Their horses’ hooves ate up the frozen roadway beneath them for the next two miles before Thordin’s screamed and threw him. As he somersaulted ass over teakettle through the air, he swore loudly, wondering in that fraction of a second before he was rudely introduced to the ground what the hell had made his horse behave like that.
Then he hit the ground with a bone-jarring crash and blacked out for a moment, coming to in time to hear Thom shouting for everyone to draw their weapons and draw them now.
“They’re coming from the left! Brace and hold!”
Ribs aching and head ringing, Thordin heaved himself over and onto his side, staring through the sparse branches of the bush he’d landed in. He could see eyes in the darkness, glowing dots of sickly green-gold light that made his stomach heave.
Oh hellfire.
“Light them up, Rory,” he wheezed, then coughed and spat, trying again. “Light them up!”
Rory darted a look in his direction, then threw himself from the saddle and walked two strides from the others, a glow already beginning to wreath his hands and arms.
“Rory! What are you doing?” Jacqueline yelled. She must not have heard Thordin’s weak shout. She was further away than the rest, riding at the rear of the group.
“Dealing with a problem!”
Rory unleashed a gout of flame toward those eyes that glowed in the darkness and was rewarded with howls of pain. Thordin started to struggle to his feet as Thom swung down from his saddle.
“Keep riding, Jac,” Thom barked. “You and Cameron keep riding! We’ll hold them here.”
“But Thordin—“
“I’m fine,” Thordin roared. “Now ride, damn you!” He loosed his axe from the sling across his back and waded toward the screaming skinwalkers. “You’re the only hope he’s got now.”
Jacqueline gave him a terrified look, then dug her heels into her horse’s sides and plunged into the night.
Thanks for the update. I hope you are well and rested. It’s about hibernation time for me.