BloodLust (Rise of the Iliri Book 1) (31 page)

Chapter 36

"We need to move!" LT ordered.

Cyno shoved the documents back into the crates, securing the lids tightly.  The Blades spun their horses in place, hands on their weapons, eyes scanning the trees around them.  Sal's ears flicked behind her and she heard it again.  The sound may have been the step of a horse or it could have just been a branch blowing in the gentle breeze.  She breathed in but could only smell the anxiety of her brothers in arms.

The oxen will be too slow
, she thought to Jase.  Reaching behind her, she grabbed the horse's picket line from her pack and moved her mare up beside the wagon.  "Jase," she called, throwing the rope at him when he looked up. 
Tie them together, we'll throw it on Arden.

What about you?
he asked.

Raven can carry double. 

He nodded and untied Raven from the back of the wagon, tossing her the reins, then turned his attention to tying knots.  Sal moved to Raven's back and pulled Arden to her side, moving as close to the wagon as possible.

"We need ta get the packs on a horse.  We'll move too slow otherwise," Cyno said to Razor.

He nodded, but Cyno had already started lifting the crates onto Arden.  He balanced them as evenly as he could, securing the ropes to the rings on the saddle.  Razor moved to his gelding's side and began tightening his girth, keeping one eye on the assassins.  The Blades closed in around them, unwilling to leave any of their unit behind, but anxious to be on the move.

"Zep?" Cyno called.

"Yeah?"

"Take Arden, I'll get Sal."

Zep pushed Cessa close enough to grab the spotted mare's reins.  Sal shifted back on Raven's hip and Cyno leapt in front of her, awkwardly making his way into the saddle.  He nodded for Sal to get comfortable.

When they were astride, LT said, "Good call, Cyno."

He shrugged and turned Raven into the trees.  "Was Sal's idea."

She kept her ears mobile, twisting and turning them for a sign of their pursuit while the Black Blades made their way into the wilderness.  She sucked in deep breaths, tasting the scent carefully as she clung to Cyno's waist.  Whoever was after them was good.  She only caught a hint of something, but not enough for her to feel any wiser.

Ravens?
she asked them.

Shit,
Arctic thought, squeezing Bazya into a trot.

Terrans,
Blaec replied tensely, matching the pace. 
They fletch their arrows with raven feathers.  What else?  Anything you get... what else, Sal?

She inhaled deeply and flicked her ears around again.  The sound of the horses' hooves muffled anything she may have heard, but a strange scent teased the edge of her senses.

I smell something, but I don't know what it is.

Describe it,
Zep suggested, yanking Arden between a pair of trees.

She searched her mind for the right words, but couldn't find anything.  The concern flowing from the men made her feel rushed. 
Fuck it.  Blaec, here.  S
he threw the memory of the scent at him.

Shit,
Shift thought, looking back wide eyed while he wove Boo between the trees. 
You shouldn't be able to do that!  How did you do that?  None of us can pass memories without touching!

She just did it,
Cyno said, gesturing to Blaec staring blankly at Scorch's shoulder. 

She smelled oranges,
Blaec told them.

Fuck,
Zep thought, and the others agreed.

It's Black Widows,
Arctic told Sal. 
Their resin smells like citrus.  How close are they?

I don't know.

Sal,
he demanded, his concern tinting his mental voice. 
How close?

She inhaled again. 
They're gaining.

I'd rather lose the horses than any of you,
LT snapped in their heads, thinking of their destination. 
So move!  Two clicks.  Go!

They put their heels to their mounts.  A full speed retreat through the woods was very different from a leisurely canter.  Trees seemed to appear under the horse's legs as they ran.  Leaves hid traps that could break their legs.  The Escean foothills were not the most predictable footing.  Each stride became a nightmare.

Bazya stumbled, throwing Arctic against her neck, but recovered.  Arden followed on the wrong side of a tree, pulling her rein from Zep's hand, forcing him to circle around to catch her.  Raven jumped a downed tree and only Sal's grip on Cyno's waist kept her on the horse's back.

The noise of their mount's crashing hooves almost covered the sound.  Almost.  Sal heard the snort of a horse well behind her and snapped her head around.  Sunlight flicked off a pale red hide then vanished into the undergrowth.  She sent a warning to the men as she reached for the crossbow poking her leg from the back of the saddle.  Jase's quiver was strapped to his back, pressing into her chest.  She grabbed a bolt and loaded the weapon.  It wasn't easy to do while the horse bounced her around.

In only a few strides she saw it again.  Leaning low on his mount's neck, the soldier was clad in black leather.  His head was bare, and she could see his grimace, white teeth etched against his dark skin. 

They're on us!
she warned.

Blaec glanced over his shoulder. 
Do what you can.  We need to get to the creek bed!

Sal shifted her grip on Cyno then leaned back.  Watching between trees, she waited.  When a man appeared, she lifted her arm and loosed.  The bolt buried itself in his neck, his cry causing the Blades to look back.

One down,
she said,
but there's more.

Good,
Arctic thought. 
Pick 'em off, Sal.  Lame the horses, kill the riders, I don't care, just make an opening!

She pushed her thighs closer to Cyno and wedged the crossbow against her chest, sending an acknowledgment across the link while she grabbed another bolt. 
Keep us at the back,
she thought.

Can do, kitten,
he said, lifting the reins. 

Raven collected, falling behind the other horses, then surged forward.  Sal swayed on the slick hair but Jase grabbed her leg until she was steady.  This time, the Black Widows came at them in a group.  Sal spotted the first horse and loosed, the bolt sinking deep into the flesh behind its jaw.  It reared in its tracks and she thought it was going to throw itself over, but trees obscured her view.  She reloaded as fast as she could, pointing across her body. 

Intent on the man before him, the Terran didn't notice Sal's weapon.  She aimed for his throat, just as Raven jumped a cluster of brush.  The shot went wild, hitting his horse's foreleg instead.  The poor animal staggered, taking only two steps before carrying the leg and losing speed.

She grabbed another bolt. 
Three,
she counted, pleased.

Her neck and back were starting to ache from contorting while trying to balance.  She turned again and saw a soldier grin as he raised his own crossbow.  Panic flared in her head and time slowed to a crawl.  Her body wanted to dodge but Cyno's unprotected back would take the hit if she did.  While she watched the man's finger close on the trigger, Sal aimed.  Their eyes met, and she smiled as she shifted to cover her partner and squeezed the release.

Searing pain lanced through her back, making Sal gasp.  Her fingers dug into Jase's side as her shoulder went strangely numb.  Her bolt had lodged deep in the man's skull.  When she looked again, he tumbled from his horse, dead.

Sal?!
Jase asked, tilting his head over his shoulder.

Don't fucking stop!
She screamed at his mind.

An intense warmth spread down her back.  Her pupils dilated, and her senses sharpened, but her left arm grew weaker by the second.  She struggled to load the crossbow yet again, her fingers not obeying the commands.  Growling, she forced the bolt into the rail, unwilling to let the arrow in her back slow her. 

Sal looked for another target.  Shooting pain lanced down her spine and up into her jaw.  She leaned into it and took aim.  They were keeping back, now, but the terrain grew more difficult, making the shots even harder.  She squeezed off another and heard a horse scream as her world seemed to drop out from under her.  Raven staggered and caught herself, but Sal was thrown into Jase's back.  Instinctually, she grabbed at him.  When her left arm failed her, the right took over.  The crossbow tumbled to the ground and Sal tilted precariously on the horse's back. 

Go, Jase, just go.  I lost the bow.

Ya hit?
he asked.

Yeah.  Just go, killer.

He went.  Raven dug deep into the ground, each step like fire up Sal's spine.  She shoved her head into his shoulder and groaned, but clung tightly.  The Black Blades pulled closer, following Arctic as they hit a path then slid down into the creek bed.

We've been here before,
Zep said, looking around.

Yeah,
LT agreed. 
There should be a set of caves close by.

The Rokish assassins?
Risk asked.

Yeah.

I remember,
Risk said.
This way. 
He turned Phoenix upstream. 

The water splashed noisily but hid their tracks.  Sal tried to find any hint of the Black Widow Company, but got nothing.  It wasn't long before the water in the creek sloshed against their feet, well over the horses' knees.  Soaked, they moved onto the far bank, into a stand of evergreens.  A small opening brought smiles to the faces of the Black Blades.  All except Zep.

Guys, I'm useless,
he warned them as he slid from Cessa's back.

We've done this before,
Arctic reminded him. 
You just have to trust us.

With my life,
Zep agreed.  There was no hint of joking in his voice.

The rest followed suit, dismounting and moving their horses into the small cave.  Cyno hopped down from Raven then reached up, pulling Sal into his arms.  LT saw, and rushed to her side.

You're hit?

Yeah.

Get in there,
Blaec ordered. 
Risk, Sal needs you.

Once inside, the ground sloped down steeply and the walls opened up.  Arctic moved to Zep's side, resting his hand on his shoulder, and Sal staggered in behind them.  Well inside the cave, she stopped and struggled to reach the bolt in her back, panting at the pain.

I need one of you to pull this,
she snapped. 
I can't reach it.

Jase turned and forcefully shoved her against the wall, holding her face against the stone with his forearm, his hip pressing into her back.  Sal sucked in a breath and tried to relax, knowing what came next.  He leaned close, his breath against her neck, and paused.

Ya in the 'lust?
he asked, his thoughts for her mind alone.

Yes. 
Sal looked at him over her shoulder.

Good,
he purred,
tha' makes this easier.

He bit her neck.  His teeth sank into her flesh and Sal moaned softly, her eyes closing in pleasure when he shoved her against the rock even harder.  She began to melt into the strength of him, then screamed as pure pain tore at her body.  The sudden shock of it gave her the power to push Jase off and she spun to face him, her teeth bared, her ears pinned close to her head.

He smiled at her and held the bloody bolt between them for explanation. 
It hurts less if ya do na struggle.

He tossed it on the ground and Risk moved cautiously to her side.  She nodded and offered him her hand but he looked quickly to Cyno and LT before taking it.  When they made no move to stop him, he wrapped his fingers around hers, closed his eyes, and exhaled.

Sal clenched her teeth, expecting the pain this time.  Cold fire traced up her back and she reached for the wall behind her.  Just as her hand met the damp rock, the pain receded and Sal pulled in a long slow breath, staggering.  Stretching her arm, it moved like she expected.