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He had
an ample belly that sloshed from side to side as he ran, and twenty
running steps had turned his face bright red. As she watched, he
grimaced, clapped a hand to his side, and slowed to a stumbling
walk.
    Tira started to
grin, then gritted her teeth as she felt the saddle shift beneath
her. She clamped her knees to Daisy's sides and squeezed for all
she was worth, but after thirty yards or so the saddle slid
sideways and she felt herself begin to fall. She got an arm up to
protect the side of her head and landed hard, tucking her legs in
and tumbling along the road.
    She came to her
feet as quickly as she could. The wind was knocked out of her, but
she tried not to let it show as she scooped up the saddle and
saddle blanket and slung them over her shoulder. Daisy had stopped
almost immediately. Tira grabbed her reins and started to run.
    The nearest men
were standing in a knot twenty or thirty yards behind her. They
started running when they saw she was dismounted, but most of them
were already out of breath. Tira gritted her teeth and ran for all
she was worth. Her torso was a massive knot of pain, her lungs
fighting to take in air, but she forced herself to take thirty
running steps. By that time she was lightheaded with lack of
oxygen, black spots swimming before her eyes. She stumbled to a
stop and looked back.
    Her pursuers
had stopped before she did. They stared at her, clearly puzzled,
wondering if she was toying with them. She smirked at them, wanting
them to think it was a game. She was able to breathe now, and she
was far more fit than they were. In a few moments she would be able
to outrun them, even burdened with the saddle.
    "You better not
come back to Mirk's Ferry!" the ostler shouted. "We'll teach you a
thing or two about thieving!"
    Tira didn't
answer, just gave him a wave as she swung the blanket and saddle
over Daisy's back. She set off at a brisk walk, watching the saddle
to make sure it didn't fall. The men from Mirk's Ferry glared after
her, but they didn't follow.
     
    The shadows
were growing long when Tira heard the squeak of wood against wood
coming from the road up ahead. She stopped Daisy, took out her bow,
and strung it.
    "What is it?"
Tam asked.
    "You hear that
squeak?"
    He nodded.
    "It sounds like
an ungreased axle to me." When he stared at her without
comprehension, she added, "On a wagon."
    His eyes went
wide. "You think it's them?"
    "Maybe. I…"
    He didn't
listen to the rest. He swung himself into the saddle, booted the
pony in the ribs, and took off down the road at a gallop, one hand
reaching behind him to take his axe out from under his bedroll.
    "Tam!" She
swore, then shot a frustrated glare at Daisy and started
running.
    The road rose
ahead of her, then descended. She could hear sounds of chaos from
the far side, shouting voices and the clash of steel on steel. She
ran to the top of the rise and stopped.
    Tam was
standing in his stirrups, his axe in one hand and the pony's reins
in the other. He was facing a rough-dressed man on horseback. The
man had a sword in his hand, and he and Tam were moving in tight
circles, weapons raised, waiting for a chance to strike.
    There was a
small wagon, more of a cart really, with covered sides and a seat
at the front. A huge man in red leather was on the seat, a sword in
his hand. When the circling horses came close he swung at Tam's
back. He missed, then sprang to the ground and charged into the
fray.
    Tam saw him in
the nick of time and twisted in the saddle, swinging his axe. The
man on horseback saw his chance and lifted his sword high, ready
for a killing blow.
    Tira's arrow
caught him just under the armpit, one of the few places a man with
a breastplate and helmet was vulnerable. This man wore no armor
that Tira could see, but habits learned on a battlefield were hard
to break. He dropped the sword and toppled sideways, landing in the
dirt with one foot still caught in his stirrup.
    The man in red
shot a frightened glance at Tira, then