They left Xufont on horses that Hermit “acquired”. Vaela squirmed in the saddle, trying to get used to the beast’s gait. It was unnatural–wobbling on top of another creature’s spine. That’s why she had a walking stick. So she could explore this world on her own legs. Her stick was tucked upright in one of her saddle bags

She dug her feet in the stirrups and clutched the pommel of the saddle. Hermit rode at the front of their line, his staff held under one arm as he led them away from the city. His body flowed with the horse’s motions. Clearly, he was used to riding.

Surah rode behind her with Adyr bringing the rear. Despite never being on a horse either, Surah sat relaxed on his horse. He moved with the same grace as always–not athletic, just smooth. As if he didn’t have a care in the world. And he probably didn’t.

Behind him, Adyr bounced just as clumsily as Vaela. Despite her jostling, one hand held her staff and the other only lightly gripped the reins. Her eyes were far away and she’d been quiet since they’d left. Her blonde hair framed her narrow cheeks, with a lock falling over one side that made Vaela’s fingers itch. All she’d need is a second to tuck it behind Adyr’s ear and–

Adyr looked up and caught Vaela’s eyes. Vaela flushed and turned back around. What was she doing just staring at the woman? Now, Adyr would think she was some sort of weirdo. Vaela kicked her horse forward and caught up to Hermit. “So where’re we going?”

He glanced at her tight grip on the saddle and she whipped her hands down to her sides, her legs squeezing into the horse. He laughed and waved down the road. “Why, Morhael, of course. It’s where Jace lives.”

Right. Jace. One of the “Created”, according to Hermit. Vaela snorted and her hands returned to the pommel, this time drumming on it. “So what? Will I have to bow when I meet his holiness?”

“Oh, he’d like that.” Hermit grinned at her. “A young lady like yourself throwing herself at his feet?”

“Gross.” Vaela pulled her cloak around herself. Her legs burned from holding her body up on the stirrups. “I still don’t see why we couldn’t walk there.”

“No time, no time.” Hermit fluttered a hand at her. “We are living through the most remarkable year Dome has ever seen. Never before have the realms approached each other so soon after one of the Events.” He pointed a finger at her. “I’ve got big plans and they all center around you.”

Her eyebrows jumped up. “What about me?”

He tapped his nose. “Never mind that right now. Just believe me when I tell you that we must hurry. We’ve got to reach Jace before he Chooses.”

Vaela rolled her eyes. Her body relaxed into the saddle, no longer willing to constantly hold herself up. The tension left her and she swayed with the gentle motion of the horse’s gait. It actually wasn’t so bad. She leaned forward and patted the horse’s neck. Its muscles danced under her palm, like fish under the surface of the water. The horse’s blood pumped through its neck–strong and steady. Vaela breathed in and submerged herself in the current, the rhythm of the swooshing blood and clopping of hooves. The horse’s movements rocked her body into further relaxation. Maybe riding wasn’t such a bad idea, after all.

She sat up, more at ease, and glanced back at Adyr. The blonde priestess, ex-priestess, still bumped in the saddle. Vaela pulled her horse around, letting Surah pass, and came up next to Adyr. She nudged her horse close and smiled. “Try to relax. It’ll help.”

Adyr smiled sheepishly back at her and exhaled slowly. Her body continued to jostle and she shook her head. “I-I’ve never ridden a horse. I’m not very good at it, I’m afraid.”

Vaela ached to sit behind her and rest her hands on Adyr’s hips, guide them in the rocking motion of the horse’s gait. Heat rose in Vaela’s body and she shook her head clear. She didn’t even know the gal. “No, no, you’re doing fine.” She patted her own horse, already feeling more familiar. “I’ve never ridden before either.”

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Adyr’s eyes widened. “But you’re so good.”

Vaela flushed and shrugged. “Oh, uh, yeah. Here try this.” She rested her palm on her horse’s neck. Adyr clung to the reins with the hand holding her staff and stretched her other hand to her horse. Vaela longed to rest her hand on top so they could listen to the rhythm together. “Okay, now just feel the beat.”

Adyr frowned and cocked her head. “The beat? Of the hooves?”

“No, the heartbeat.” Vaela drew up as she studied the strain in Adyr’s posture. She couldn’t sense the blood, could she?

Adyr sighed and sat back in the saddle. “I don’t hear it, sorry.”

The blood swooshed through the horse’s neck under Vaela’s fingers, so clear it almost felt like it was her own pulse. She stroked the horse and then brightened. “Hey, put your hand down again.”

Adyr looked at her uncertainly, then leaned down and rested her fingertips on the horse. “Um, okay.”

“Now, sense the heat. Can you feel the warmth?”

“The warmth…?” Adyr closed her eyes and then jolted. “Oh!” A smile spread over her face and she leaned down further, placing her entire palm on the horse. “I feel it. The heat from its muscles, the warmth of its skin.” She balanced her staff on her lap and folded forward, hugging the horse’s neck. The horse shook its head gently, like she were a pesky fly, and she giggled.

Vaela grinned. “You got it.” After a moment, Adyr pushed back up. She looked so bright–joyful–so different from the tormented woman she’d fought in the alley. A flicker of guilt stabbed through Vaela. She hadn’t thought anything of the consequences when she invited Adyr to flee the Church and join them. Had she placed this woman she barely knew in grave danger?

She’d abandoned Timura because of that danger. But Timura hadn’t even been hunted by the Church. Adyr was possibly in far greater danger.

Adyr’s jostling smoothed out and her entire body relaxed. She bounced, head bobbing in time to the horse’s steps, and smiled at Vaela. Vaela’s heart fluttered and the heat rose in her again, flushing away the guilt. Hermit’s words came back to her. When weapons had come out, when Blood and Shadow were spilled, Timura had been struck down. But this woman, she wasn’t Timura. She was a skilled fighter, an Ice Magess.

What had she already survived? Seeing Kaverlna carve into a fellow priest, drink his blood, Throw Lightning. Even with all that, she had run to jam her Ice Blade into the doors before Hermit had fully defeated Kaverlna. She was no coward. She was…

Vaela stared into Adyr’s eyes for a long moment. Adyr blushed and looked down shyly.

Hermit called from the front of their line. “Here we are.”

Vaela jolted, a hand flying to her belt of vials. Hermit pulled his horse off the road into the clearing of grass beside them. Behind them, Xufont was just a speck on the horizon. Only the open road stretched in front of them, plains on either side with forest in the distance. Hermit stepped off his horse and stretched, raising his staff overhead in both hands. Vaela pulled up next to him. “Where is here? I don’t see a city.”

He chuckled and waved her off her horse. “We’re still a few days ride from Morhael. No, we’re at your school.” He swept his staff over the open field.

Vaela stepped out of one stirrup and her other foot wobbled in the other. She clutched the saddle before stumbling down to the ground. Surah eased off the horse without a problem, the bastard. Vaela hurried to Adyr’s side and held out a hand. Adyr flung a leg over the horse and stood poised in the stirrup, perfectly balanced. She took Vaela’s hand and lowered herself to the ground with control, barely putting any pressure on Vaela.

Vaela released Adyr’s hand and rubbed her neck. When did everyone else become experts at riding? She cleared her throat and hurried to her horse. Her stick poked out of one saddle bag, her shield lashed on the other side. She retrieved both and faced Hermit. This was it. The whole reason she’d come along. “You’re going to teach me how to kick ass?”

“You bet, kid.”

Surah clapped his hands and rubbed them together. “Ah, the entertainment. This should be good.”

“It will be.” Hermit poked his staff at Adyr and Surah. Now get ready.”

Adyr raised her staff with a curt nod, while Surah spread his hands. “What, you mean me, too?” He crossed his arms. “I’m not a fighter.”

Hermit walked into the open field. “Everyone’s a fighter at some point. Do you want to be a good one or a dead one?”

“I don’t even have a weapon!”

Hermit wagged his staff. “Then this is gonna hurt a lot more for you.”

Vaela grinned and poked Surah in the side with her stick. “Don’t worry, I’m sure you can find a branch somewhere around here.” He cringed and swatted her stick away. She pulled her shield onto her forearm. “You might even get lucky and find a stray battle ax or something.”

Vaela and Adyr followed Hermit into the field while Surah frantically looked for sticks. Hermit spun and lowered his staff at them. “Alright. Here’s the game: try not to die.”