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“Help!” creaked a voice. He looked down at a young man, his face a dreadful purple blue. “Help!” Cale looked away. “Cale. Help!”
Astonished, Cale turned back. And then he recognized him, even beneath the puffed-up black and blue of his face. It was Co
“I can finish you quickly. Yes or no?”
But Co
Then he was sent sprawling to the ground by a hefty shove in the back. Frightened and surprised, he slipped on the mud as he tried to pull his sword and scramble free of his attacker.
It was a horse. It looked at him and snorted expectantly. Cale stared at the animal-its rider dead, it was looking for someone to lead it away from the battlefield. At once Cale grabbed the rope fastened to the saddle, knotted it around the hefty pommel then rushed to tie it round Co
Within less than three minutes the horse had made its way through the mass of men who were being pushed into the center of the field and, without drama or fuss, left the battlefield, carrying the rattled Cale and dragging the unconscious Co
An hour later Cale was overcome by an abrupt wave of exhaustion. He looked for a way into the woods and, failing to find an entry through the mass of briars and thorns between the trees, had to cut a way in, though he was slashed over his face and arms as he did so. Once past the edge, however, the thickets gave way to a mulch of dead leaves. He tied the horse and eased Co
He woke up two hours later when the nightmares became unbearable. Co
“Calm down. You’re all right.”
Wide-eyed and terrified, Co
“What happened?” he said at last. Cale told him. When he’d finished, Co
“I saw some smoke just before we came in here. I thought I heard yesterday something about a village near the hill. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He stripped the armor off the horse and cut away as much as he could of the mailed padding on its back and flanks and then led it out onto the path. He mounted and stroked the top of its head.
“Thank you,” he said to the horse, and then rode it on.
35
Within three hours Co
“Cut his hair,” said Cale to the farmer, “and bury his armor in the woods in case the Redeemers come. Tell them he’s a laborer. If I make it to Memphis, they’ll send people for him. They’ll pay you. If not, he’ll pay you when he’s well enough.”
The farmer looked at Cale. “Keep your advice, and your money.” And with that he left them alone together. Shortly after this, Co
“I remember now,” said Co
“Yes.”
“Where is this place?”
“A farm, two hours from the battle.”
“My leg hurts.”
“It’ll need to stay like that for six weeks. No telling if it will heal straight.”
“Why did you save me?”
“I don’t know.”
“I wouldn’t have done the same for you.”
Cale shrugged. “You never know about things like that until they happen. Anyway, I did-and that’s all there is.”