Oathbreaker

touched his heart with pity, but it was real, and that comforted him.

Whatever has happened, she knows exactly what she's doing, and it will be all right.

'Tell me what you want me to do,' he said, trying to sound just as confident.

:There's still myself,: Warrl's dry voice echoed in their thoughts. :I have no hands, but I can be of some help.:

'Right you are, Furface. Oh gods,' Tarma groaned as she got back up to her knees, and took Kethry's chin in her hand, tilting it up into the light. Jadrek could see that Kethry's pupils were dilated, and that she wasn't truly seeing anything. 'What I thought -- Keth, you're shocky. Fight it, love. Jadrek and Warrl are going to find some place for us to hole up for a while.' Tarma transferred her hold to Kethry's shoulder and shook her gently. 'Answer me, Keth.'

'Gods -- ' Kethry replied, distantly. 'And sleep?'

'As soon as we can. Fight, she'enedra.'

'I'll...try.'

'Warrl, get the horses over here, would you? Jadrek, you're going to have to help Keth mount. She's got no more bones right now than a sponge.' He started to protest, but she cut him off with a weary wave of her hand. 'Not to worry, our ladies are battlemares and they know the drill. I'll get them to lie down, you watch what I do, then give Keth a hand, and steady her as they get up. No lifting, just balancing. Hai?'

'As long as I'm not going to have to fling her into the saddle,' he replied, relieved, 'I don't see any problem.'

'Good man,' she approved. 'Next thing -- Warrl will go looking for shelter; I want something more substantial than the tent around us tonight. You'll have to stay with us, keep Keth in her seat. I'll be all right, I've ridden semiconscious for miles when I've had to. When Warrl finds us a hole, you'll have to help us off, and do all the usual camp duties.'

'No problem there, either; I'm a lot more trail wise than I was before this trip started.' Aye, and. sounder in wind and limb, too.

Warrl appeared, the reins of Jadrek's palfrey in his mouth, the two battlemares following without needing to be led. Jadrek watched as Tarma gave her Ironheart a command in Shin'a'in, and was astounded to see the mare carefully fold her long legs beneath her and sink to the dusty ground, positioning herself so that she was lying within an arm's length of the exhausted Swordswornan. Tarma managed to clamber into the saddle, winding up kneeling with her legs straddling the mare's back. She gave another command, and the mare slowly lurched to her feet, unbalanced by the weight of the rider, but managing to compensate for it. Tarma glanced over at Jadrek, 'Think you can deal with that?'

'I think so.'

Tarma repeated her command to Hellsbane; the second mare did exactly as her herd-sister had. Jadrek helped Kethry into the same position Tarma had taken, feeling her shaking from head to toe every time she had to move. Tarma gave the second command, and the mare staggered erect, with Jadrek holding Kethry in the saddle the whole time.

Warrl flicked his tail, and Jadrek felt a wave of approval from the kyree. :I go. packmates. You go on -- it were best you removed yourselves from the scene of combat.:

'Spies?' Jadrek asked aloud.

:Possible. Also things that feed on magic, and more ordinary carrion eaters. Shall we take the enemy beast?:

Tarma looked over her shoulder at the weary gelding, which was still where the mage had left it, off to one side of the trail. 'I don't think so,' she replied after a moment. 'It's just short of foundering. Jadrek, could you strip it? Leave the harness, bring anything useful you find in the packs, then let the poor thing run free.'

He did as she asked; once free of saddle and bridle the beast seemed to take a little more interest in life and moved off at a very slow walk, heading deeper into the hills. Warrl trotted down the trail, and vanished from sight once past the place where it exited the valley. Jadrek mounted his own palfrey with a grunt of effort, and rode it in close beside Kethry, so that he could steady her from the side.

'You ready, wise brother?' Tarma asked.

'I think so. And not feeling particularly wise.'

'Take lead then; my eyes keep fogging. Ironheart knows to follow her sister.'