The Lone Rider

Chapter 2

Kell rode his horse hard through the early morning. He knew she could handle it; a good breed like her. Still, with the weight of three on her back, he could feel her fatigue growing, her breath hardening. He would have to rest her soon and didn't like their prospects.

The Broken Pass proved more strenuous than he expected, the winter's snows left giant drifts of white fluff blown on either side and rapid ripples in the middle. It was slow going, narrow with jagged walls shooting up at their sides and occasionally squeezing them in. It was a tough choice: find a place to rest and risk the Risen catching up or plowing on and risk over working his horse to death.

"It's beautiful," said a voice that startled him from behind. Adaline. He thought she was asleep.

Gritting his teeth at his decision, he replied, "In an odd, dangerous way, yes."

"Dangerous..." Her words echoed along the cave like walls of the pass.

Waylon seemed to still be asleep in the back of the trio. Kell could hear light snores escaping his mouth.

"Do you know where we are?" Adaline asked.

"Yes," Kell said. "The Broken Pass. It's one of the few ways through these mountains."

"Do you know where we're going?"

"Of course."

Kell heard a sigh. "Somehow... I don't think that is the case."

"Why is that?"

"I don't know."

In fact, Kell had never been through this pass before, or even touched foot in the Metimos even once. This was as close to the north he had ever been. Close to as cold as well. Even for his body, the cold cut through him like a knife. He wondered how the other two were faring. Adaline didn't seem to be bothered, fiercely warm against his back, even through his thick cloak.

He pointed forward. "About another mile or so and the path cuts in two directions. The left path, to the south-west, takes you further into the mountains. The right path will take you into Rouche." Though he'd never crossed, he did make sure to memorize the map he was shown.

"Which way are we taking?" Adaline asked.

"Left."

"Don't we want to go to Rouche?"

"Eventually. I have someone to see first." He thought of the old man, and felt a deep hatred grow in his stomach. Always with his riddles and games, the manipulating and deceiving, and somehow always coming out on top.

"Who lives out here in the middle of the mountains?"

Kell shook his head. "Just a crazy old man."

"Is he important?"

"You ask a lot of questions." Kell responded, a bit coldly.

"I have a lot to learn." Adaline said.

"So it seems."

"Aren't you going to ask me any questions?"

"No," Kell said.

"Why is that?"

"There's nothing I need to ask."

With that, Adaline fell silent. For the first time that night, he felt his own fatigue. He had forgotten he'd been up for over forty hours. Even he needed to sleep at times. He patted his horse on the neck in an attempt to sooth her. "Sorry I've worked you so hard," he told her. He'd never given her a name. His people didn't do that. "You've done great. We'll rest soon."