A couple of the Norsari spat on the ground to show what they thought of his promise, but Sage had already seen enough to know Nicholas was not among the three boys in the middle. They must have hidden him somewhere or gotten him out of the camp. There was nothing she could do against so many, but she needed to get to Alex and tell him what was happening. She backed away and skirted around the circle of light and to the closest pen. Over the backs of several horses prancing around in nervousness, she spotted one that was saddled.
The gate was on the far side, so Sage sheathed her knife and pried one of the top rails from its post and dragged it aside. On the second rail she only got one side down before the anxious horses began to make for the gap. She smacked the nearest one on the rump and sent it flying out. Others followed, and Sage waited for several to pass before darting into the pen to get to the saddled one. She had her hands on the reins and one foot in a stirrup when something swept her other foot out from under her and dumped her on the ground. The sharp point of a halberd was shoved into her face.
“Sage!” gasped Nicholas. He pulled the weapon back and grabbed the horse’s lead to keep it from running off, then helped her to her feet, whispering urgently. “They’re after me. Lieutenant Gramwell told me to make a run for it, but then I heard what was going on. I can’t just leave them!”
“You can and you will,” she said. “They’re making a stand so you can get away—we can’t waste it.” The loose horses would hopefully cause a diversion and break up the crowd surrounding the Norsari. “Get on the horse.”
“Come with me, Sage,” Nicholas begged. “Please.”
Combined, the two of them probably only weighed as much as a fully armed soldier. “All right,” she agreed. Sage pointed to the staff in his hand with its small ax and hook under the spear tip. “Is that all you have?”
Nicholas nodded. “It’s all I could find in the dark, and even it’s broken.” He held up the lower end so she could see the last couple feet had splintered off, making the weapon only as tall as him.
“It’s better than nothing,” Sage said. “You swing it, and I’ll drive.” The horse was saddled for someone much taller, and she mounted with difficulty. Once she was upright, she took the halberd so Nicholas could get up behind her. Then she swung the horse around, an idea taking shape. Her boot slipped out of the too-long stirrup when she gave the horse a kick, and she had to clamp down hard with her thighs to stay on. They sprinted through the camp, heading for the fire she prayed was still burning at the medical tent.
Luck was with her again; the fire was still going and had spread to the supply tent next to it. Sage nudged the horse around, squinting through the smoke for what she wanted. There—and close enough that it might work. She had to hurry—it sounded like they’d been spotted.
“What are you doing?” said Nicholas. “We need to go!”
“Calling for help.” Sage directed the horse to back up against a short stack of casks containing lamp oil. “Make him buck, Nicholas.”
“What?”
“Poke him in the ass and make him kick, dammit!”
Nicholas swung the halberd around, and the horse whinnied and bucked, breaking at least one of the small barrels open and sending several flying. Sage barely managed to stay on as the prince whiplashed into her from the movement. She caught a glimpse of men rushing at them, bows raised. Then she and Nicholas were flying out of the camp and into the night, the orange glow of a raging fire lighting up the sky behind them.
52
THEY MADE IT through a brief shower of arrows, but Sage and Nicholas were less than two hundred yards out of the camp when the horse suddenly reared up, screaming. As Sage clutched the mane to stay on, the prince slipped off the back with a cry and then a grunt as he hit the ground. The horse went back to all fours, and Sage urged it forward, yanking the reins around to keep it from trampling Nicholas. “Are you all right?” she called, searching for what had spooked the horse.
“I think so,” he answered. “But the horse was hit.”
Sage felt around on the side the horse was favoring until she found the arrow buried in its thigh. How deep it went she couldn’t tell—the shaft had been broken off by Nicholas’s tumble. Hot blood spilled over her hand as she tried to get a grip on it enough to pull it out. The horse screamed again, its hind leg buckling. Sage threw her leg over the withers and dismounted, trying to soothe the beast with gentle words. She reached for the arrow again, but now her angle on it was even worse.
“We’ve lost our ride,” she told Nicholas. “And they’ll be on us in another minute. Can you run?”
“I think so.” The shadow that was the prince lurched to its feet. “Ow. I think my wrist is broken or sprained.”
“We’ll deal with it later. I’m just glad it wasn’t an ankle.”
Nicholas wobbled a little. “Yes, well, now that I’m standing my knee doesn’t feel so great, either.”
Sage looked back at the fire that was probably consuming all the Norsari’s supplies. She felt bad about that, but it would definitely serve its purpose. “Captain Quinn will be here soon. We have to stay hidden until then.”
The halberd lay on the ground, its staff broken again so now it was as short as an ax. Sage picked it up and jabbed it at the limping horse to urge it farther down the river path. Then she pulled Nicholas’s arm over her shoulder and helped him into the woods. After a few uphill yards she set him down and went back to cover their tracks as best she could. Not a moment too soon she dodged off the path as three men came running down it. They carried no torches, and they missed any signs that were left and continued past her. It wouldn’t be long before they caught up with the wounded horse.
Sage crawled back to Nicholas. “Give me your wrist.” The prince held out his left arm, and she gently felt along it. No bones sticking out, but it was swelling rapidly so it was difficult to tell. Nicholas whimpered, and she whispered an apology. “How’s the knee?” she asked.
“Better now. I can probably run.”
“Not yet.”
The sound of weapons clashing came from the east, in the direction help should come from. Half a minute later the noise ceased. Sage put a finger to Nicholas’s lips and closed her eyes to concentrate on listening. A horse was coming toward them—an unwounded one. Spirit above, please be who I think you are.
Light from the distant fire reflected off a drawn sword. The rider was moving swiftly but cautiously, and her eyes had adjusted enough to recognize the dark form through the trees. Sage stood and ran down the hill before he could pass. “Alex!”
“Sage?” The relief in his voice was too much, and she cried as she threw herself at him after he dismounted. He felt her all over. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine,” she sobbed. “Nicholas is, too. We’re all right.” She was babbling now.
“Your arm is covered with blood.”
“It’s the horse’s,” she explained, trying to bring herself back under control.
“I found that horse. Several Kimisar, too.”
“There’s more back at camp,” she said. “They’re after the prince.”
“How many?”
“Couple dozen, sir,” answered Nicholas, sliding down the hill behind her. “At least.”
“Cass is a few minutes behind me, bringing a platoon. I came ahead.” He still held her with his free arm. Sage leaned into him, savoring the closeness. Alex was here. Everything would be all right now. “Did you set that fire?” he asked, looking down at her.
“Yes.”
“Good job.”
There was genuine pride in his voice. “Alex,” she began. “About everything—”
“Not now, Sage.” The heat of his body vanished as he released her, but at least he didn’t sound angry. “They’re coming at us from all sides. I need to get the two of you out of here.”
“Where?”
“The river,” said Nicholas. “The boat isn’t far from here.”
Alex nodded. “Good idea.” He handed his horse’s lead to Sage. “I go first. You stay back in case I run into someone.”
They made their way back down the path quickly, Nicholas grunting a little from keeping up. Apparently his knee was worse than he’d thought. The boat was easy to find in the firelight reflecting off the river, but it was in plain sight from the camp. It wouldn’t be long before someone saw them.