Essa glanced back over his shoulder. The Mercian camp had long since disappeared from site but he still felt uneasy. He could feel ivy green eyes of Wulf boring into the back of his neck. Wulf was not daft and he had noticed Essa looking back every few hours. Essa turned back and saw those deep eyes frowning at him in curiosity. It suddenly struck Essa, in some wild moment, just how deep they were. Then he felt a pang for Lark and his mind went fuzzy.
"Why do you keep looking back like that?" Wulf's voice was full of suspicion
"I was just working out how far we had rode" Essa improvised, now realising that they had both brought their horses to a complete stop.
Wulf's brow furrowed further, surveying Essa's expression. He knew Essa was lying and trying to work out why. Essa's stomach churned horribly. This really was an overly risky plan. If only he had done as Egric had instructed, he could be in the village, laughing with Lark by the fire...
"Well we'll get nowhere if we aren't moving" Wulf turned his face away and called his horse to walk on. Essa waited a moment, confused as to why he had not been questioned further. He watched the long dark hair bounce on the Mercian's shoulders as he rode down the winding path into the trees.
He whistled to Fenrir and she appeared from behind a bush We must be going now girl. Her tail wagged happily I need you on this journey. She walked over to horse and looked up at Essa expectantly Well if we are going, why are you not moving?. Essa smiled to himself and willed his horse on so that they followed at the pace of Wulf.