Chapter 9

Arianna saw Cennai go past her in a flash as she and Iragael pushed their horses to run faster. Chief Neasan had told them that they would never make it before dark to the ancient grove near Innis Carthaig. And the Siabra owned the roads and woods at night. But Iragael would not accept that, and they had nearly killed their horses trying to get there before they lost the daylight. As it was, the sun had just sunk below the horizon, and the sky glowed pink when they reached the spot where the road was swallowed by forest. Iragael pulled his horse to a stop and peered into the shadowy wood. They dismounted and tied their foaming mounts to a limb.

"I will walk the rest of the way," he stated flatly. "I can easily hide myself. I think you should go back to Cennai. Ask the sentinel if he saw Ealayne come through there."

Arianna frowned.

"No, I think I should go with you." she said firmly.

"Ari…" Iragael began when a dagger whizzed by his head to hit a nearby tree with a thunk.

"Siabra!"Arianna hissed spinning around and drawing both long sword and falcata.

Instinctively sensing the direction of the assailer, Iragael turned and shot his bow. He saw a figure fall and then ran to where Arianna was facing two footpads.

"Go!" she yelled at him. "Find Ealayne!" She easily parried the blow of the first and made a well-placed stab at the second that sent him to his knees clutching his arm. She kicked him in the face and then used the momentum to fling herself backwards into a roll. Blades flashing, she came up and her found the throat of the first Siabra.

"I can handle these thugs!" Arianna laughed and beckoned to two more thugs who were advancing slowly towards her. "Come on then, you want to dance?" she said. She did a quick half spin, and then flipped. One of them fell as she passed by him. "One at a time now boys, one at a time," she laughed and turned to face the next one.

Iragael knew she could handle herself fine and after shouting a "go get 'em Ari!" he sprinted into the forest.

He crept from tree to tree. Keeping hidden, and using all his senses and skill available to him he slowly made his way deeper and deeper into the grove. He bent down to examine some tracks when suddenly he heard Ealayne scream.