- What are you doing? What are you doing?
- I'll have to do it as a shield. - she said by taking the bow off her shoulder. - Do you have a saddlebag with arrows? Mine are gone.
- Yeah, but there's a beast stuck in my waist and several arrows stuck in my belt.
- That'll do.
She held the bow on her shoulder again and putting her hands inside my cape began to release the beast. The other hand, she flattened on my back to balance herself as she leaned her head against my chest. Even though the touch was over the fabric, I could feel the warmth of its skin against my neck and my neck shivered. I swallowed it dry with the thought that came to my mind.
- I did it! I did it! - she said in a lively tone. - Keep your eye on the road and try to lose them. Leave the rest to me!
That said, Annabel leaned to the right and shot the first arrow. She kept her other hand on my waist to avoid falling and only took it off when she was carrying the beast. Then I heard the first scream and I was sure that one of the soldiers was on the ground. I smiled with satisfaction, but then I shrunk when another lightning struck the sky. The thunder began to become more insistent and thick drops of ice fell.
- Oh, shit! No more arrows! - she screamed. - I got it down from eight to four.
- That's great! I think I can lose them in the clearing.
- It's not great! - she grumbled. - I wanted to take everyone down. Where are your arrows?
- The saddlebag is attached to the saddle. - so she could hear me above the noise of the rain. - Stand still and hold on to your firm so I can concentrate on the road.
- No! I can kill them all. - she stretched out trying to get the saddlebag. - If I can untie the saddlebag, I'll be able to knock them down.
- Annabel, no! - I screamed. - Be quiet or you'll knock us off the horse!
Annabel didn't obey and kept trying to get the saddlebag. I looked back to see how far away they were. I saw when a soldier took advantage of her position and turned the beast towards her.
- Damn it!
Releasing one hand from the reins, I passed my arm around Annabel's waist and pulled it up against my chest just in time. With the loosening of the reins Esperanza leaned to the side putting me in the aim of the arrow. I felt the skin burn as soon as the blade penetrated my back right at waist height. I knew it wasn't a vital point, but I could bleed to death if I didn't remove it quickly.
- Oh! God! - she said when she heard my grunt. - You've been hit.
- Yes, thanks to you! - I screamed because of the pain. - If I'd been quiet, none of that would have happened.
- You were trying to save us, you ungrateful bastard! - she returned with indignation.
Ignoring Annabel, I entered the clearing. I had a plan, and I prayed it would work. Quickly and ignoring the pain I felt, I got off the horse and took him behind a tall bush. I looked from one side to the other and smiled when I noticed that the clearing was dark enough to hide us both. Because of the rain they couldn't light torches and I knew how to hide like no one else. Pulling Annabel out of the saddle too hard, I put her on the ground and pressed her against a tree. She was very small in comparison with my height and because of the width of my body, she was completely invisible.
- What are you doing? What are you doing? - she screamed.
- Hold still or we'll be discovered. - said whispering.
- Is that so? - she debated. - You think you're what? Invisible? If we stay here, they'll find us.
- If I don't shut that cheeky mouth, I'll be forced to silence it with the use of force! - I threatened between my teeth. - Then they'll find us.
- And how do you plan on doing that?
- You really want me to show you?
Annabel's eyes widened when she understood what I was trying to say.
- I wouldn't dare!
- You want to bet?
The noise of broken branches made her grab my shirt hard. Annabel hid her face in my chest stifling a scream when a soldier approached us. I could see over his shoulder when he started searching the light behind us. He was close to finding Esperanza. Suppressing the vertigo, I lowered my head to Annabel's ear and whispered.
- Take the dagger from my waist.
She nodded and slowly lowered her hand until it reached my waist. Pulling the dagger slowly to my hand, Annabel clung to my shirt again. I took a deep breath before turning over quickly and throwing the dagger, which hit the man's throat. Other soldiers entered the clearing from the opposite side in search of who had overthrown the other man. There were three armed with swords.
- Stay here and don't move! - I whispered. Annabel nodded.
Because of the darkness and my black clothes it was difficult to be located. I moved fast and had the trees as allies. Despite the intense pain, I could not succumb. Dunhill was only a few hours away and had promised to take Annabel safe
