Chapter 7
Bridge to the West
A speck of light glowed on the far horizon and the once dark sky turned into bronze-yellow. The wind blew fiercely, as if hailing the birth of a new day.
Lansius felt someone pushed his shoulder. “Erm?”
“The sun is almost out,” Theo, who slept next to Lansius, said weakly.
“A moment.” Lansius fought the sleepiness off his head. His body felt stiff while his eyes painful to open. He saw the underside of the cart and reminded himself not to get up like normal or risk smacking his head. He rolled his body to the right instead and immediately felt the cold sensation from the dew-covered grass.
He stood up and shivered. It was his second night, but nothing improved. They carried no tent and slept underneath their carts as cover. It was better than sleeping out in the open, but way cramped, smelly, and still cold.
Lansius lazily folded a sheet of canvas that he had used as a blanket. Theo appeared from beneath the cart. He looked equally miserable. The long and bumpy ride had taken a toll on their body.
The horses, for certain, had it worse. They were moodier than ever and easily agitated by everything. Lansius, who had some experience with horses, took them to the patches of high grass and tied them to the tree as precaution.
Lansius watched as Theo and Max started their task by getting water from a nearby creek. Strong breeze blew past them and he shivered again despite his gambeson.
“Morning,” Thomas greeted him from behind.
Lansius turned to face him. “Good to see you spirited, chief.".
“Heh, you’ll act the same when you learn about this,” he teased.
“Learn what?”
“The scout said it’s only half a day’s journey till we reach the river,” the older man explained.
“We’re that close to Ceresia?” Lansius’ mood changed for the better.
“Yep, with luck; we could be there before sundown.”
“Chief, I hope you’ll find a better place than that barn,” Lansius jested.
Thomas laughed and slapped Lansius’ back. “Hey, it’s not that bad. It’s spacious, and the roof is solid.”
The morning went without a hitch and the convoy departed in high spirits. They kept riding west and now the trees looked different, taller, with less branch. The horses could only move at a slower pace as they faced more inclination. Some carts even had their men walk to ease their horses as they went uphill.
The cart Thomas’ commandeered wasn’t that loaded, so nobody needed to dismount. It was a slow ride; the sky was cloudy and breezy. Big boy Max found the weather so irresistible that he dozed on and off. Meanwhile, Theo continued on the lookout. The lad was dependable despite being only a year older than Max.
Compared to them, Lansius looked fragile. Unlike Max, who could sleep in an awkward position with head unsupported and both hands gripping crates to keep him from falling; Lansius kept awake because he couldn’t make himself comfortable.
Unintentionally, he counted five carts and two carriages that made up the convoy. It was less than half when they began. Too disheartened by war-torn Arvena, many had gone south into Midlandia, whose Lord was on good terms with Lord Maurice.
The convoy Lansius was in, traveled the same path he had taken last winter. Nobody question the decision. For them, it was only natural to return to the heartland. Like many, he was so eager to return home and couldn’t care less about the reason.
Since yesterday, Lansius had imagined of arriving in Bellandia and meeting his family. That thought kept him going despite the situation. Even the awful taste of watered-down hard biscuits and almost stale bread became palatable once he reminded himself that he could taste Mother Arryn’s cooking in a few weeks.
He couldn’t wait to play with Tanya and trading stories with Marc. On the surface, he felt happy, but subconsciously the guilt from leaving Stefi behind kept corroding from inside.
Lansius kept to himself more than usual. He didn’t ask about Theo or Max’s background. Not inquiring about the figure who sat next to Thomas. It was only because of their close vicinity that he overheard the boys describing Miranda as a guard for hire.
Miranda wasn’t a talker, but once mentioned how her only son bore some resemblance to Theo. She did little but maintained her prized crossbow every night, despite no apparent usage.
The cart slowed to a stop. Everybody but Max looked around to find the reason, but Thomas glanced and shush them out with his finger, “Listen.”
There were faint sounds of water moving rapidly.
“The river,” exclaimed Theo.
The convoy needed to wait before they could cross the narrow bridge. They needed to check it for safety. The old wooden structure often had its support beams weakened by the strong current.
The rest of the convoy dismounted as they waited. Most went to the river to sightseeing, fill their canteen, or wash their face.
Lansius and Theo saw Miranda dismounted, and they decided to follow. Thomas tied the horse to a tree and jogged after them, leaving Max sleeping alone in the cart.
This is perfect for a picnic...
Lansius thought about the picturesque spot and the lovely weather. A good respite from all the rough rides they had these past few days. Many sat on the ground or rested their back on the grass.
...
“Boss,” Max cried from behind.
Thomas jumped into action and ran into the cart. Lansius and Theo followed. The two watched as men from the other carts panicked and scrambled for the wooded area with just their weapons.
Miranda ran past Thomas and jumped to the top of the coachmen’s seat. She didn't like what she saw. “Grab your spears and run to the trees.”
The carts in front made a risky dash to cross the bridge, but for the rest of them, there was no choice but to run to the woods.
***
The smell of earthen and decomposed leaves was everywhere as Lansius followed Miranda and Thomas deeper into the woods. Unlike what he had imagined, it wasn’t easy to hide as the trees were tall but sparse.
Miranda found a hidden slope behind an old tree and signaled to take cover. “Stay away from the boulder,” she instructed.
Lansius was too breathless to think, but Theo gave a questioning look.
“Any distinct spot like a rock formation is a landmark. Don’t linger near them. The enemy for certain will seek you there,” she explained.
“Will they be chasing us?” Lansius asked as he sat behind the tree’s giant roots.
“Calm down lads, with luck they might just take the carts and leave us alone,” Thomas said.
That gave some sort of relief, but soon the screaming and shouting dashed their hope. It wasn’t possible to tell what happened, but the situation wasn’t promising.
“We need eyes,” Thomas said to himself.
“I’ll go. Your old bones might not be fit for the job.” Miranda loosened her ring mail coif, put her sword and crossbow on the ground, then crawled out. She tried concealing herself while moving to direction of their cart.
As she went farther, the trees and vegetation hid her from sight.
“You three, wait here. I’m going to look for another spot.” Thomas went deeper into the woods.
Theo looked at the other two. “Do you think we’ll be safe here?”
Lansius couldn’t answer while Max let out a loud sigh and complained, “I shouldn’t have listened. I never want to go to Riverstead.”
The sound of leaves rustling alerted them. Theo went on the lookout. “It’s Miranda, she’s back.”
She dashed toward them. Breathless and looked troubled, she hid behind the giant tree. “Thomas?”
Before anyone could answer, Thomas returned and crouched in front of her. “Not good,” he reported.
“What did you find?” Miranda asked.
“Horsemen, they cut our escape.”
“Damn it, they also got footmen encroaching on us. We're trapped. They wanted hostages.”
“Or slave...” Thomas added.
“So, what should we do?” Theo said worriedly.
They got horsemen on their back, a river on their left, and footmen on their front. They were running out of options. Cold sweat formed on Lansius’ back and his hand clenched his spear tighter.
Thomas couldn't answer. He knew the entire convoy only had thirty men, and most weren’t fighters.
Miranda pulled her leather strap necklace. It connected to a small pouch she hid behind her ring mail. She emptied the content into her palm and revealed rings, jewelry, and gold coins.
Such valuables were so unexpected that they did a double take. For them, the value of such treasure was beyond their ability to comprehend.
“My job is to deliver this to Alba Castle,” she began the story. “Sir Ian was wounded in battle. He’s in no condition to ride and chances are he’ll get captured along with Riverstead. He wanted to send his signet ring and valuables to his son. That way, his son could either ransom him or succeed him if he perishes.”
Miranda handed two decorated silver rings to Thomas. “Return these to his family and claim your reward.”
“Why are you doing this? You should do this yourself,” Thomas protested.
“Someone need to lead them. I’ll manage somehow.”
“Alone? It’s too risky-“
“I can’t let these boys taken into slavery,” Miranda insisted and Thomas relented.
“The worse that could happen is to meet my son and husband in the afterlife.”
Her words stunned the three, while Thomas looked grim as if remembering a bad memory.
Without wasting more time, she gave Theo a jewel-encrusted brooch and Max an ornamented buckle. Then she handed out half the coins to Lansius. “You’re a scribe of some sort. Count it.”
“Six gold coins and sixteen silvers.”
“Good. Remember to return it to Alba Castle or I’m going to find you and turn you into target practice,” Miranda said to Lansius, who was older and not so naive as the boys.
Lansius nodded. It would be a simple task to find the only black hair in Arvena.
“Thomas, get them out safely. I’ll cover you.”
“Best of luck then,” Thomas said and left with the trio.
Lansius took one last glance and saw Miranda fastening her ring mail coif. When she noticed, Lansius bowed his head in respect. That simple gesture made her smile.
Thomas led the trio to crouch over the vegetation and tall trees; hopping between slopes and taking cover behind irregular mounds. The sound of cracking branches and horses’ heavy hooves alerted them.
The sound was getting closer. Thomas hid his head between shrubs while the other wouldn’t risk getting seen. They waited in fear before the horseman in orange and black surcoat came into view. He was wearing a skull-cap helmet and ring mail while his horse was without armor.
The horseman crept while keeping his eyes on the lookout.
“Come out, you little dirty rabbits.” A voice came from another direction.
“Evnas, keep your mouth shut,” came a distant response.
The banter between still unseen individuals made the orange and black horsemen chuckle.
Thomas pulled himself from the lookout and whispered, “I need to draw him away. Remember to keep walking with the river to your right. Find a shallow place and cross, but avoid Ceresia. The enemy will be there.”
And then, without warning, Thomas climbed and ran in the opposite direction.
“Halt!” the horseman cried as he spotted Thomas. “I found one,” he declared to his comrades, and clenched his legs to signal the horse to speed up.
“Evnas, go assist him!” commanded the other person. But before the second rider could come, the rider in black and orange had given chase.
Meanwhile, Theo froze, but Max, who understood the situation, dragged his friend from the spot. Lansius followed without a word.
...
Thomas zigzagged between the trees as he ran, but the horseman kept his cool and trailed him from a distance. He couldn’t run and hide forever. Out of breath, he slowed down. Before he stopped, instinct guided him to stand in the open instead of hiding behind the trees.
The horseman closed in with a drawn sword. The sound of hooves pounding the ground echoed through the air as he charged, intending to kill.
Thomas stood on his ground, his axe ready in his right hand. But the rider’s approach left no gap, forcing Thomas to dodge roll at the last moment into the trees.
The horseman overshoot his approach, trotted his horse around, and prepared for another pass. He could afford to play this cat-and-mouse game patiently.
One more pass and then another. The horseman kept harassing his prey to provoke them into making a mistake.
Out of breath and out of tricks, Thomas’ attempt to bait the rider into a duel on foot had failed. Now, he risked meeting up with the footmen, or worse, the second horseman.
The horseman seemed to enjoy this and started another approach when a sharp, distinct sound echoed. It wasn’t loud, but the rider staggered, dropped his sword, and moved about erratically. A bolt had penetrated his ring mail, through the doublet, and ruptured his lung. The rider soon suffocated as his lung became filled with blood.
Thomas dragged his tired legs, attempted to deliver the killing blow, but before he could, someone rushed in from another direction and speared the rider.
The rider cried out in pain, but was unable to retaliate, his flailing causing his horse to panic. He fell backwards, hitting the ground hard as the horse galloped away. The fallen man, decked in the orange and black surcoat lay motionless, either from the fall or his fatal wound.
“Ronan,” Thomas called.
“Thomas, who shot the bolt?” Ronan asked as he pulled his spear from the dead body.
“It’s Miranda. Where are the other guys?”
“Dead, tch- they even killed Ulrich...” Ronan’s voice was full of anger and sadness.
“The lad? But he’s no older than fourteen...” Thomas felt sickened.
“There’s no reason to kill him…” he grew frustrated. “Nothing good will come from this. Better run while you still can,” he warned and walked away.
“Where you’re going?”
“Swim.”
“And lose all your gears?” Thomas asked.
Ronan turned to face him and opened his arms to signal, ‘what else can I do?’
Thomas reflected, but chose not to follow. Probably because he had no kids of his own, he wanted to save Theo and the rest. Footsteps on his right surprised him. He readied his axe, but saw Miranda and felt relieved. “Good shot.”
Miranda pulled Thomas behind a tree and forced him to crouch. “Don’t do that again!”
Thomas grinned. “Hey, let’s bait and shot another one.”
“Are you an idiot? You’d be dead if I can’t find a clear line of sight.” Not giving him time to reply, she added, “The footmen are closing in. Let’s get out from here.”
Thomas seemed to remember something. He took two rings from his pouch and threw them one by one to Miranda. “Catch.”
“What are you doing?” She couldn’t believe the Thomas she knew had turned suicidal.
“One more. For the boys,” he said and went searching for the second horseman.
Chapter 7
Bridge to the West
A speck of light glowed on the far horizon and the once dark sky turned into bronze-yellow. The wind blew fiercely, as if hailing the birth of a new day.
Lansius felt someone pushed his shoulder. “Erm?”
“The sun is almost out,” Theo, who slept next to Lansius, said weakly.
“A moment.” Lansius fought the sleepiness off his head. His body felt stiff while his eyes painful to open. He saw the underside of the cart and reminded himself not to get up like normal or risk smacking his head. He rolled his body to the right instead and immediately felt the cold sensation from the dew-covered grass.
He stood up and shivered. It was his second night, but nothing improved. They carried no tent and slept underneath their carts as cover. It was better than sleeping out in the open, but way cramped, smelly, and still cold.
Lansius lazily folded a sheet of canvas that he had used as a blanket. Theo appeared from beneath the cart. He looked equally miserable. The long and bumpy ride had taken a toll on their body.
The horses, for certain, had it worse. They were moodier than ever and easily agitated by everything. Lansius, who had some experience with horses, took them to the patches of high grass and tied them to the tree as precaution.
Lansius watched as Theo and Max started their task by getting water from a nearby creek. Strong breeze blew past them and he shivered again despite his gambeson.
“Morning,” Thomas greeted him from behind.
Lansius turned to face him. “Good to see you spirited, chief.".
“Heh, you’ll act the same when you learn about this,” he teased.
“Learn what?”
“The scout said it’s only half a day’s journey till we reach the river,” the older man explained.
“We’re that close to Ceresia?” Lansius’ mood changed for the better.
“Yep, with luck; we could be there before sundown.”
“Chief, I hope you’ll find a better place than that barn,” Lansius jested.
Thomas laughed and slapped Lansius’ back. “Hey, it’s not that bad. It’s spacious, and the roof is solid.”
The morning went without a hitch and the convoy departed in high spirits. They kept riding west and now the trees looked different, taller, with less branch. The horses could only move at a slower pace as they faced more inclination. Some carts even had their men walk to ease their horses as they went uphill.
The cart Thomas’ commandeered wasn’t that loaded, so nobody needed to dismount. It was a slow ride; the sky was cloudy and breezy. Big boy Max found the weather so irresistible that he dozed on and off. Meanwhile, Theo continued on the lookout. The lad was dependable despite being only a year older than Max.
Compared to them, Lansius looked fragile. Unlike Max, who could sleep in an awkward position with head unsupported and both hands gripping crates to keep him from falling; Lansius kept awake because he couldn’t make himself comfortable.
Unintentionally, he counted five carts and two carriages that made up the convoy. It was less than half when they began. Too disheartened by war-torn Arvena, many had gone south into Midlandia, whose Lord was on good terms with Lord Maurice.
The convoy Lansius was in, traveled the same path he had taken last winter. Nobody question the decision. For them, it was only natural to return to the heartland. Like many, he was so eager to return home and couldn’t care less about the reason.
Since yesterday, Lansius had imagined of arriving in Bellandia and meeting his family. That thought kept him going despite the situation. Even the awful taste of watered-down hard biscuits and almost stale bread became palatable once he reminded himself that he could taste Mother Arryn’s cooking in a few weeks.
He couldn’t wait to play with Tanya and trading stories with Marc. On the surface, he felt happy, but subconsciously the guilt from leaving Stefi behind kept corroding from inside.
Lansius kept to himself more than usual. He didn’t ask about Theo or Max’s background. Not inquiring about the figure who sat next to Thomas. It was only because of their close vicinity that he overheard the boys describing Miranda as a guard for hire.
Miranda wasn’t a talker, but once mentioned how her only son bore some resemblance to Theo. She did little but maintained her prized crossbow every night, despite no apparent usage.
The cart slowed to a stop. Everybody but Max looked around to find the reason, but Thomas glanced and shush them out with his finger, “Listen.”
There were faint sounds of water moving rapidly.
“The river,” exclaimed Theo.
The convoy needed to wait before they could cross the narrow bridge. They needed to check it for safety. The old wooden structure often had its support beams weakened by the strong current.
The rest of the convoy dismounted as they waited. Most went to the river to sightseeing, fill their canteen, or wash their face.
Lansius and Theo saw Miranda dismounted, and they decided to follow. Thomas tied the horse to a tree and jogged after them, leaving Max sleeping alone in the cart.
This is perfect for a picnic...
Lansius thought about the picturesque spot and the lovely weather. A good respite from all the rough rides they had these past few days. Many sat on the ground or rested their back on the grass.
...
“Boss,” Max cried from behind.
Thomas jumped into action and ran into the cart. Lansius and Theo followed. The two watched as men from the other carts panicked and scrambled for the wooded area with just their weapons.
Miranda ran past Thomas and jumped to the top of the coachmen’s seat. She didn't like what she saw. “Grab your spears and run to the trees.”
The carts in front made a risky dash to cross the bridge, but for the rest of them, there was no choice but to run to the woods.
***
The smell of earthen and decomposed leaves was everywhere as Lansius followed Miranda and Thomas deeper into the woods. Unlike what he had imagined, it wasn’t easy to hide as the trees were tall but sparse.
Miranda found a hidden slope behind an old tree and signaled to take cover. “Stay away from the boulder,” she instructed.
Lansius was too breathless to think, but Theo gave a questioning look.
“Any distinct spot like a rock formation is a landmark. Don’t linger near them. The enemy for certain will seek you there,” she explained.
“Will they be chasing us?” Lansius asked as he sat behind the tree’s giant roots.
“Calm down lads, with luck they might just take the carts and leave us alone,” Thomas said.
That gave some sort of relief, but soon the screaming and shouting dashed their hope. It wasn’t possible to tell what happened, but the situation wasn’t promising.
“We need eyes,” Thomas said to himself.
“I’ll go. Your old bones might not be fit for the job.” Miranda loosened her ring mail coif, put her sword and crossbow on the ground, then crawled out. She tried concealing herself while moving to direction of their cart.
As she went farther, the trees and vegetation hid her from sight.
“You three, wait here. I’m going to look for another spot.” Thomas went deeper into the woods.
Theo looked at the other two. “Do you think we’ll be safe here?”
Lansius couldn’t answer while Max let out a loud sigh and complained, “I shouldn’t have listened. I never want to go to Riverstead.”
The sound of leaves rustling alerted them. Theo went on the lookout. “It’s Miranda, she’s back.”
She dashed toward them. Breathless and looked troubled, she hid behind the giant tree. “Thomas?”
Before anyone could answer, Thomas returned and crouched in front of her. “Not good,” he reported.
“What did you find?” Miranda asked.
“Horsemen, they cut our escape.”
“Damn it, they also got footmen encroaching on us. We're trapped. They wanted hostages.”
“Or slave...” Thomas added.
“So, what should we do?” Theo said worriedly.
They got horsemen on their back, a river on their left, and footmen on their front. They were running out of options. Cold sweat formed on Lansius’ back and his hand clenched his spear tighter.
Thomas couldn't answer. He knew the entire convoy only had thirty men, and most weren’t fighters.
Miranda pulled her leather strap necklace. It connected to a small pouch she hid behind her ring mail. She emptied the content into her palm and revealed rings, jewelry, and gold coins.
Such valuables were so unexpected that they did a double take. For them, the value of such treasure was beyond their ability to comprehend.
“My job is to deliver this to Alba Castle,” she began the story. “Sir Ian was wounded in battle. He’s in no condition to ride and chances are he’ll get captured along with Riverstead. He wanted to send his signet ring and valuables to his son. That way, his son could either ransom him or succeed him if he perishes.”
Miranda handed two decorated silver rings to Thomas. “Return these to his family and claim your reward.”
“Why are you doing this? You should do this yourself,” Thomas protested.
“Someone need to lead them. I’ll manage somehow.”
“Alone? It’s too risky-“
“I can’t let these boys taken into slavery,” Miranda insisted and Thomas relented.
“The worse that could happen is to meet my son and husband in the afterlife.”
Her words stunned the three, while Thomas looked grim as if remembering a bad memory.
Without wasting more time, she gave Theo a jewel-encrusted brooch and Max an ornamented buckle. Then she handed out half the coins to Lansius. “You’re a scribe of some sort. Count it.”
“Six gold coins and sixteen silvers.”
“Good. Remember to return it to Alba Castle or I’m going to find you and turn you into target practice,” Miranda said to Lansius, who was older and not so naive as the boys.
Lansius nodded. It would be a simple task to find the only black hair in Arvena.
“Thomas, get them out safely. I’ll cover you.”
“Best of luck then,” Thomas said and left with the trio.
Lansius took one last glance and saw Miranda fastening her ring mail coif. When she noticed, Lansius bowed his head in respect. That simple gesture made her smile.
Thomas led the trio to crouch over the vegetation and tall trees; hopping between slopes and taking cover behind irregular mounds. The sound of cracking branches and horses’ heavy hooves alerted them.
The sound was getting closer. Thomas hid his head between shrubs while the other wouldn’t risk getting seen. They waited in fear before the horseman in orange and black surcoat came into view. He was wearing a skull-cap helmet and ring mail while his horse was without armor.
The horseman crept while keeping his eyes on the lookout.
“Come out, you little dirty rabbits.” A voice came from another direction.
“Evnas, keep your mouth shut,” came a distant response.
The banter between still unseen individuals made the orange and black horsemen chuckle.
Thomas pulled himself from the lookout and whispered, “I need to draw him away. Remember to keep walking with the river to your right. Find a shallow place and cross, but avoid Ceresia. The enemy will be there.”
And then, without warning, Thomas climbed and ran in the opposite direction.
“Halt!” the horseman cried as he spotted Thomas. “I found one,” he declared to his comrades, and clenched his legs to signal the horse to speed up.
“Evnas, go assist him!” commanded the other person. But before the second rider could come, the rider in black and orange had given chase.
Meanwhile, Theo froze, but Max, who understood the situation, dragged his friend from the spot. Lansius followed without a word.
...
Thomas zigzagged between the trees as he ran, but the horseman kept his cool and trailed him from a distance. He couldn’t run and hide forever. Out of breath, he slowed down. Before he stopped, instinct guided him to stand in the open instead of hiding behind the trees.
The horseman closed in with a drawn sword. The sound of hooves pounding the ground echoed through the air as he charged, intending to kill.
Thomas stood on his ground, his axe ready in his right hand. But the rider’s approach left no gap, forcing Thomas to dodge roll at the last moment into the trees.
The horseman overshoot his approach, trotted his horse around, and prepared for another pass. He could afford to play this cat-and-mouse game patiently.
One more pass and then another. The horseman kept harassing his prey to provoke them into making a mistake.
Out of breath and out of tricks, Thomas’ attempt to bait the rider into a duel on foot had failed. Now, he risked meeting up with the footmen, or worse, the second horseman.
The horseman seemed to enjoy this and started another approach when a sharp, distinct sound echoed. It wasn’t loud, but the rider staggered, dropped his sword, and moved about erratically. A bolt had penetrated his ring mail, through the doublet, and ruptured his lung. The rider soon suffocated as his lung became filled with blood.
Thomas dragged his tired legs, attempted to deliver the killing blow, but before he could, someone rushed in from another direction and speared the rider.
The rider cried out in pain, but was unable to retaliate, his flailing causing his horse to panic. He fell backwards, hitting the ground hard as the horse galloped away. The fallen man, decked in the orange and black surcoat lay motionless, either from the fall or his fatal wound.
“Ronan,” Thomas called.
“Thomas, who shot the bolt?” Ronan asked as he pulled his spear from the dead body.
“It’s Miranda. Where are the other guys?”
“Dead, tch- they even killed Ulrich...” Ronan’s voice was full of anger and sadness.
“The lad? But he’s no older than fourteen...” Thomas felt sickened.
“There’s no reason to kill him…” he grew frustrated. “Nothing good will come from this. Better run while you still can,” he warned and walked away.
“Where you’re going?”
“Swim.”
“And lose all your gears?” Thomas asked.
Ronan turned to face him and opened his arms to signal, ‘what else can I do?’
Thomas reflected, but chose not to follow. Probably because he had no kids of his own, he wanted to save Theo and the rest. Footsteps on his right surprised him. He readied his axe, but saw Miranda and felt relieved. “Good shot.”
Miranda pulled Thomas behind a tree and forced him to crouch. “Don’t do that again!”
Thomas grinned. “Hey, let’s bait and shot another one.”
“Are you an idiot? You’d be dead if I can’t find a clear line of sight.” Not giving him time to reply, she added, “The footmen are closing in. Let’s get out from here.”
Thomas seemed to remember something. He took two rings from his pouch and threw them one by one to Miranda. “Catch.”
“What are you doing?” She couldn’t believe the Thomas she knew had turned suicidal.
“One more. For the boys,” he said and went searching for the second horseman.
