The White Road - Lynn Flewelling [98]
"They didn't just fall," said Micum, reining his horse in close to the nearest. "They've been cut down with an axe." He reached down to touch one of them. "The sap is still running."
Behind them they could hear the sound of hooves on stone, and the jingle of harness as their pursuers came on at a gallop.
"If they're behind us, then who the hell did this?" Alec wondered.
"Most likely whoever was playing those horns," Seregil muttered, looking around frantically.
There was no question of riding around the obstruction; steep stone faces penned them in on both sides.
When Seregil dismounted to look for a way over, an arrow whistled close to his ear and embedded itself in one of the massive trunks. It was short and crudely fletched; not 'faie work, that was certain. Taking cover behind Star, he stared up into the shadows above them and thought he could see someone moving about at the top of the rock face. The sound of the horns was getting louder, too.
"Here they come," Micum said, looking grim.
Unarmed and trapped, there was nothing they could do but wait under the brightening sky.
The man in the wolf mask was in the lead. As soon as he saw Seregil and the others, he signaled a halt and dismounted, holding his hands wide to show that he wasn't armed. Behind him, however, Seregil saw several archers with arrows ready.
"You're not going any farther, no matter what you do," the man shouted to them.
"You know what will happen if you attack us," Seregil retorted, jerking a thumb at Sebrahn, who was now peering out from behind Alec. Or that's where he thought he was. Instead, Sebrahn had darted out in front of him and was hurrying back toward their pursuers.
"Sebrahn, no! Come here," Alec shouted. Micum caught him by the arm as he started after him. The strange rhekaro came out to meet Sebrahn and hoisted him up in his arms.
"No!" Alec cried. He pulled loose from Micum, only to be grabbed and held by Seregil.
"You see?" the man in the wolf mask called to them. "The call of his own kind is too strong. So long as we don't directly attack you, we are as safe with him as you are."
"That leaves us at a bit of a stalemate," Seregil shouted back. The sun was coming up, and now he could clearly make out a number of people on the rocks above them. At least one had a long horn. Turmay and the other witch were with the masked riders, both with oo'lus in hand.
"Bilairy's Balls," he muttered, then, to the man in the mask, "What now? Are you going to stay there until we starve?"
"That was not my plan. Give us the ya'shel and you and the other ones can go."
Seregil tightened his grip on Alec's arm. "You know we're not going to do that."
"And we can't let you go, Aurenfaie. Not with him."
Seregil folded his arms and gave the man a crooked grin. "Then I guess we all stand here and starve."
The masked man turned to the archers and said something. They lowered their bows. "That won't suit any of us. Will you parley?"
Seregil looked at the others. "Anyone have a better idea?"
"We've got no weapons and no food, and someone up there is taking aim at us where we stand," said Micum.
"I just want Sebrahn back!" whispered Alec, his dark eyes burning with anger and betrayal. "Why did he go to them like that?"
Seregil squeezed his arm apologetically. "I'm sorry, Alec. I think he's been trying to all along. Stay here."
"No! He's my--"
"I said stay!" Seregil ordered, then, more softly, "I don't want you within arm's reach of any of them. If they get you, then Micum and I are as good as dead."
Alec quickly stepped back.
"Thank you. Stay close to Micum." With that, Seregil walked halfway up the trail toward the others and stood waiting.
After a moment the man in the wolf mask came to meet him. Drawing his sword, he leveled it at Seregil's heart.
"If we're going to talk, then we should probably exchange names," said Seregil. "Mine is Seregil i Korit Solun Meringil."
"I am Rieser i Stellen Andus Orgil. You wear no sen'gai."
"And