Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #15 June 2015 | Page 9

Ermine flew from the cave then returned a few moments later.

“Let us go, Ella! Quickly!”

Stepping carefully out of the cave, Ella glanced
around the woods.

“Here. Ella, here,” Ermine ordered her to the stream’s
edge.

She shook uncontrollably as she stumbled over to
Ermine, the dagger still clutched tightly in her grip.

“Wash your hands. Then we move,” Ermine said. She
fluttered up into the canopy vanishing from view.

Ella dropped to her knees beside the cold water.
Lowering her gaze to her shaking hands, she went
pale as she noticed for the first time they were covered in blood. Ella plunged her hands into the water
and scrubbed at them as best she could, refusing to let
go of the blade. As her hands came clean, so did the
dagger. She pulled away from the cold stream and noticed the blade for the first time. Ornate and gold, with
the King’s Crest in the cross guard, she recognized it
right away. Ella felt her stomach drop away from her;
doubling over, she threw up into the water.

“Ella! You must move; they are coming!” Ermine
reappeared and fluttered around Ella’s head.

Focusing on the bird, Ella shook her head and pushed
herself off the ground. She followed the bird through
the wood again until she came to the soldier’s camp.
Stumbling to a halt, she almost panicked before Ermine spoke.

“Horses, Ella! Get a horse, free the rest!”

Ella rushed to the tethered mounts and hopped onto
the closest one. Leaning over she grabbed the reigns
of the others. Riding off, Ella could hear the men return to the camp then start to yell after her.

al bends in the road, the sound of the bows stopped.

Ella continued to ride at full gallop along the small
road for several leagues before she released the other horses. Driven by fear, she continued to push her
horse.

“Ella you must slow down or the horse will die,”
Ermine said. She started to slow and allowed the
horse to walk as exhaustion washed over them both.
Everything that happened hit her in the stomach and
she pulled the reins to stop the horse. Leaping off, Ella
dropped and emptied her stomach further.

Ermine landed on the horse’s back and waited patiently.

“Reizend is dead,” Ella said, wiping her mouth. “Did
you know?” Ella turned toward Ermine.

“Suspected. Did not know. I hoped what I heard was
incorrect.” Ermine’s head tilted to the side.

Wiping her eyes, Ella stood back up. “He wasn’t the
most intelligent person and a coward in the end.” She
pulled herself back onto the horse. “But he did rescue
me from what I was.” They continued riding on in
silence.

They rode for a full day and slept in an abandoned
barn. A light rain had started up matching Ella’s mood.
She ate her dry rations for fear of starting a fire and
drawing the soldier’s attention in the night. Though
exhausted and worn down, Ella barely slept, spending
the night waking in fear at every sound.

The twang of arrows being fired was answered by the
thunk of them hitting the trees around her. After sever-

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To be Continued