Battle Horse

Chapter Thirty

The ten Araluen knights accompanied them as they road out of the Celtica castle. Cassandra seemed a bit on edge, but nothing compared to Ena. The image of the Wargal kept flashing in her mind. She dropped Dancer's reins, allowing him to follow the group by himself. She leaned forward and tangled her fingers in his thick black mane, feeling his soft hair. He had scared away the wargal, maybe if she just stayed beside him they would be fine? Evanlyn, who was riding beside her, noticed her friend tense.

"Ena, we'll be fine. We'll be safe in the south until the war is over." Evanlyn said reassuring her. Ena let out a deep sigh.

"I know. I'm just a bit on edge. Must be homesickness." She lied. Evanlyn knew it wasn't homesickness, but she brushed it off anyway.

"Don't worry, your big horse in shining armor will save you." Evanlyn teased. Ena gave her a small smile, patting Dancers neck.

"Yes. He has saved me twice, what's one more?"

They rode on for another three days with no problems. The knights kept constant watch, but even they weren't able to catch the surprise attack in time. A party of around twenty wargals appeared out of no where, cutting them off. The knights drew their swords, and began to take them on.

"Run, my ladies!" Sir Carl yelled. Cassandra grabbed Dancers reins, seeing Ena had dropped them in freight. All three horses ran, trying to put as much distance as possible between the monsters and themselves. It wasn't until Ena heard a blood curdling scream did she look back. The battlefield was bloody, all of it being their escorts.

"Come Ena! We can't help them!" Evanlyn yelled. Ena tore her tear filled gaze away from the massacre when she saw a few wargals glance their way. She urged Dancer into a canter to catch up with Evanlyn and Cassandra.

"We have no choice, we must head back to Araluen." Cassandra said, her face pale from the horrid scene they had just witnessed. "The Wargals have blocked off the way to the south. Celtica has become overrun." Ena's stomach filled with even more dread than before.

"Cassandra, I can't enter Araluen. I'll be killed!" She said in a panic. Cassandra rolled her eyes.

"Ena, I believe my father will understand when I've told him all about how you've saved my life. Don't you want to go home?" She asked. Ena nodded her head quickly.

"Yes!" She exclaimed.

"Than that settles it. We're going home." Cassandra said.

***

"We must keep going. The Wargals are not far behind." Evanlyn said, urging them on. Ena was on the verge of falling asleep in her saddle, and Cassandra kept complaining about the cold. They had only been riding for five hours, and the Wargals were still hot in their pursuit. Ena was mentally exhausted from the past two days, that she could barely keep her eyes open.

"Why don't we leave the road? We can ride a few miles into the forest and loose them so we can set up camp." Ena suggested sleepily.

"No, we need to stick to the road." Cassandra insisted.

"It'll be easier for them to catch us!" Ena retorted. Cassandra glared at her.

"I am the princess. I give the orders here." Cassandra snapped. Ena glared at her, urging Dancer forward so she didn't have to see at the Princess's sour look.

"We'll never get anywhere if we're fighting." Evanlyn scoffed. Cassandra and Ena refused to even look at each other. The strawberry blonde haired princess stuck her chin up in defiance, a look that promised Ena she would not agree with her.

"Fine we'll stay on the road." Ena said reluctantly.

"Well I think it's best we hurry. I think I can hear that awful chanting." Evanlyn said wincing. It's all they had heard for the past few hours. The Wargals seemed to chant, in some form of grunting and growling as they walked. Ena urged Dancer to go faster, as the others did as well. But their horses were exhausted from running and carrying their riders. Next thing they knew, Evanlyn's stumbled, throwing his rider off. Evanlyn lay on the ground slightly dazed.

"Evanlyn!" Cassandra screamed. The Wargals were upon them.

"Run!" Evanlyn shrieked.

"Cassandra, Get out of here!" Ena yelled. A frightened Cassandra and her horse ran off. Ena turned Dancer around. The Wargals were surrounding Evanlyn and her horse, who had broken his leg.

"Run! Ena!" Evanlyn insisted. The Wargals attacked, launching themselves at Evanlyn and the wounded horse.

"Come on, Dancer." Ena and Dancer ran straight into the mass of Wargals. They scattered in fright at the sight of Dancer. Evanlyn lay on the ground with her leg bloodied and teeth and claw marks trailing all down her body. Ena jumped off Dancer, picking up the wounded maid and putting her in the saddle. Ena climbed up behind her, holding her tightly as Dancer ran off with them. He left the road, running into the forest. The Wargals crowded back around the wounded horse, and began tearing him apart as he cried. Ena tried her hardest to block out the cries, but it was impossible. Tears built up in her eyes thinking about how it could have been Dancer.

Evanlyn groaned in her arms, and let out a whimper.
"Hold on Evanlyn, we'll find somewhere safe." She knew Cassandra had escaped so she made Evanlyn her top priority. Once they were far from the murder scene of Evanlyn's horse, Ena reined Dancer in. She slid out of the saddle and gently helped Evanlyn to the ground. She leaned her up against a tree and began to work on her wounds. She started by cutting away all fabric that wasn't torn around the wounds, than she grabbed her water skin, cleansing the wounds as best as she could. They covered her entire body, to where Ena wouldn't be able to recognize the beautiful maid under all the blood.

"Ena?" Evanlyn coughed, blood trickling out of her mouth.

"Shush. You're safe. I'm here." Ena said, petting her red hair gently.

"Cassandra?" She croaked.

"She managed to get away. She's okay." Ena reassured her. "Now let me bandage you up." Once they had been washed, Ena grabbed her dagger, cutting the bottom of her skirt into long strips. By the time she had finished hacking away at her dress, it fell a little above her knees. Though the exposure made her uncomfortable, Evanlyn needed to be bandaged. Ena carefully wrapped her leg and her waist.

"I can't do much for that mark on your face." Ena said sorrowfully. Evanlyn rolled her eyes.

"I don't care, Ena. I'm just glad it wasn't my lady. She'll be back in Araluen in no time." Evanlyn sighed contentedly.

"Meanwhile, we need to find the nearest village. You need real medical help." Ena said. She pulled Evanlyn to her feet, and helped her back into the saddle. Ena rubbed Dancer's face softly.

"Good boy, Dancer. You did well." She whispered to him. His ears flicked towards her at the sound of her voice. She smiled and gave him a kiss. She than climbed in front of Evanlyn, who looped her arms tightly around Ena's waist for stability.

"Let's hope Cassandra will be alright." Evanlyn said before she nodded off into unconsciousness.

***

Hi! *waves* so I love this chapter, even though it's a teeny tiny bit gory. Those of you who have read RA, I couldn't do what John Flanagan did to Evanlyn! And for those who haven't read RA, I took pity on Evanlyn, though it may not look like it. Please comment and Vote! Love you all!

~Avis