Because he would come for her. Eva had no doubt about that.
With that thought in mind, Eva gave Caia her head. "Everything you've got, my heart."
Caia answered Eva with a burst of speed. Jason desperately followed. Eva's heart was in her throat as they rode for all they were worth.
Caia dodged around obstacles, leaping over those she couldn't avoid. Every second felt like an eternity as they thundered over the land until Caia's sides heaved and her breathing grew labored at her effort.
Soon, they found themselves in a canyon much like the one they’d traveled through earlier that day. A rain drop hit Eva's face. Another one followed a second later.
Eva lifted her eyes to the sky as the heavens opened with a furious roar. Rain fell in sheets, the deluge drenching them instantly.
They pressed on until they couldn't anymore.
Eventually, Eva had to slow, afraid continuing would result in a slip and a fall. The last thing she wanted to do was risk Caia breaking a leg, and that's exactly what could happen if they continued at speed.
Jason moved his horse beside Eva. "The storm's getting worse. What should we do?"
Eva shivered, hunching in on herself for warmth as she studied their surroundings. "We can't go back."
It was the only thing she was sure of.
“What about Sebastian?” Jason asked in a low voice.
Eva shook her head. “I’ve been trying to contact him, but no luck. Something about the storm is interfering.”
Or maybe it was just her. Maybe the Kyren were right, and she wasn’t ready for all this. Maybe she really was useless.
A low moan came from Brisa. Somewhere during the ride, the Tenrin had descended into a fugue, the pain rendering her nearly unconscious.
They were cut off. Enemies between them and Caden. Their only hope was to continue forward and hope to buy enough time for Caden to send help.
As a plan, it was lacking. There were so many ways things could go wrong.
To make things worse, Eva had no idea where they were. When they'd left Drake, they'd ridden blind, choosing a path by instinct.
For all she knew, the enemy could be waiting up ahead for them to stumble into their trap. And they were on low ground with the mother of all storms raining down around them.
Visibility was poor. The rain making it hard to see more than a few feet in front of them.
They could stumble on their enemy and not know it until it was too late. The only silver lining was their enemy suffered from the same conditions.
To compound matters, the creek they were traveling next to was filling up rapidly. The rushing sound of water told Eva all she needed to know as the creek spilled over its banks.
It didn't take a pathfinder to realize how much danger they were in.
If the enemy didn't kill them, nature just might.
Eva cursed. What a mess.
"Jason," Eva trailed off before gathering her courage again. "I'm so sorry. If I hadn't gone after the horses—"
Drake wouldn't have followed. He wouldn't have taken an arrow for her or remained behind to buy them time.
She didn't know if he and the others were alive or dead.
All because she couldn't abandon her charges.
She wanted to hate herself for causing all this, but she couldn't. Given the same situation, she wasn't sure she would have done anything else.
She was responsible for those horses. No one else.
She just wished others hadn't had to pay the price.
"You had to," Jason said. "There was no scenario where the Trateri would have abandoned those horses. If it wasn't you, it would have been Ollie or me."
It was tempting to take the blame, but the fact of the matter was Jason was right. Someone would have had to go after the horses.
Maybe the enemy wouldn't have struck right then or maybe that was just wishful thinking and they'd always planned to ambush them the moment Eva was vulnerable.
"I'd like to know how they got so close," Jason mused, following Eva as she pushed toward the many boulders waiting along the sides of the canyon. "I thought Reece and Buck were keeping an eye on the situation."
If she could find a cave or a way up to high ground, she thought their chances of drowning if this place flooded would be significantly reduced.
Eva took in the shadowed forms of the boulder, a tree growing out of one. Its roots wrapped around the side in long ropes. Its bare branches proud and lonely looking.
"They probably were," Eva answered. "No one can account for everything."
Especially up here. There were too many places that could be used to conceal a group.
Caves. Uncharted ravines and canyons like the one they now traveled. Valleys that no one had ever traveled.
It would take a lifetime to learn all the hidden nooks and crannies and even then, you were liable to miss a few.
Eva spotted a meandering path leading to the ridge above.
She guided Caia toward it, wanting a better look. If it was what she thought, they could get out of this place. Maybe even give their pursuers the slip.
Jason followed. "You think we can make it up that?"
Eva shook her head. "I'm not sure."
It looked pretty narrow in the dim light and the rain wouldn't help matters. It was likely to be muddy and slippery.
"Do you think we have a choice?" Jason asked.
"Not really."
If they remained in the canyon, they risked running into a dead end. It was too easy for the enemy to funnel them in the direction they wanted, leaving little room for escape.
They could continue down the canyon and hope for another way up, but there was no guarantee.
"Caden always says sometimes you have to take the risk rather than wait for an opportunity," Jason said, sounding resigned.
Eva looked over at him. "He'd be proud of you."
Jason had managed to keep hold of his fear and panic, setting it aside to remain in control. Even under duress he hadn't cracked.
He'd done what needed to be done. Even when that was difficult.
It was exactly the sort of behavior Caden expected from his Anateri. The reminder made the halfhearted smile fall from Eva's face.
She pushed those feelings away and clicked her tongue at Caia. "We'll go first to test the way."
Jason maneuvered his horse in front of her. "I should go. You have enough to worry about."
His eyes dropped to Brisa with a meaningful look.
Eva looked down, wanting to argue. By the time she found the words, Jason had already guided his horse past Eva and around the boulder to the trail behind it.
Eva nudged Caia after him. "Wait."
Jason wasn't listening, the storm drowning Eva's voice out. Or maybe he simply didn't want to waste time arguing.
He stopped at the bottom, staring up the small game trail.
Eva shivered as she waited behind him.
"I think you're right," he called. "It's going to be difficult, but I definitely see a way up."
Good news, finally.
Eva started to answer when a sound caught her attention. She fell silent, straining to hear.
Out of place and nearly indistinguishable in the storm, Eva thought she'd imagined it. Her mind playing tricks on her from the pressure.
For a moment there was nothing. Only rain and thunder. The wind ripping through the canyon and along the treetops.