Read Online Infinite Blue Heaven - A King and A Queen by Lazlo Ferran - Free Book Online

been charged with following the horse tracks and he stood some one hundred paces off to our left, watching us.
    “If he thinks we might follow him, there is only one way we will catch him.” said Meth. “A few of us must take all the horses, with light loads, and change horses frequently.”
    I nodded.
    “Ashan and Dimez, myself, Geb and yourself, along with Machredir, my best tracker. There are fourteen of us so that is two horses each and two spares.”
    “Ochnud. I place you in charge of the men here. Soon after we have left, send two of your men after us, they will recover the horses, we leave behind. We will return here when we have him, or,” he said, “if we have lost him. Now, let us lighten the loads as much as possible. Keep your helmets and your swords. Leave behind shields, daggers, armour or any other items, except water.”
    We left at a fast gallop, stopping occasionally, to search for tracks. For the most part we were traveling through scrub so the tracks were easy to spot, even at full gallop. Evidently, the man had favoured speed over caution, perhaps thinking pursuit was less likely.
    As the Sun dipped below the hills, we left the first horses covered in foamy sweat and with shivering flanks. We guessed our prey’d had perhaps ten hours head start on us and now perhaps five. He did not have spare horses and would stop occasionally and not push his horse so hard.
    As it became dark we had a decision to make, whether to go on by night, or stop. Some were for going on and some against. Geb was worried we would miss the trail.
    “But if we lose it, we simply go back.” said Machredir.
    “We must go on. There is nothing to lose. Even if we only gain half of a mile, this may be crucial.” said Meth.
    “I agree.” I said.
    We went on, slowly, on foot, to reduce noise, in case we should come across him, asleep in his blankets. By dawn, weary and hungry, will were still following his trail. We were now on the very edge of the desert, dunes in this part thrown up by the wind passing between two high hills behind us. This was good luck. On the sand, he was easier to follow. We mounted up and trotted on. Shortly after dawn, we came across the remains of a fire.
    “He had stopped her for a meal.” said Machredir.
    “How long ago did he leave?” asked Meth.
    Machredir, turned over the embers and looked at the charred twigs still remaining. He found a tiny piece of meat and smelled it. He let his breath out in a big sigh.
    “Hard to say. There are not many flies this early in the day. But I would guess not more than five hours.”
    “Good!” said Meth. “Mount up!” he called.
    “Wait!” called Machredir. He stooped down over the horse shoe marks left by our prey’s horse. He crawled forwards following them, sometimes putting his face right on the marks.
    “His horse is slightly lame!” he called out, jubilant.
    “Perhaps that is why he stopped.” said Geb. “To give his horse time to recover.”
    It was another piece of good luck.
    Machredir mounted up and we rode on, the sun burning into the back of our necks. The sand reflected the heat and it hurt our eyes. On the distant horizon, when we reached the top of dunes, all we could see was a heat haze.
    “There!” It was Geb. At around midday, when most of us were starting to roll in our saddles with exhaustion, his keen eyes had seen something. He stood high in his stirrups, his horse atop a high dune, and he pointed straight ahead. “About two miles. I saw him. He is barely moving. He is leading his horse.”
    “But what is he doing out here?” said Meth. “And where is he going?” These were the obvious questions.
    “He is heading towards Korim’s camp.” I offered.
    “He couldn’t possibly hope to make it!” said Geb.
    “Perhaps.” I said.
    As we finally reached the top of the dune, behind the man, Meth called to him. “Stop!”
    The man swung around and shielded his eyes.
    “Who are you?”
    “Let us try something.”