His Captive Sorceress

Chapter 49: Asarus's Book of Old Tongue

"We must travel with haste," Trevus says. He's standing on the tall rocks surrounding our camp, peering at the horizon with his hand blocking the morning sun.

I sit up. "What's happening?"

He offers a hand, pulling my weight up onto the rock beside him. I steady myself on the stone, which has doubled my height. "Turn your gaze south to the lone ickther tree, then observe left of the two rocks," he says. "A footman walks our trail."

I follow his finger. The small black specs look like distant boulders, no different to the ones we're standing on. "I see three stones."

"We passed between two rocks yesterday. Either the landscape has changed, or we have a pursuer." He jumps off the boulder and helps me down.

"Is it possible they're just fellow travelers to Tarsis?" I ask.

"Travelers tend not to stray from the main roads." He unhitches our horses.

I throw our things into the saddle bag, and Trevus helps me up onto Gal. We're on our way immediately, pushing Gid and Gal to move quickly.

"Are they Versillian?" I ask.

Trevus turns to look again, but they're obscured by the landscape. "'Tis unclear," he says. He must be wondering the same thing I am – did a Ceramayan piece together that I'm the girl on the wanted poster?

We trek through the fields of dry grass with haste. Pushing Gid and Gal to gallop would only exhaust them, so we settle on a brisk walk – slower than a man could sprint, but faster than one could walk.

The sun rises to its highest point in the sky. We haven't seen our pursuers since dawn, but Trevus won't let us stop. Tactics are his forte, so I follow his word without question.

My saddle falls out from under me, and my body flies forward. A horrible snarl leaves Gal as she tumbles down. We both crash into the hard dirt. My arms absorb the impact, but a sharp pain erupts in my leg.

I groan. Gal's lying sideways on my leg, her body flailing about as she struggles to find purchase on the dry soil. I try twist my leg out from under her, but the pressure keeps it pinned in place.

"Jade!" Trevus rushes over. His voice is distressed. That's not like him.

"I'm stuck," I say between gritted teeth.

Instead of trying to lift Gal's large chest, he approaches her from a different angle. Careful to avoid her swinging legs, he takes hold of her reins and guides her head away from my body.

I cry out from the pressure of her large shoulder shifting over my leg. Soon she's twisted enough that I can drag myself out.

The moment I'm free, Trevus rushes back over. He rolls his jacket into a makeshift pillow to rest under my head. His eyes run up and down my frame. "Where is your pain at its peak?"

"My whole right leg aches." I push myself up on my elbows to get a better look. My arms are sore from the impact, but they're not what I'm concerned about. To my relief, nothing about my leg looks skew or out of place.

Trevus raises my dress to an inch below my hips. "You may feel discomfort, but I shall not aggravate the injury." His fingers wrap around my upper thigh, and he pauses, waiting for confirmation that I'm ready.

I nod.

He probes my skin deep, slowly shifting his fingers down my leg. It hurts. I force my teeth together, muffling a scream to a loud grunt. He checks every ridge and crevice, pressing deep until reaching bone.

He stops upon reaching my ankle. "Nothing is broken. Only bruised. I have witnessed similar injuries on patrol. You shall be limping by tomorrow."

I lie back on his rolled jacket. Thank goodness.