The Archer's Hollow

Chapter Seven Much Ado

The suppressed scream finally burst from Siri's lips. Her short flight ended abruptly with a loud thud and Master Kael's panicked shout.

Golden hay spewed into the air around her and pain squeezed her head and shoulders as if an anvil sat upon her. Siri's mind called to her body to get up and brush off, but her limbs refused to move. Her chest rejected all efforts to expand her lungs for desperately needed air. Regaining some of her movement, her arms clawed at the straw.

A strong hand gripped her flailing arm and pulled her upright. Hay settled at her feet leaving tiny motes swirling through the air. Siri's chest burned as she gasped and coughed.

"Stars above! Are you all right?"

No words would come so she just nodded. Siri fought against the squeezing tightness that remained around her ribs. Managing a shallow breath she wondered if she would die here in front of this god-like elf.

The throbbing ache at the back of her head increased. Rubbing it to relieve the ache she noted the tangle of straw in her thick braid. As if she weren't already a big mess. She must look like a scarecrow. Her heart sank and she wondered how appalled he must be by her appearance.

Master Kael interrupted her thoughts, "You are hurt! Take deep breaths. Did you hit the barn?"

Siri finally found her voice, "Hit something . . . didn't see . . . what it was." She glanced at the haystack and realized a long, low structure stood behind it.

"The barn." Master Kael reached to check her injured head. Her heart pounded for a different reason now. She winced at the dull pain. "There is a little knot, but you are not bleeding, so that is good. Come, if you do not feel better by the time we get to my Grandma Nia's house I will find something to put on it."

"I'm not getting on . . . that horse." Her breathing hadn't returned to normal and she struggled to speak.

"Hmm, that presents a little bit of a problem. If you fall or get thrown you have to get back on."

Her indignation finally overcame her distress, "Whoever decided that never fell . . . or got thrown . . . otherwise they would never have said something . . . so ridiculous!"

He laughed out loud. "Actually, it is an excellent rule. If you do not get back on, chances are good you never will."

"And that's a bad thing? I don't have a horse . . . and don't plan on ever riding one again. Just point me in the right direction . . . and I will walk or run."

Master Kael huffed a frustrated breath. "Siri, traveling by foot is not an option so this really is not up for discussion."

"Fine, we won't discuss it."

As she drew in a breath to continue, he said, "Please get on because we need to go."

"I am not getting on the horse. I will run instead."

She turned the direction they had traveled and started running. Her breathing still pained her, but the more distance she put between herself and that horse the better.

"Rrrr!"

His frustrated growl followed after her and she heard his low whistle for the horses. She pictured him atop his horse leading Faye quietly along but soon the thundering of their hooves proved her wrong. The stallion's head passed her and without warning Master Kael hauled her into the air onto the back of the beast. Her startled cry ended as she bit her lip and clung for her life to the commanding elf whose riding resembled her state of mind: borderline insanity.