Read Online Rise of the Mages (Rise of the Mages 2) by Brian W. Foster - Free Book Online
Authors: Brian W. Foster
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muttered.
No help for it but to let her tag along for the moment. His best bet was to just get on a horse and go.
Brant had chosen Honey, one of the few horses Xan recognized, for him. That worked. She wouldn’t win any races, but she also wouldn’t throw him off her back.
Dylan hopped onto his horse and followed as Brant and Lainey galloped away.
Xan struggled into the saddle and nudged Honey forward. He wobbled in the saddle until her gait smoothed. Trees blurred past him as the horse hurtled through the darkness, and still, his friends gained distance.
He opened his mouth to yell at them to slow but slammed it shut again.
Instead, he eased back in the saddle. Finding Ashley while escaping Justav seemed impossible. Where would he even start? Did his saddlebags hold the necessary food, money, or clothes? He needed all the help he could get.
On the other hand, his friends had put their lives in danger to get him out of jail, and every second they spent with him put them more at risk. If they got caught with him, nothing could be done to protect them.
Could he really live with himself if something happened to any of them? Especially his sister?
Dylan, lagging the others, disappeared around a bend.
Xan spotted a trail to the left. He tugged hard on Honey’s reins.
Rider and horse crashed into leafy blackness. The forest canopy blocked all but dim shards of light. Leaves and limbs whipped past, imparting vivid reminders of the danger he faced with each stinging strike.
His friends would be fine. All they had to do was hide until Justav left town. Mayor Williamson and Captain Reed would protect them after that.
* * *
Dylan hunched in his saddle as the road flew by.
He rode enough that he could handle galloping, but did Brant have to ride so blasted fast? Had he even considered that Xan had almost no experience with horses?
Dylan looked back to see how his friend fared. Xan still hadn’t rounded the bend. In fact, Dylan no longer heard hoofbeats behind him. Had something happened to Xan? A thrown horseshoe? Or worse, had a guardsman waylaid him?
Dylan kept glancing back.
Xan had expressed a lot of concern about Lainey being with them. He was worried about all of them being executed if caught helping him. Maybe the fool was trying to be noble. Running away on his own.
Dylan fingered his medallion. Where was the profit? Following after Xan risked everything and gained … what?
But what if he weren’t innocent?
The catcher would never give up. Xan was such an inept horseman and completely unsuited to surviving on his own. He’d be caught and would never stand up to questioning. They’d all end up with prices on their heads.
Dylan ducked his head and urged Clover forward.
* * *
The wind whipped through Brant’s hair, and he threw his head back. He lived for shit like running from guardsmen. Danger. Adventure. Speed.
He’d sure showed them up.
The militia had been out all day riding. There were so many fresh tracks even his dad wouldn’t be able to find the right ones. Every man with a decent hunting dog was in the woods.
Hoofbeats closed in on him from behind.
“Brant!”
He turned to find Dylan gaining fast.
“Xan’s not behind us!” Dylan yelled. “I think he’s run off.”
Blasted fool would probably get lost in the woods and end up circling back into town. He tugged hard on Spear’s reins. The animal skidded to a halt and sent a cloud of dust flying. Brant spun him and took off in the opposite direction.
When he caught Xan, he was going to kill him.
* * *
Xan hurtled out of control with not a clue where he went. The trail had disappeared. Honey darted every which way avoiding trees.
A limb snagged his cloak. The fabric ripped.
He hunched against the horse’s neck.
A thin branch caught him across the cheek, and he slapped his hand to the spot. No blood at least. He slowed.
Something sticky draped across his forehead. A web. Xan clawed with both hands. He swayed in the saddle,
No help for it but to let her tag along for the moment. His best bet was to just get on a horse and go.
Brant had chosen Honey, one of the few horses Xan recognized, for him. That worked. She wouldn’t win any races, but she also wouldn’t throw him off her back.
Dylan hopped onto his horse and followed as Brant and Lainey galloped away.
Xan struggled into the saddle and nudged Honey forward. He wobbled in the saddle until her gait smoothed. Trees blurred past him as the horse hurtled through the darkness, and still, his friends gained distance.
He opened his mouth to yell at them to slow but slammed it shut again.
Instead, he eased back in the saddle. Finding Ashley while escaping Justav seemed impossible. Where would he even start? Did his saddlebags hold the necessary food, money, or clothes? He needed all the help he could get.
On the other hand, his friends had put their lives in danger to get him out of jail, and every second they spent with him put them more at risk. If they got caught with him, nothing could be done to protect them.
Could he really live with himself if something happened to any of them? Especially his sister?
Dylan, lagging the others, disappeared around a bend.
Xan spotted a trail to the left. He tugged hard on Honey’s reins.
Rider and horse crashed into leafy blackness. The forest canopy blocked all but dim shards of light. Leaves and limbs whipped past, imparting vivid reminders of the danger he faced with each stinging strike.
His friends would be fine. All they had to do was hide until Justav left town. Mayor Williamson and Captain Reed would protect them after that.
* * *
Dylan hunched in his saddle as the road flew by.
He rode enough that he could handle galloping, but did Brant have to ride so blasted fast? Had he even considered that Xan had almost no experience with horses?
Dylan looked back to see how his friend fared. Xan still hadn’t rounded the bend. In fact, Dylan no longer heard hoofbeats behind him. Had something happened to Xan? A thrown horseshoe? Or worse, had a guardsman waylaid him?
Dylan kept glancing back.
Xan had expressed a lot of concern about Lainey being with them. He was worried about all of them being executed if caught helping him. Maybe the fool was trying to be noble. Running away on his own.
Dylan fingered his medallion. Where was the profit? Following after Xan risked everything and gained … what?
But what if he weren’t innocent?
The catcher would never give up. Xan was such an inept horseman and completely unsuited to surviving on his own. He’d be caught and would never stand up to questioning. They’d all end up with prices on their heads.
Dylan ducked his head and urged Clover forward.
* * *
The wind whipped through Brant’s hair, and he threw his head back. He lived for shit like running from guardsmen. Danger. Adventure. Speed.
He’d sure showed them up.
The militia had been out all day riding. There were so many fresh tracks even his dad wouldn’t be able to find the right ones. Every man with a decent hunting dog was in the woods.
Hoofbeats closed in on him from behind.
“Brant!”
He turned to find Dylan gaining fast.
“Xan’s not behind us!” Dylan yelled. “I think he’s run off.”
Blasted fool would probably get lost in the woods and end up circling back into town. He tugged hard on Spear’s reins. The animal skidded to a halt and sent a cloud of dust flying. Brant spun him and took off in the opposite direction.
When he caught Xan, he was going to kill him.
* * *
Xan hurtled out of control with not a clue where he went. The trail had disappeared. Honey darted every which way avoiding trees.
A limb snagged his cloak. The fabric ripped.
He hunched against the horse’s neck.
A thin branch caught him across the cheek, and he slapped his hand to the spot. No blood at least. He slowed.
Something sticky draped across his forehead. A web. Xan clawed with both hands. He swayed in the saddle,