let him run.
At the third rolling hill she slowed him. Looked back. About a dozen troops, pulling up. Kyle still running. No sign of the other courier. She heaved a sigh, and trotted Phantom down the hill. Maybe four miles to cover, as quickly as possible, but no need to kill the horse.
He was breathing fast, and sweating but not distressed, still willing t o move out. Liz let him. He kept going, galloping right up to the Post, and the officers waiting.
Old Leegy stomped out. "You are not on this leg! What the hell do you think you are doing—showing off that horse?"
Liz raised her voice. "The end rider reported that troops in tan uniform with floppy hats killed Master Jeremy. Troops of that description pursued us and only quit when we cleared the last tree line south of here."
" Girl . . . "
Captain Alpha cut the old man off. "How many troops?"
"A dozen mounted that I saw," she panted.
The Captain spun his horse. "Form up the troops. We'll see if that's all there are or if they are scouting for a larger force. Baronet Roger, prepare to get your people behind the walls."
" Damn it all, this wasn't the schedule." Roger shoved his horse up to the captain.
" No, but we're going to react to it . . . "
Roger's sword cleared the scabbard and stabbed viciously toward the prince's neck.
Chapter Ten
Wednesday, February 25, 3493 AD
Jeramtown, Arrival
Phantom bounded forward into Roger's horse as the prince threw himself to the side. The edge of his blade slid across the captain's chest and arm. Roger slashed backhanded as he recovered, and the sword missed. Liz kicked Phantom, hoping to throw Roger further off balance. The stallion reared and struck. Roger yelled as he was knocked off.
The Prince drew his sword and the local troops shoved forward for their Baron's son.
" No," she yelled back. "We have a real emergency, at least eight men in tan uniforms, mounted. They attacked Master Jeramy on sight. Go to the post, warn the troops."
" That's not the way the drill is supposed to be." Kyle heaved himself up on his horse and trotted down the path.
She let Phantom walk, and catch his breath.
The clearing was small, the pursuers not in sight. Perhaps they had stopped at the river. But there was no point in staying when there was no one to bring any messages to relay onward. She walked Phantom north, back into the trees. Less underbrush, taller trees, no real concealment. Kept her head cranked around. The trotting horses made very little sound when they entered the small clearing behind her. They spotted her immediately, and charged. Phantom slid smoothly into a canter, and then flattened out to run. She reined him back a bit to keep a steady distance. They didn't know Kyle was ahead, carrying the message. The tan uniforms behind kept coming, confident of their ability to catch a heavier horse.
Did they know they'd run into a message relay system? Did they know there were troops on maneuvers ahead? Did they know how few well trained troops were ahead?
This was supposed to be practice, not the real thing!
Phantom jumped the first stream without slowing down. The second was a bit wide even for him. She tried to rein him in but he shook his head and jumped from the top of the bank to the narrow sandy shore, across the stream, and leaped up the opposite bank in three economical strides. Through more woods, and into a clearing where Kyle was gesturing and the next rider was shaking his head and they were both standing still. Phantom galloped straight for them, and the troops in the tan uniforms were only a hundred feet behind. "Run!" she yelled. She passed the relay riders, and kept going. She glanced back, saw Kyle spurring frantically after her, the other fellow on his heels, and the troops close behind them.
That was the last relay. Five miles straight to the Post, and hope like hell the officers were there and watching today.
They cleared the line of trees and Liz flattened along Phantom's neck and let him run.
At the third rolling hill she slowed him. Looked back. About a dozen troops, pulling up. Kyle still running. No sign of the other courier. She heaved a sigh, and trotted Phantom down the hill. Maybe four miles to cover, as quickly as possible, but no need to kill the horse.
He was breathing fast, and sweating but not distressed, still willing t o move out. Liz let him. He kept going, galloping right up to the Post, and the officers waiting.
Old Leegy stomped out. "You are not on this leg! What the hell do you think you are doing—showing off that horse?"
Liz raised her voice. "The end rider reported that troops in tan uniform with floppy hats killed Master Jeremy. Troops of that description pursued us and only quit when we cleared the last tree line south of here."
" Girl . . . "
Captain Alpha cut the old man off. "How many troops?"
"A dozen mounted that I saw," she panted.
The Captain spun his horse. "Form up the troops. We'll see if that's all there are or if they are scouting for a larger force. Baronet Roger, prepare to get your people behind the walls."
" Damn it all, this wasn't the schedule." Roger shoved his horse up to the captain.
" No, but we're going to react to it . . . "
Roger's sword cleared the scabbard and stabbed viciously toward the prince's neck.
Chapter Ten
Wednesday, February 25, 3493 AD
Jeramtown, Arrival
Phantom bounded forward into Roger's horse as the prince threw himself to the side. The edge of his blade slid across the captain's chest and arm. Roger slashed backhanded as he recovered, and the sword missed. Liz kicked Phantom, hoping to throw Roger further off balance. The stallion reared and struck. Roger yelled as he was knocked off.
The Prince drew his sword and the local troops shoved forward for their Baron's son.
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