“Looks like this is the end of the journey,” Camryn said.
“The clearing is too small for the tender.”
“We’re not even sure where we are,” Camryn said. “We were swept down the river for quite a way.”
Ry climbed the bank and walked to a clear patch. He set the foal down and it licked him before he could move his hand. Surprised at the sense of satisfaction, he scratched the foal behind its long rounded ears. The creature licked his hand again. Ry glanced up to find Camryn grinning. The foal gave a small yip and the mare replied.
He backed away to stand by Camryn, and she leaned against his side. Her clothes were wet like his and her body heat seeped through the fabric. In that moment, he craved her fiercely, but it wasn’t the time. Nightfall wasn’t far away. He squeezed her upper arm and moved away with regret and a healthy slice of anxiety. The sooner he left the quicker he could return.
“I’d better go now if I want to make it back before dark. Take care.” Ry yanked off his pack and shirt and shifted to cat. With a soft growl and one last look at Camryn, he loped away in search of the tender. It was one of the hardest things he’d ever done and he had to force himself to leave.
Chapter Eight
Talor’s tender, Ornum
“Where’s Ryman?” Talor Coppersmith paced across the interior of his tender and stared at the other occupant.
“He’s searching for hell-horses.”
“Ah yes. It must be difficult when he’s short of crew.” Smugness coated his words, but he didn’t give a damn. Any means to grind his brother into the dust, to make him suffer. Talor eyed the woman standing a few feet away. The means by which to exact revenge. “I expect you to make things difficult for him.”
“It’s not easy. I have to be subtle.”
“I must have results.” Warning threaded his tone and the caution didn’t go unheeded. The confusion on her face told Talor she couldn’t understand why she was compelled to come to him, that it frightened her.
She swallowed before her tongue flickered out to wet her bottom lip. “We’re staying over by the river, and once we have our hell-horse, we’re returning to the city.”
Talor nodded. “We have a horse already.” He’d managed to get two animals early on and had a team of men to take care of them. Talor was confident one of his hell-horses would win. So far he’d failed to compel the creatures, although he had other strategies in play. Worry didn’t keep him awake at night. He scowled. Apart from the pesky debt collectors. They’d get their money once he killed Ryman. Damn man had more lives than a cat.
“What do you want me to do?” Kaya asked, edging toward the exit.
“Keep me informed,” Talor ordered. “I want to know my brother’s intentions before he acts, where he’s going to go and how.”
Kaya’s chin jutted upward in a show of bravery. “I’m not going to jeopardize my position with Ry.”
“It’s a little late to worry about your status now. You climbed into bed with me, a willing participant and now you must pay the price.” Talor stepped into her personal space to make sure she understood. “You owe me. If you even consider changing sides at this stage, I will make you sorry. Understood?” He sent a compelling thought and the fight visibly seeped from her.
“Yes, sir.”
Talor stared an instant longer before turning away in dismissal. He reached for a goblet of vino, the delicate pink liquor from the planet Marseilles, and took a sip. The smooth liquid slid down his throat, tingly tendrils of warmth flowing through his chest.
“You may go.” Talor held out his goblet for Meghan to refill and smiled when he heard the retreating footsteps. It was the best things he’d ever done—hooking up with Kaya. Having a spy in his brother’s camp kept him two steps ahead. Oh yes. He wanted Ryman to suffer.
* * * * *
Camryn watched Ry leave with a sinking heart. The idea of being alone scared her silly, but there were no alternatives. And no pub to grab a bolstering drink. She glanced at the mare and foal and smiled when the mother nuzzled her offspring. She couldn’t help recalling the hell-horse attack across the river. The screams. The blood. Carnage. She cast another quick look at the creatures. Could she even train the mare to race?
A drink. God, she craved a drink so bad. She wondered if Ry had another flask tucked away. A lock of hair fell into her face and she swept it away with a trembling hand. She couldn’t do this. She’d pretended to Ry and his crew, told them she could, but she hadn’t ridden a winning horse past the finish post for ages, not since Gabriel had died. Sure, she’d helped her brother train horses but she’d never schooled one on her own. Knowing the mechanics and putting them into practice were miles apart.
Stress started to crowd in on her, pushing from all directions. Oh yeah. She’d put up a great front—a performance worthy of an award. At least when she was with Ry, her mind focused on other things. Alone, her doubts surfaced.
A sob tore free and she sank to the ground, curling into a tight ball of misery. When they’d kidnapped her, she had no option. How could she let them return her to Earth, knowing they’d take her brother? No, she’d run out of choices, just as she was out of alternatives now. She had to do this. She had to prove she wasn’t a screw-up.
Camryn rocked, tears spilling down her cheeks. These creatures—the hell-horses—were so unlike horses at home. At home, the worst injuries she’d sustained were sly nips when she hadn’t paid attention or a kick from a fractious yearling. There’d been spills during training, but she knew how to fall. Nothing life-threatening.
Hell-horses killed.
And enjoyed the bloodbath.
Camryn’s thoughts drifted to Ry. The need for his physical presence and his arms wrapped around her body filled her with trepidation. She fingered the place on her neck where he’d bitten her. She’d felt pain before the surfeit of pleasure. If she were an imaginative type of person she’d start to think vampire, but no, he was merely a big pussycat. Another sob shook her shoulders.
Something nudged her shoulder and she unfurled, scrambling backward like a horse shying at a flag. The mare. Oh god. It was gonna eat her.
The hell-horse jumped away with a yelp and cantered in a tight circle before halting to study her. Finally, the mare tossed her head, and trotted back to her foal.
Camryn half sobbed, half laughed, nervous reaction bringing renewed tremors to her hands.
The foal yapped and struggled to rise. Still too weak. Her responsibility. Ry counted on her to keep this foal alive so the mare stayed around. And right now the foal needed to feed again. Little and often would make it thrive.
She stood, using measured steps so she didn’t startle the mare again. Shoving aside her fear, she concentrated on approaching the foal. One thing at a time. That’s the only way she’d get through this. If Ry could survive learning he was a feline shifter, she could do this.
“Easy there,” she crooned.
The foal gave a small yip, almost like a welcome when she drew close enough to touch him. It tore a smile from her, and she scratched him behind his ears. A sharp yap emerged from the foal and the mare returned the call. Camryn’s heart lurched, but this time she reined in her reaction, confining herself to a small eek rather than a full-out screech of terror. The mare had closed the distance between them and stood behind her. Camryn ignored the itch of danger and kept talking nonsense to the foal before she lifted the creature to its feet. A struggle, even though the hell-horse was small and undernourished. Finally, the foal balanced on unsteady legs.
“Come around this side,” Camryn pleaded with the mare. “Make it easy for us.” To her surprise, the mare trotted around and positioned herself for the foal to drink.
Relieved, Camryn held the foal upright. The high level of intelligence might make training difficult. Somehow, she needed to engage the mare’s interest. Make her want to run. Bridles. Saddles. How would this work? From what she understood from reading the rules, they didn’t have saddles, bridles or r
iders. The lack of riders made sense considering the hell-horses liked to snack on each other. Throw in a jockey or two and they’d have a well-rounded, satisfying meal.
Ry said she needed to train the hell-horse to run on command. She considered the mare and knew if she developed a relationship with the creature, a rapport where they trusted each other, her task would be easier.
The mare gave a soft yap, a contented mother sound. Camryn saw the foal had finished drinking and appeared asleep on its feet. She manhandled it over to a clear area and settled him on the ground. Now that the creature had dried off, his appearance edged toward cute. His fur was jet black and, once free of mud and clinging burrs, would feel silky and soft. The black eyes were heavily lashed and the ears were long like a regular horse but had rounded tips rather than pointy. The tail was shorter and the forequarters and shoulder appeared more powerful than the rear. This meant their backs sloped a fraction and would make balance difficult for a jockey, especially if they didn’t have a saddle.
The foal inhaled and released the breath with a shuddery whisper. As long as the wounds healed and didn’t become infected, Camryn thought the creature would recover. Another day and the result might have been different.
She turned her attention to the mother. Although her scent was strong, it wasn’t repulsive. Some of the others she’d seen had smelled worse. Burrs matted her mane and coat. Camryn didn’t have a brush but perhaps some basic grooming would help to create trust. Holding out her hand, she approached with caution. Hopefully the mare wouldn’t think her hand was a dinner offering because she hadn’t noticed the hell-horse eating anything.
“I’m not going to hurt you, girl.” Camryn took another two cautious steps. “What am I going to call you? I can’t keep calling you ‘girl’, now can I?” The first name came to mind was Gabriel, and her vision blurred. Apt. “How would you like Gabriel for your name?” The mare’s snort brought a watery grin. “How about Gabby for short? Maybe calling you after my husband will help me keep my mind off that hunky kitty-cat.” Her next step brought her hand into contact with the mare. She stroked her hand across the fur, finding it silky. “Good girl, Gabby. Good girl.” Camryn tugged at a burr, which was clinging to her coat. The mare snorted and flinched but didn’t move. “And how about Luke for your foal?” Calling the foal after her nephew would keep her focused on returning home. “Keep my thoughts off Ry,” she whispered.
Something jumped onto her arm and clung, something black and ugly. Camryn flicked it off but another crawled up her arm and nipped at her. “Ticks!” Camryn ripped it off her arm and blood flowed down her wrist. The mare tensed, her nostrils quivering. Her nicker was one Camryn hadn’t heard before.
Food. Oh god. She’d transformed from helpful friend to food. Camryn sucked on the site of the bite and licked the blood away. The metallic taste of blood barely penetrated her dread. She had to stop the bleeding. Now. She clamped her fingers down cruelly, the pressure of her fingers leeching the color from her skin. Backing away, she slipped behind a tree and leaned against the trunk, panting hard. Camryn shook her head and noticed another tick on her arm. Revulsion filled her but she couldn’t afford to make the same mistake again. Camryn clambered up a tree out of Gabby’s reach and hoped like hell Ry hurried.
* * * * *
“Was it uncomfortable up the tree?” Kaya didn’t try to hide her smirk.
At every opportunity the warrior ribbed Camryn about her night spent perched in the tree. Even though it had been three weeks ago, and she’d spent the time since training Gabby and getting her and Luke used to loading on the tender.
“Old news,” Camryn snapped. “I’m going to check on the hell-horses. Gabby wasn’t very happy earlier.” She stalked away with Kaya’s laughter rippling after her and fumed throughout the entire loading process.
The tender finally took off. Camryn and Mogens spent the journey down in the cargo bay with the mare and foal while Ry flew the tender. Mogens gave the animals a mild sedative to calm them and they seemed relaxed.
They had decided to fly closer to the city and would stay on the outskirts of a mountain village Jannike had heard about during a crew jaunt to a tavern. Sounded good to Camryn. She hadn’t liked the city. The convicts and the marines with their easy brutality turned her stomach. Walking down the city streets made her think of a gritty historical novel set in Australia, and the constant black fog was depressing.
The mare whickered and tossed her head. The foal crept closer to Mogens and nudged his arm to urge the seer to scratch behind his ears. Camryn smothered a smile. Luke loved a good scratch behind the ears and became quite aggressive if petting wasn’t forthcoming.
Kaya sprinted into the cargo bay. “Ry says to hold tight. We have other tenders in the area.”
“His brother?” Mogens asked.
“We’re not sure yet. Just be ready for anything.” Kaya hurried away.
“Great,” Camryn snarled. “If I ever meet his sainted brother I’m going to slap him myself. Ry said Talor set him up for murder.” Curiosity tinged her words.
Mogens grunted. “I wasn’t with Ry from the start. I understand Talor stole his fiancée. Ry needed currency to escape Ibrox and he cleaned out his brother’s safe. He’s tried to clear his name. Every trail ran cold. He lives to harass his brother.”
“So he steals his brother’s cargo shipments? I can’t imagine a feud like that with my brother.” But she’d disappointed Max. She’d seen it in his eyes each time he looked at her. His disappointment made her desolation worse, and she’d drunk more.
Without warning the tender lurched sideways. Gabby yapped in alarm. Luke practically clambered on top of Mogens, seeking reassurance.
“Okay, Mogens?” Camryn stepped to Gabby’s head, murmuring soothing words. Only the tempting scent of a cooked steak had enticed her inside the tender today. Luke had scrambled after Mogens like a friendly puppy.
“We’re fine.”
The ship lurched again, flinging Camryn against the wall. Off balance, Gabby fell, crushing the breath out of her. Weakly, she pushed. “Move, Gabby. Move.” The instant Gabby shifted her weight, Camryn clambered on her back and slid over the other side.
“Impressive acrobatics,” Mogens said.
“A childhood dream,” Camryn said. “My brother and I gave our parents gray hair with our daring maneuvers while we trained to join the circus.”
Gunfire sounded. Gabby growled, eyes rolling and ears flattening to her head. Camryn tensed.
“Pirates.” Kaya thumped into the cargo bay. “Ry sent me to warn you. Things are about to get rough. There’s a storm coming. We’re flying into it.” She disappeared at a run.
He wouldn’t want to risk the hell-horses. Fair enough. Camryn just hoped they could keep the creatures calm.
“How bad will this get?” she asked Mogens.
Animals sensed things and the hell-horses seemed more intelligent than most. They’d discern their stress, their fear.
She felt the speed of the tender increase. “Do you think the tender following has stopped firing?”
“Hard to say.” Mogens skin bled to white then swirled with ribbons of black.
Huh, Mogens feared worse to come. Without warning the ship dropped like a plane hitting turbulence. Camryn gasped, her stomach struggling to catch up. Luke whimpered. Mogens stroked his neck, whispering soothing words.
Camryn wrapped her arm around Gabby’s neck. “Steady, girl. It’s okay.” The mare trembled, rolled her eyes.
The tender’s flight path leveled. Camryn’s breath eased out in a puff of relief. That hadn’t been so bad.
Without warning, they hit more turbulence. A hard bump. The tender dropped again. Camryn’s stomach didn’t have time to settle before they hit a second bump. Luke yipped, almost crushing Mogens. The seer’s skin swirled with changing colors, the pale gray changing to charcoal, the sole clue to his unease.
Camryn pressed against Gabby. Comfort the mare. Keep her calm. The ship jumped, the
roar of the engines almost dying before giving another full-throated roar. Gabby squealed, stood on her foot.
A yelp roared from Camryn as pain galloped up to her knee. “Shit!”
The mare was so much bigger. Camryn pushed her withers, struggling to free herself without panicking the mare more.
“Dammit.” She choked off her curse. She was collecting bruises faster than an avid gambler collected debt.
“Camryn?”
“I’m okay.” Apart from the bruises on top of bruises.
The ship bounced. The mare shuffled sideways, moving off her boot. Camryn winced and didn’t have time to check for damage before the ship bucked again like a two-year-old being broke to saddle, each crashing thump sending Camryn off-balance. She lost her footing and fell beneath the mare’s feet.
“Camryn,” Mogens shouted, but he could do nothing except hold the foal steady.
“Bloody hell!” She scrambled across the slippery floor. Gabby struggled for footing, trying not to stand on her. A hoof clipped her hip. Tears smarted at her eyes.
Her legs were rubbery by the time the buckin’ bronco ride ceased. She’d ended up squeezed between the wall and the mare again. Before she could shift, the tender hit more turbulence. Gabby fell, shoving Camryn’s arm against the metal wall with such pressure she heard a sharp crack. Pain, agonizing and swift, hit. Tears filled her eyes as she breathed through the agony.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, the ship straightened. Through a haze of pain, Camryn heard Mogens murmuring to Luke. He soothed Gabby, pushing her away from Camryn. The mare’s weight had kept her upright and with it gone, she crumpled.
At least there was no blood, she thought before her world faded.
* * * * *
Ry landed the ship on the outskirts of the village near a lake. Set at the base of a mountain with the houses clinging to the slopes, it was a beautiful spot. And best of all, he didn’t think there were other visitors in the area, or at least he hadn’t spotted any on their radar system. It was a good place to set Yep at rest, if they could persuade Nanu to let him go.
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