Onora appeared next to Kiki. “Is this wise?”
“We’ll stay in the plains. No one can catch a Sandseed horse in the plains,” I said.
“Unless they’re riding another Sandseed.”
Insulted, Kiki snorted.
“Sandseed horses are good judges of character.” I patted her neck. “They wouldn’t let a dishonorable person ride them.”
Onora’s posture remained rigid.
“Do you really think Kiki would let anything happen to me?” I asked.
She blew out a breath. “All right, but don’t be gone long.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“You can joke. I’m the one who will be in trouble if you’re hurt.”
I looked at her.
“Yeah, I know. No one would blame me. Ari and Janco keep telling me I’ll have more success herding snow cats than protecting you, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try.”
That was actually sweet. Kiki gave her the horse equivalent of a kiss on her cheek. Surprised, Onora touched the wet spot.
“Thank you,” I said. “We won’t be long.” I nudged Kiki with my knees.
Kiki broke into a gallop. Holding on to her copper mane, I enjoyed the fresh air blowing in my face as she raced over the rolling terrain. Without warning, she switched to her gust-of-wind gait. The ground beneath us blurred as her stride smoothed. We flew in a river of wind.
I doubted she sensed danger. Perhaps Kiki had just missed the speed. She couldn’t use the gait when we traveled with the others. And the plains were the only place she could truly fly.
Eventually she reverted back to a canter, then slowed to a walk. Her sides heaved as sweat darkened her coat. We remained in the plains, but I didn’t recognize the area until I spotted a familiar clump of stunted pines.
Alarmed, I stopped her and dismounted. “Why did we come so far? Did someone chase us?”
She turned her head to the right. I squinted into the sunlight and spotted a distant brown cloud of dust that meant riders. My first thought was of danger. We needed to hide. Except if they had followed us, why would Kiki stop here? Kiki didn’t wait for me to make up my mind. She walked in their direction. I hurried to catch up.
When we crested a mound, all worries melted. Two horses headed our way. I recognized Rusalka and Leif in front, but when I focused on the unfamiliar second horse, my apprehension reappeared in a heartbeat. Not Valek, but Devlen and Reema.
A thousand awful scenarios played through my mind about why Valek wasn’t with them. By the time they drew closer, I was all but convinced he’d been captured. Or killed.
Leif shot me a wide grin when he stopped Rusalka next to Kiki. Faint bruises darkened his face. Dirt and blood stained his travel clothes, and he appeared tired.
“I’m so glad to see you.” Leif hopped off the saddle and pulled me into a hug. “When Fisk’s people said you’d passed by over ten days ago, I worried you wouldn’t wait for us.” He released me and peered around. “Wait. We’re far from the shelter. What happened? Where’s Mara?”
“She’s fine. She’s back at camp with the others.” I gestured to Kiki. “We went for a ride, and she must have sensed Rusalka and decided to intercept you.”
“Where’s the camp?”
Unable to hold it in any longer, I asked, “Where’s Valek?”
“He’s fine.” Leif grabbed my arm to steady me. “He stayed behind to wait for Opal.”
“Why?” I glanced at Devlen and Reema. Both looked equally exhausted, although Reema waved and smiled at me.
“Long story. I’ll tell you later. How far is the camp?”
“Another day at least.”
He frowned. “That must have been some ride.”
“We’ve all been so worried about you. And I would stay with you, but Onora will have a fit if I don’t return.” Probably too late. We’d been gone most of the afternoon.
“Onora?”
“Valek didn’t tell you about Cahil?”
“No, but we were together for only a few hours.”
“It’s a long story, as well. At least we’ll have lots to talk about while we wait for Valek and Opal.” And that reminded me. Mara. She needed Leif. “On second thought, maybe you should go on ahead, and I’ll stay with Reema and Devlen.”
Leif stilled. “Why?”
I led him away from young ears and told him about her terrifying experience.
A cold, hard fury blazed in his gaze. “I’ll kill them.”
“She might beat you to it.”
He grabbed my arms. “What are you talking about?”
I explained how she was training to be “dangerous.”
He released his painful grip on my biceps. “Oh, no, she’s not. I’m not allowing her to get involved in any more danger.”
Remembering Mara’s where-you-go-I-go declaration, I asked, “Does that mean you’ll stay away from danger, as well?”
He growled at me. “Of course not.”
“Then good luck with that.”
He huffed with annoyance, then strode back to Rusalka. “Where’s the camp?”
“I’m sure Kiki has told Rusalka the location. Please tell Onora where I am.”
“All right.” Leif mounted and urged his horse into a gallop. They soon disappeared.
“Are we stopping for the night?” Devlen asked.