Unicorn Keep (16 page)

The herd started to head n
orth again and she spotted smoke against the sky, their course alteration caused by a house on the outskirts of the village. She imagined it would be easy for a single unicorn to move undetected, but an entire herd drew attention.

A dog
at the house barked confirming her earlier worry. Not dark yet, the owners could already be in their house, or more likely would be out rushing to finish the evening chores before they lost all light. It was always a race in the winter to see if Mother Nature could move faster than you.

The herd picked up the pace to a trot,
but didn’t move any farther north. Jiline frowned as she looked in the direction from where the smoke had risen. It was getting darker, making it difficult to see the trail of smoke against the rapidly darkening sky. She glanced at the ground. Rain had come through earlier and the unicorn’s tracks were obvious. She frowned considering them and glanced at Bai behind her.

People will assume we are a wild horse herd if they spot it. More rain is on the way to wash our trail.

She glanced up at the clear sky. She hadn’t seen a single cloud above them all day or any now blocking the stars.

A shadow moved close to the house.
If she could see the shadow, whatever the shadow was could see them.

“Bai,” she whispered. “There’s something in the trees between the house and us.”

I see it.
A human child younger than you. We will be beyond her sight soon.

The unicorns put action to Bai’s words and they moved into a loose forest, melting into the trees and away from the village. They rode late into the night to put some distance between the village and themselves. The rain blew in just as
Jiline dismounted. She braced against the cool wind and untacked Ginger who immediately lay down. She crouched beside her and threaded her fingers through her exhausted pony’s mane.

“Sleep now,”
she whispered in concern.

How much longer could Ginger handle the pace the unicorns set? Bai and Gwyn had touched her several times throughout the day and evening with their horns. But the energy they gave her didn’t seem to last.

She will be fine.
Gwyn said.

Jiline
shook her head. “I’m riding her into the ground. She can’t keep going like this.”

Bai nickered at Ginger and touched his horn against her ears.
Mother is right. She’ll be ready to go in the morning. We rode longer today than before. We will be more careful tomorrow.

She
doubted that. “We could come across more villages, people, or dark creatures, any of which could make us need to travel fast or far.”

Bai turned his liquid brown eyes on her.
We will not abandon you, Jiline of Ainsley
.

“You wouldn’t be abandoning me. You could travel much faster without the burden of Ginger and I.” She bit her lip.
Her obligations and guilt weighed heavily on her. “I need to warn my friends and family of what I did.”

You can
not return to your village.

“I wouldn’t, but I can send them a message. If the village is large enough there will be messenger birds for hire.”

Rest now, we will discuss it in the morning.
Gwyn’s voice was full of disapproval.

She
wanted to protest, but didn’t. Instead she leaned against Ginger and looked up. The rain was falling steadily. The magical barrier protected them as it had before and she watched as the rain drops evaporated about twenty feet above the forest floor where she lay.

****

Herrick slipped out of his room in the quiet of the evening. Waiting for the Keep to settle into sleep had nearly driven him into another panic attack, but he had somehow managed to hold it off. Now that he was in motion he could breathe easily. Getting to the stable without being seen was simple. It was inside the stable he worried about. A few mage lights burned. But he didn’t see anyone about when he peeked in. Most of the horses slept. A few crunched hay.

Moving silently, he went down to the last stall and smiled at his tack sitting
on a stand by the door ready to go. Brody had set up all of the horses which were supposed to go out in the morning in that way. Certainly made it convenient for him.

Eachann
turned, roused from his sleep by Herrick opening the stall door. He placed his hand on Eachann’s nose to still the nicker. His coat glistened and Herrick tossed the tack on without bothering to brush him. Leaving the stable was going to be more tricky. He just hoped none of the horses raised enough of a racket to attract Brody’s attention, wherever he might be.

They left the stable unmolested and he mounted up satisfied with the foot of snow which remained. The evening was humid and sweltering. Just another magical winter at the Keep.

Eachann moved off eagerly sloshing in the snow mud. The trails would get tricky as they went and Herrick relied on Eachann’s eyesight to keep them on the trail. He didn’t have to worry that Eachann would try to backtrack back to the Keep as the gelding was always happy for a ride.

Herrick
had napped throughout the day, preparing for his all night ride. He would have to stop at some point for another power nap for himself and Eachann, but for now he held back the urge to have the gelding go into a trot or canter. He might be able to move through the quickly melting snow, but a wrong step would prove disastrous for both of them.

16. HUNTERS

Gwyn was stubborn.
We cannot allow you to separate from us, Jiline. I understand your concern for your friends and you have my word that the next village we reach we will allow you to stop and send them a warning. But to separate is unthinkable. It is because of us that the mages will hunt for you.

Jiline
crossed her arms and glared at the magnificent unicorn. It was taking everything within her not to meekly agree and do as she was commanded, but who knew when they would come across another village. It could be long past the mages going through her own village. Her parents and Madelen’s family would have no warning.

An
arrow struck the tree above Gwyn’s head. Jiline’s jaw dropped and she nearly fell as Bai brushed against her. She grabbed onto Ginger’s head as the entire herd bolted away. Gwyn and Bai remained beside her. Bai spun to avoid an arrow. It buzzed just over Jiline’s head. Bai’s nose shoved her bottom and she flew up and onto Ginger’s saddle. The pony bolted.

Gwyn and Bai danced around her. Arrows flew and she crouched down as fear clawed at her. They could be hit. The herd was already out of sight. But Gwyn and Bai had stayed behind to protect her from... She
didn’t even know who or what was trying to hit them.

Her thoughts went to the girl child of the village. Could it be people from the village hoping to claim a unicorn horn?

She glanced over her shoulder as five horses burst through the grove they had passed through only moments before. It was humans, not dark creatures, which chased them. She slid her hands along Ginger’s neck, urging her pony faster, but she glanced over her shoulder again. Their horses easily outmatched Ginger and it would be moments before the people would draw alongside her.

“You have to leave me,” she shouted at Gwyn.

The unicorn mare tossed her head, but didn’t lengthen her stride. She neighed and suddenly stopped. Jiline sat up to pull Ginger up, but the pony didn’t listen.

Go!
Bai ordered her as he spun to face the people with his mother.

No, no, no. She
tugged on the reins, but Ginger didn’t listen to her. She was being commanded by the unicorns. Jiline looked down at the sweeping grass and kicked her feet from the stirrups.

You will hinder us!
Gwyn’s voice was clear.

Jiline
closed her eyes and obeyed the command. Her feet found the stirrups and she stopped pulling on Ginger and gave the pony her head. Tears built up behind her eyes before breaking free and flowing down her cheeks. She buried her face in Ginger’s mane before trying to wipe her eyes clear. Even if Ginger was being commanded by the unicorns, the pony was her responsibility and she needed to make sure they didn’t ride into a ditch or a tree.

She glanced over her shoulder, but Ginger had taken them over a hill and was dropping out of sight. Her last glance was of Bai rearing up and Gwyn standing still as the people reached them.

Ginger didn’t slow, but continued to race as if they were being pursued long past her natural point of exhaustion. Jiline’s back ached from leaning over for so long, but she tried to ease Ginger’s burden as much as she could. At last, the unicorn herd came into sight. Ginger slowed to a trot and then stopped, her sides heaving. Jiline threw herself off her pony, her legs shaking, but she wouldn’t allow them to buckle as she loosened Ginger’s girth and forced the pony to hand walk.

Ginger resisted, but slowly stumble
-walked after her. More tears filled her eyes and her chest compressed. Ginger’s head dropped down. Her pony had run herself close to death to protect them. A unicorn approached and she closed her eyes. They would blame her for Bai and Gwyn staying behind.

The unicorn brushed his horn along the top of Ginger’s mane
, and as with Bai and Gwyn, Ginger seemed to rise up an inch. Her breathing slowed and she didn’t stumble as she stepped up to Jiline.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

Do not concern yourself for the safety of your protectors.
The voice was another new one.

She patted Ginger on her neck and didn’t look at the unicorn stallion. “They stayed behind to fight them.”

A few men cannot hurt them. You saw how they commanded your pony. Do you think those men still have control over their horses?

“The arrows.”

Easily avoided.

“But you ran from them,”
she protested. Why would they run if the men didn’t pose a threat?

To avoid a confrontation. We do not kill lightly or eagerly. They angered Gwyn in their pursuit of you. She will not show them mercy.

She looked at the unicorn stallion before glancing back from where they had just come. “They’re all right, Gwyn and Bai?”

Of course, they move to rejoin us now. Their wish was to remove you from danger just in case there were more hunters than had revealed themselves.

“Thank you—” she paused not knowing what to call the unicorn stallion.

My name is Bylun,
Jiline of Ainsley.

“Thank you, Bylun.”

He seemed to nod, but didn’t move off as she had expected. He stood near her as she slowly walked Ginger back to a normal recovery. The sweat still coated her, but her breathing had returned to normal.

Bai and Gwyn danced into sight
. No fatigue showed in their strides as they rejoined their herd, touching noses as they moved to Jiline. Her gaze skittered over the red on their horns.

Bai didn’t pause before tapping his horn to Ginger.

“She’s all right now, Bylun helped her,” she reassured him.

Bai flicked his ears at Bylun as the stallion moved away from them.
She is bolstered by the magic, but she is still weak.

She
nodded. She had thought as much and she hugged Ginger’s neck. Taking advantage of Jiline not walking her, she dropped her head to graze.

We must continue forward.
Gwyn said softly.
They might have friends who will come looking for them.

She was about to ask if any of the men had survived, but she bit her tongue. “Did you ever need the protection of the Keep?”

Gwyn shook her head.
It is a long story, Jiline. We have always been able to defend ourselves. But can a human kill a unicorn? Yes, if a unicorn is caught unaware and is weak from using too much magic or ill, a human could kill a unicorn and gain its horn for a trophy. But that is all they gain. Our magic goes with us when we die.

Bai paced around Ginger.
You cannot ride her. She is too weak.

She
nodded. The herd was already beginning to move off and she started to walk and lead Ginger. Bai huffed.

You are too slow.

She would have laughed if she wasn’t so rung out. “I know. Another reason it would be better for me to go off on my own.”

Gwyn’s sile
nt disapproval vibrated through her.

You will ride me
. Bai said.

She
stumbled and spun to look at him in surprise. “I couldn’t.”

You will.
He danced forward and stood next to her.

She shook her head and stepped back. “I couldn’t.”

Why not?
It was Gwyn’s question.

“You’re unicorns. It would be...disrespectful.”

You respect Ginger yet you ride her.
Bai pointed out.
Mother will bolster her, but it will be easier if she doesn’t have to carry you. Get on.

She
chewed on her lip, the order was clear in his voice. She took the bridle off Ginger’s head and tied it to the saddle slowly trying to delay; afraid to turn and face Bai. She tightened the girth a little, enough so the saddle wouldn’t fall, but not the amount needed for a heavy rider shifting their weight.

Bai gracefully kneeled down and Gwyn bumped
Jiline closer. She hesitated again, raising her hand above his mane as she would if she were swinging onto one of the plow horses. He turned his head slightly to glare at her, but didn’t say anything.

It felt wrong to grip his silky mane in her hand, but she gritted her teeth and swung up the short distance. Astride, he raised back up and shifted his weight as if getting used to the
burden of a rider.

Her legs tightened at his quick movements and
out of necessity, she gripped his mane with both hands.

This won’t work if you dump her.
Gwyn scolded.

I’m just getting used to the feel of her.

She glanced up to see the entire herd had stopped and were staring at them. Bai pranced forward, his movement like flowing water. Ginger nickered and trotted forward as well, a spring in her step. Gwyn must have bolstered her while Jiline had been trying to adjust to the mind altering knowledge that she was riding a unicorn.

****

Herrick woke from sleep drenched in sweat, the panic attack closing around him. Madelen was in danger. He was on his feet before he realized he had risen. The sun shone where he stood, but a few yards away it poured rain. It was the end of the mage weather spell.

He leaned
down against his thighs and forced air through his lungs while cursing the draw. He couldn’t help her if it incapacitated him. Slowly the pressure eased, but the urgency didn’t. What if he was too late? The unicorns would attract all sorts of evil to them, both human and beast. Madelen would be caught between them.

The worst of the panic attack over, he k
icked dirt on the small fire he had built. There was no snow along the edge of the mountain. The warm weather had completely dried this area out, but a cool breeze blew through the natural storm. Could his mother turn off the weather spell on her own or would it dissipate in time? He looked up considering what they had unleashed, but he didn’t have time to worry over that.

Saddling Eachann
, he pulled his cloak tight around him and chewed on some smoked meat as he considered his course. They had probably left the Keep by now. And his trail would be clear since he hadn’t tried to conceal his way down the mountain. He’d gone the same way he had gone up. The rain would help conceal his trail from now on.

He should have tried to locate her last night, but he’d been too tired and anxious to get as far from the Keep as possible. He would head
northwest until he found a chance to work on locating her. He was pretty sure his mother would either head north to the other side of the unicorn valley which meant she would not come down on this side of the mountain or she would go south to the village Madelen was from.

He frowned as
Eachann walked forward. He had to consider the possibility that she might split the keepers up and go both ways. But it was out of his hands. He flinched as Eachann stepped into the curtain of rain. The trail was muddy so he directed the gelding onto the firmer grass and trotted forward. He was going to be soaked through before the day was over.

****

The unicorns moved leisurely, she was pretty sure, for Ginger’s benefit. Even with the magical bolstering she was receiving it was clear to Jiline that Ginger needed real rest and sleep. The rain drizzled here and there and streaks of sun cut through holes in the clouds. She had more time to think once the shock of actually riding a unicorn had worn off. With Ginger she had been partially occupied with the act of riding and hadn’t had much time to worry over her friends and family. But now she watched the scenery go by, taking her farther and farther away from her home, from her friends and family. The unicorns took her safety seriously and wouldn’t allow her to leave. She almost smiled as she realized her circumstances had flipped to that of the unicorns’ previous predicament.

She was now effectively their prisoner for her own safety as the Keep had claimed to protect the unicorns.

We are protecting you.
Bai said.

She jerked guiltily, it was easy to forget they
could read her mind at will. “I know you are. I’m just wondering, when we get to your woods, what will I do?”

It was Gwyn who answered her question.
Whatever you choose. You can stay with us if you like or leave. We only wish to take you away from the reach of the mages. They will not only punish you for your part in our escape, but it is very likely they will try to use you to find us if they can.

“
Wouldn’t it be better for me not to know where your woods are?”

Gwyn was silent a moment. Bai danced beneath her and she slid her fingers along his silky neck.

I will consider your reasoning.

Jiline
blinked in surprise. Gwyn had actually agreed she had a point. “Thank you.”

Gwyn went back to pacing alongside Ginger.
She brushed her horn against the pony again, but Jiline couldn’t see any improvement. She frowned, but didn’t get a chance to protest when the herd suddenly stopped.

We will rest here for a little while.
Bai knelt down.

She
slid carefully off his back, her natural inclination to pat his neck in thanks suppressed.