Dark Horse (16 page)

Suddenly, over the noise of the fal , Gabria heard a Hunnuli neigh. Nara. Then another answered and her heart stopped. There was only one other Hunnuli . . .

"Oh, gods,” she muttered and started to stand up.

"Hello, Gabran."

Fear jolted through Gabria's stomach. She fell back into the water and edged against the rock wall by the fal s. Athlone stood on the bank by her clothes. Lazily, he nudged her sword with his foot and removed his own sword belt.

"How is the water?" he asked casually.

She only stared at him in wordless horror. He pulled off his tunic and unlaced his boots. "I followed you to be sure you did not have any trouble. These mountains can be treacherous." His pants joined the heap of clothes, and he stretched in the warm sunlight. His body was lean and muscular and traced with white scars. "A swim is an excellent idea. I think I will join you."

Gabria watched him dive into the pool and buried her face in the moss. "Oh, goddess,” she pleaded. "Help me now."

While he swam toward her, the Corin bolted away toward the opposite bank in the vain hope that she could hide before the wer-tain saw her body. But the crystal water betrayed her. There was nothing to hide her curved hips or the swel of her breasts.

Athlone abruptly stopped dead in the water. He stared at her, and his eyes froze in astonishment and stunned realization.

Gabria stopped swimming, stood up in the shal ow water, and faced him, her chin tilted up and the water running down her breasts. "Now what, Wer-tain?" she chal enged.

Without warning, he lunged at her and his hands clamped her arms before she could move. Her eyes were pinned by his gaze of erupting fury. "By the gods,” he snarled. He dropped her in the water, grabbed her hair with one hand and felt her breasts as if he could not believe his eyes. Gabria's skin crawled at his touch, and she closed her eyes. He shook her, nearly snapping her neck.

"A woman,” he spat. "Are you Medb's little spy?" He pushed her underwater and held her, struggling, until her lungs burned, then he hauled her out like a gasping fish. "Who are you?" Athlone thrust her under again without waiting for an answer.

Gabria's fingers tore at his wrists, but she could not loosen his grip on her hair. She would have given almost anything for her sword at that moment. Inexplicably, she began to feel more anger than fear, and resentment surged through her.

Once more Athlone dragged her head out of the water. "Defiling pig!" he cried. "Who sent you to spread your lies in my father's treld?"

Gabria shrieked in fury and lashed out at his stomach. He dodged and shoved her under for the third time. She fought his merciless hold with frantic strength until her lungs were bursting and the blood pounded behind her eyes. Despite her training, she was no match for the wer-tain in unarmed combat. He was stronger, heavier, and more skil ed. But maybe she could surprise him.

Unexpectedly, the girl went limp and let a few bubbles trail out of her mouth. Her head hurt horribly, but she concentrated on relaxing every muscle and floating as if dead.

Athlone loosened his grip on her hair. As she felt his hands relax, Gabria drew her legs up, shoved violently against the bottom of the pool, and rammed her head into Athlone's stomach. He doubled over, cursing and gasping. Gabria fled for the bank. She scrambled over the damp rocks and moss as he came after her. The girl glanced back and saw the wer-tain plunging through the water like a furious stallion, his face twisted in rage and his eyes murderously dark. Frantically, Gabria ran for her clothes.

Her fingers found her dagger, and she whirled to face Athlone as he lunged out of the pool.

“Keep away, Wer-tain,” she cried, backing toward a tree.

Athlone paused for a moment, his eyes on her face. "Show your tooth, viper. Even Medb's snakes can be stepped on." He edged nearer.

Gabria's eyes flared with green fire, but she stayed with her back to the tree.

"Medb's whore,” he taunted. "Is that how you survived the Corin's massacre? Did you spread your legs for him---and his exiles, too?"

A searing rage tore away Gabria's sensibilities and, like a catalyst, sparked the blue fire of her arcane power. "Curse you!" she stormed, unaware of the magic building within her. "You know nothing.

You are as bad as Medb, rooting through corpses for a shred of self-esteem. You snap and snarl like a toothless dog."

Athlone laughed. "Far better to be an equal of Medb's than his whining cast-off. Will you grovel in the dirt to save your life again?”

Gabria leaped at the warrior like a cornered lioness. Her attack was so fast it took him by surprise and, when she stabbed at him, her dagger found the hol ow of his left shoulder. The blade went deep, embedding in the muscle and ligaments. Even as the dagger sank in. the blue aura rose from Gabria's hand and raced down the jeweled hilt and silver blade into Athlone's body.

Her force was stronger this time and would have kil ed the wer-tain, except that the magic met a strange resistance. Instead of destroying Athlone, the attack only weakened him.

He gasped and went pale. He flung her violently away and stood rigid, staring stunned at the blood that trailed down his chest. The warrior hissed. "Sorceress! What have you done to me?" Then his strength failed and he col apsed unconscious.

Gabria stood for a long time, her body shuddering in the release of her rage. She closed her eyes and forcibly control ed her wild panting. The beast. He deserves to die, she thought triumphantly. How dare he cal her Medb's whore. She leaned over and wrenched her dagger loose. The blood surged out of the wound and flowed down the wer-tain's side.

Gabria held the point of the weapon against the hollow of his throat, where life lay just below the skin. It would be so easy. One simple thrust. Then the wer-tain would be dead and his suspicions with him. It would be the first time she kil ed a man, but it would be wonderful to start with this one. She could still feel his hands pawing her body and hear his unspeakable insults. The knife dug into the skin as her anger rekindled. A bead of blood glistened on the dagger point.

Kill him,
her mind said.
He's dangerous. He wil betray you if he lives.
The blade eased deeper. More scarlet beads welled up.

Red, Gabria mused as she watched the blood stain the tan of Athlone's neck. As red as the blood on the grass at Corin Treld.

In disgust, Gabria threw down the dagger and squatted on the grass beside him. She hated herself for her weakness, but she could not kil Athlone in cold blood. She had seen enough blood to last a lifetime, and, as her rage cooled, she realized that she did not real y want the wer-tain's murder on her hands. Besides, he did not deserve to die like this. His wound was payment enough for his insults.

However. that stil left the monumental problem of what Athlone would do to her if he recovered.

Gabria had little doubt he would expose her disguise and have her killed immediately. But maybe, just maybe. he would wait long enough to talk to her. Perhaps she could convince the wer-tain to help her.

Nara did tell her Athlone could be trusted. Gabria hoped the mare was right---it was Gabria's only chance.

The girl sighed irritably. If Athlone was going to live, she would have to bind his wound and take him to Piers quickly. But what would she tel Savaric? Unhappily. she dressed and cleaned the wer-tain's wound and bound it with strips from his own tunic.

Just as she finished clothing him. Nara and Boreas trotted through the trees to the pool. Gabria backed away, eyeing the huge stal ion warily. She wondered if he would be angry at her for his master's injury.

Boreas sniffed Athlone and snorted softly.
I see you two have settled your differences.
His thoughts, lower and more masculine than Nara's, rang richly in her head. Gabria stared at him.

Nara nickered, obviously pleased.
We waited for this, Gabria. You need him.

"I need him like a broken leg,” she said vehemently. "Where were you two?"

Boreas nuzzled Nara's neck, and she nipped playful y at him.
We were occupied.

"Why did you leave me alone?" Gabria demanded. "You knew Athlone would find me."

Of course,
Nara told her.

Athlone is bleeding. We must take him to the healer.
Boreas nudged Gabria.

The girl glared at them both, feeling furious, hurt, and annoyed. Nara had left her intentional y, knowing Athlone would come to the pool.
Why?
The mare knew that the wer-tain was dangerous.

Although the Hunnuli accepted him, how could Nara risk leaving her rider to face Athlone alone and virtually defenseless? In his rage, Athlone had nearly killed Gabria, and it was only through luck she had escaped. Yet both Nara and Boreas had anticipated the outcome of the confrontation.

Hesitantly, Gabria picked up Athlone's gold belt and weighed the heavy metal in her hands. There must have been something that told the Hunnuli that Athlone would not or could not kill her at that time. Her hands tightened around the belt. Perhaps their intuition had something to do with the incident with Cor. Gabria had tried to forget the fight, her dream, and Piers's accusations, but the memories replayed in her mind time and again.

A sickening feeling grew in her stomach. This incident with the wer-tain was too horribly familiar.

Oh, gods, she thought, looking at Athlone, what if I have done it again? Maybe the Hunnuli knew she had a hidden defense, one that could defeat even Athlone.

That idea was more than Gabria wanted to think about then, so, for the moment, she pushed aside the fears forming in her mind and wordlessly helped Nara lift the wer-tain onto Boreas's back. Gabria wrapped the golden cloak around Athlone's bare back and threw away the remains of his tunic.

They traveled slowly back down the mountain, Boreas stepping careful y to keep Athlone balanced.

Gabria spent the time thinking of something to tell Savaric. She wondered if she should flee before Athlone regained consciousness. Even slow starvation would be better than the death Savaric would give her for impersonating a warrior and attacking a wer-tain. Her life could be over the moment Athlone recovered, and no power on earth could save her.

But where could she go? Gabria would be permanently exiled and marked for death. Any clansman who saw her would be obligated to kil her. She would have no clan, no honor, no hope to kil Medb. Yet if she stayed, she was risking her life on the insights of two Hunnuli. Somehow, Nara and Boreas had realized that Athlone was not a danger to her. Otherwise they would not let her return to the treld. Nara had said Athlone could be her best ally. Maybe it was true.

Perhaps if Nara and Boreas supported her, she could convince Athlone to help her. The wer-tain's willing skill and influence would be invaluable in the battle against Lord Medb.

Gabria was beginning to realize that there was far more to killing a chieftain like Medb than a simple chal enge and a duel.

Athlone's help would greatly improve her chances. Unfortunately, she doubted she would be able to convince the wer-tain before he exposed her to Savaric. The wer-tain's rage would undoubtedly wake with him.

Give him time to think,
Boreas told her, breaking her preoccupation.

Gabria started. She had the uncomfortable feeling that the Hunnuli could understand her thoughts, despite what Nara told her. "What?" she asked.

The man is not always impetuous. Give him time and he wil understand.

"May I stake my life on that?" Gabria asked hopefully.

Yes.
The stallion was adamant.

Gabria robbed her hand down Nara's neck and sighed. "I hope you will move fast if Savaric orders me killed."

Nara shook her mane.
There wil be no need.

An outrider saw them as they walked down the hil , and he galloped back to the treld to find Piers.

Gabria watched him disappear among the distant tents ,and steeled herself to meet Savaric. She would have to control her every movement and reaction for fear of the chieftain seeing through her feeble story. She just hoped he would not look too careful y at Athlone's wound beneath the makeshift bandages.

A crowd met them at the edge of the treld, and gentle hands lifted Athlone down and carried him to Piers's tent. Gabria did not try to hide her relief. But other clansmen watched her with open hostility.

The hearthguard came and unobtrusively circled around her. Savaric stood before her with his arms crossed. His face was expressionless.

"How did this happen?" the chief demanded.

Gabria dismounted and met his gaze levelly. "Athlone followed me this morning when I went for a swim in the stream above the Goldrine. While Nara and Boreas were grazing, he climbed a rock wall by the pool and fel on a broken branch."

"Why?" The word was an accusation.

"I don't know," she said as innocently as possible. "Maybe the rocks were slippery. I only saw him fall."

"Why did he fol ow you?"

She glanced at Boreas and patted the horse's neck. Too many details could sound contrived, so she replied, "I guess he wanted to go riding."

The chieftain looked at the two Hunnuli standing protectively beside the girl and then considered her for an excruciating moment. She could feel the eyes of the other warriors boring into her back as everyone waited for Savaric to guide them. A minute passed and Gabria quel ed the desire to bolt for Nara's back.

"Thank you for bringing him back," Savaric said at last.

The ring of men visibly relaxed. The watching clansmen began to drift away, but Gabria still stood her ground. "It was my duty."

Savaric smiled, a knowing lift of his thin lips that held no humor. "Sometimes duty is not taken into account." He turned on his heel and left her, gesturing to his warriors to follow.

When she was alone with the horses, Gabria leaned back on Nara's shoulder and took a deep breath. "That is a dangerous man. Savaric sees many things people try to hide. Even Medb would do wel to stay out of his way."

Savaric is no longer a match for the sorcerer,
Nara told her.