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Raj Ahten raced for the city gates； hoping he was not too late。
Sweat poured from Gaborn's face as he urged the horses through the lower bailey。 Thousands of troops clogged the gates。
Five hundred knights milled outside the city wall。 Their warhorses wore the finest armor Sylvarresta's smiths could forge； blackened and polished。 Another thousand archers stood ready near the walls with bows strung； should an army race out from the woods。
Yet the fact that so many men had already left the castle did not ease the congestion。 Thousands of soldiers did not travel pletely alonesquires； cooks； armorers； tailors； bearers； fletchers； prostitutes； washwomen all thronged the streets。 Raj Ahten had seven thousand soldiers in his legion； but his camp contained another thousand followers。 Armorers dressed the horses in the bailey。 Children darted about underfoot。 Two cows had run down the Butterwalk and now tramped through the crowd。
In the turmoil； Gaborn rode from the castle； trailing Iome's mount； her father's； and those of two Days； trying to keep his horse from kicking and biting every soldier who wore the red wolves of Raj Ahten on his shield or surcoat。
One dark…faced sergeant grabbed the reins of Gaborn's horse； shouting； 〃Give me horse； boy。 I take that one！〃
〃Raj Ahten told me to keep the reins myself；〃 Gaborn said。 〃It's for Jureem。〃
The sergeant drew back his hand as if the words burned him； eyed the horse longingly。
Gaborn rode through the press of bodies； toward the throng of soldiers gathering on the blackened grass outside Castle Sylvarresta。 He held the line to the King's horse tightly； glanced back。
The idiot king smiled at everyone； waving； his mouth wide with joy。 Gaborn's own mount； with its surly nature； waded through the masses； breaking a path for the horses that followed。 Iome's and King Sylvarresta's Days trailed last。
Near the blackened gates； everyone sought to surge across the damaged drawbridge。 One side had burned through from the elemental's fires； but had been hastily repaired。
〃Make way for the King's mounts！ 'Ware the King's mounts！〃 Gaborn shouted。
Gaborn eyed the city walls as he passed beneath the portal。 Archers everywhere guarded the outer wall； but most foot soldiers had deserted their posts。
Then； suddenly； he passed under the main arch。 Gaborn did not entirely trust the ruined bridge to hold the weight of both his people and their horses。 A few planks had been thrown over the rent； but they looked flimsy； so he dismounted； had Iome do the same。 As for the King； he left the man mounted and cautiously walked each horse across； then entered the throng of soldiers milling about in the charred grass。
Raj Ahten's soldiers nervously watched the hills； anxious to be on their way。 The troops bunched together； as men do when fearful。 The sounds of King Orden's hunting horns less than an hour before had put them in a grim mood。
Iome crossed the bridge； and Gaborn helped her back into the saddle； then led her mount over the dirt road； holding the reins to his own horse； as if he were but a stableman delivering the animals。
From behind him came a sudden motion。 A strong voice shouted； 〃You； Prince Orden！〃
Gaborn leapt a horse； with a kick spurred the beast； shouting； 〃Game ho！〃 His mount surged forward so hard that Gaborn nearly fell from the saddle。
He'd taken his mounts from Sylvarresta's hunting stables； trusting they were trained for the chase。 At his mand； the horses ran like the wind。 These were horses bred for the woods； strong of leg； deep of chest。
Some quick…thinking soldier leapt in Gaborn's path； battle…axe half…drawn。 〃Strike！〃 Gaborn shouted； and his horse leapt and lashed out with a forehoof； dashing the warrior's head open with the rim of its iron shoe。
From atop the castle wall； Raj Ahten cried； 〃Stop them！ Hold them！ Before they reach the woods！〃 His voice echoed from the hills。
Then Gaborn reached the fields； with Iome shouting and racing beside； clutching the reins to her father's mount。
Behind them； the pair of Days had not spurred forward。 One soldier grabbed the King's Days by the hem of his robe； dragged the man down as the horse bucked。 Three others joined into the task。 Iome's Days； a thin woman with a straight mouth； let her horse dance around the motion； taking the rear。
Dozens of knights spurred their own mounts； heavy warhorses trained for bat。 Gaborn did not fear them。 Under the crushing weight of their own armor and that of their armored riders； the horses should fall behind。 But they were still force horses； with supernatural strength and endurance。
Gaborn glanced back； shouted for Iome to go faster。 He had only a short sword…not much to fight against such men。
On the castle walls； many archers had great bows made of steel that could shoot five hundred yards。 Dozens of them nocked arrows。 At such a distance； no one could fire accurately； but a lucky shot could kill as easily as a skillful one。
His horse galloped so fluidly； he felt as if it were a creature of wind； e to life beneath him； hooves pounding a four…beat。 The stallion raised his ears forward； raised his tail in contentment； grateful to be free of the stable； grateful to race over the ground like a storm。
The woods seemed to rush toward Gaborn。
An arrow whipped past Gaborn's neck； grazed the ear of his mount。
Behind him； a horse screamed in pain； and Gaborn glanced back to see it stumble； an arrow in its neck。 Iome's Days rode the mount； her thin mouth an O of surprise。 She somersaulted over the horse's head； a black arrow in her back as she fell headlong into the charred field。
Half a dozen bowmen had let fly； the arrows sailing toward Gaborn in a long arc。 Gaborn shouted； 〃Right； ho！〃 As one； all three remaining chargers veered； dodging from beneath the arrows' trajectory。
〃Bowmen； cease fire！〃 Raj Ahten raged。 His fool archers were going to kill his Dedicates。
Five dozen knights raced over blackened fields； pocked with dead nomen and Frowth； toward the near hills where burned trees raised twisted limbs。 If the knights did not catch the Prince before he entered the woods； Raj Ahten suspected Gaborn would find safety among King Orden's troops。
As if to confirm Raj Ahten's suspicions； a lone war horn sounded from the woodsa high； lonely cryfrom the peak of the first hill。 A signal for Orden's men to charge。
Who knew how many knights lurked there？
Beside Raj Ahten； two flameweavers ran to the top of the wall。 The hairless men leapt beside him； the heat of their bodies rising fierce as an inferno。
Raj Ahten merely pointed。 He could not see the boy's face。 Even when Gaborn turned； for some reason he could not focus on the boy's face。 But he knew the back； the form。 〃Rahjim； see the young man who is falling behind； preparing to fight？ Burn him。〃
A satisfied light shone from the flameweaver's dark eyes。 Rahjim exhaled nervously； smoke issued from his nostrils。 〃Yes； O Great One。〃
Rahjim drew a rune of fiery power in the air with his finger； then raised a hand high； grasped for half a second toward the sun shining high in the sky。 The heavens suddenly darkened as he gathered sunlight into fibers； threads like molte