I react quickly, Conjuring a large, weighty hammer and bring it down on the wooden support, revealing three men with Conjured spears stabbing at a horse. With all the noise the beast makes, they do not notice the hole. I scan the tannery quickly, spotting the vat of oil used as tanning agent. I Conjure a gauntlet on my hand, making sure it covers my fingers, and light the last remaining ball of pine needles with the Firesteel, throwing it into the vat. A massive plume of smoke takes the room in an instant; the men begin to cough and splutter and the horses sway back and forth, knocking tanning racks over and spread more fuel for the growing fire. I kick the hole larger, enough that I can lower myself inside. I Conjure a mask over my face, making the visor as clear as I can, entering the smoke. I move through it like a ghost, Conjuring a dagger and planting it into the spine of one of the men as he flails about for the door. The fire in the corner grows; spreading to the thatch around it, even starting to singe the wood. I charge straight for the closest horse, grab it by the reigns, and pull it to the side, Enhancing my strength.

It tugs at the reigns, so I throw the hammer, hitting a wooden support behind it and making it kick out and run towards me. I dodge to the side, then shove the Firesteel out and burn it as it goes past, forcing it to move harder. It breaks through the thin wall, tumbling over. At the sight of air, the horses all begin to move, and I jump up onto the main central beam, pulling my arms around it so I don’t get trampled. When a strong looking horse runs underneath me, I drop, planting myself on top of it. It sways, trying to buck me, a hoof catches one of the men and sends him crashing to the ground, where he enters into death throes, spasming on the shit-caked ground. The main support beam catches fire, sending choking smoke flying from it. The centre starts to crack apart as the other half burns. I have only a few moments till it collapses.

I grab the mane of the horse and stick my heels into its belly, holding on for dear life. I watch as horse flee out into the forest, men chasing them, and I pull the horse with the reigns until it can see me, putting him off-balance. I push in harder, until he gets the message and starts running out; I dip my head to avoid the outer wooden beam and then manage to grab the flailing reigns. There’s no saddle — but Father had taught me how to ride a wild horse. The reigns are an added bonus.

I see Kairos emerge from behind the barn, and I raise a Conjured stick high to show him my success — then I turn the beast, pulling it away from the burning buildings and around the back of village, a small dirt path through the forest offering escape. Men run at me, their speed obviously Enhanced, and I see a man with a deep scar running down his seething face Conjure a javelin and hurl it in the same motion. In return, I Conjure a shield, ducking low on the horse and hanging it over the side. I feel the impact dig deep into the Hardlight and through, stabbing into the side of the horse. I grit my teeth and release the shield, Conjuring a bow and arrow in one fluent motion, sending an arrow sailing towards the man in a half second. He freezes up, taking the arrow in his shoulder for his failure. Two other men are mounted and following, but one’s horse falls to the ground, its front half burnt to a crisp. I hear the legs snap under it.

Kairos reaches me and matches my pace, carrying the girl on his lap, one hand on her to make sure she doesn’t fall. The dirt path falls down another hill, blocking my line of sight to the village. It would be far too easy for a cadre of archers to let loose arrows from above, so I steer the horse towards the forest, taking the risk of slower movement. Kairos Conjures a javelin of his own, letting go of the reigns and twisting around to throw it. He doesn’t aim for the rider, instead, his catches the horse in the chest, the javelin biting deep inside. The horse squeals and starts to charge, the javelin biting deep and deeper as it moves, and then it stops moving at all; it’s weight falls under it, toppling head-over-heel, the man crushed underneath the full weight of it. I hear his neck snap and know that he will not return. When we reach the forest, I let the horse take control, let it move at its own pace. It finds places to hop, places to skirt over, and keeps movement at two-thirds the speed it was. My suspicion was correct, I look back to see five or six men holding Conjured bows, ready to loose arrows. Standing behind them is that same man with the scarred eye, who brings his hand down and shouts at the top of his lungs. “Loose!”

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I Conjure a shield and lean myself backwards, elongating the shield as much as I can, as quick as I can at the horrendous cost of efficiency, until it covers the horse’s rump, my entire body, and most of the rest of the horse — but it wasn’t necessary. I can hear the coughing and spluttering of the archers, the only ones close enough to us will have had no time in order to clear the smoke from their eyes; their shots go so extremely wide. I let the shield dissipate and from there we simply ride into the forest.

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After the forest, we keep the horses going as long as we can but mine is packed full of fear and now falters. We clear into the forest, going straight north, until we find a creek where we can get him to drink. I drop down, my ass chafed from the lack of a saddle, and bring the horse to water. It’s a good beast, long and sleek, definitely a palfrey of good breed — but I don’t know enough about horses to know of it’s lineage. As soon as my horse is drinking, I drop to one knee.

A kick comes into my side, throwing me under the horse. I scramble back to avoid the inevitable stomping of hooves, and then stand up, stumble a step, and Conjure a blade only to have it falter and the mould crack. I fall back to the ground.

Kairos moves around the horse, his hand on it’s hind to ensure it doesn’t kick out. He advances on me, and I move backwards as fast as I can, but I’m a slug against a diving bird. He grabs my gambeson and hauls me upright, staring into my eyes with a look of pure distilled rage. “What the fuck? You lied to me. You said you wouldn’t burn the tannery.”

I try to start speaking, but he cuts me off by throwing me to the ground. “Those people will die this winter. They will not have the coin to spend on food — especially not after repairing their homes.”

I cough up flem, and turn onto my side, pushing myself up off the ground to look him in the eye. “I… didn’t do it… out of malice. When the alarm was raised… they started slaughtering the horses.” I say, and he scoffs. “Believe me a liar or not; I did what I had to.”

My hand goes to my pocket, pulling out the pouch of Firesteel. “Don’t forget your part in this.”

I see his armoured fists clench, his visage grow dark. “You’ve escaped; at the cost of an entire village. Your mission, whatever in the Gods-damned plains it is, better be worth it.” He says, spitting on the ground.”Because you’ll be doing it alone. I’m taking the girl somewhere safe; somewhere far the fuck away from you.”

There comes a cough, and then I see a flash of red fall from Kairos’ horse. I point, and he takes a second to follow, then his eyes widen and he jogs over, picking the girl off the ground.

She mutter something; nothing I can hear, and he stares at me. He shakes his head, but he brings her over, talking as he comes. “She woke up whilst you were in the tannery.”

Her voice is husky, dry, and weak, but the word are unmistakable. “Lumine.” She says, pointing at me. “I want to go with Lumine.”

I’m unsure of how to react to that. What need would I have of a slave? Especially a Motari? They aren’t good for physical labour; they’re more for the Nobles that think themselves gods. And she’s a sad specimen besides.

Kairos shakes his head. “I don’t trust her with you. Not a damn bit,” He says, then looks down at her. “Are you sure? That’s what you want?”

She nods, and then she’s asleep again. I stare at him, realising the obvious turn of events. “You don’t want to leave her with me? Fine, then you’ll just have to follow. My path hasn’t changed — we go north.”

His face shifts from anger to concern, looking down at the girl then back to me. He nods, the movement strained, and then takes her back to his horse, pushing her up before mounting himself. “If you should believe in karma, then know that your actions today will hurt you.”

“I don’t.” I say back. The Gods will protect their Arbiter from retribution. It wouldn’t make any sense otherwise.