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thankful that the horseman was more familiar with this darker world than he. Without him, Ronan would not have even noticed those that followed them.
    “No. Centaurs are by nature free thinkers. They would not lower themselves to do the work of the dark forces or anyone else for that matter,” the horseman told him. “They are most likely after the sword for their own reasons, reasons that I would wager neither benefit Merisgale nor the dark forces.”
    What reason could that be? “How far to Fullerk?” Ronan asked. He glanced out at the trees again.
    “Another day and a half at most.” If Keegan knew Ronan suspected him, he did not show it and Ronan prayed that his suspicious thoughts hadn’t been obvious.
    Ronan looked back to Ula after a moment of thought. “No, we push on and will not stop again until tonight.” Keegan raised a brow when Ronan faced him again. “I’ll take no chances. They haven’t attacked us yet, so perhaps they are only watching us. We may have passed their camp and they are just curious.” It was lame reasoning and Ronan knew it but Keegan nodded and kicked his horse forward while Ronan dropped back to the rear of their group.
    As he rode, he rested his hand on the leather bundle that was the King’s Sword. He decided then and there that if the Centaurs attacked he would use the sword and face the consequences of his actions later. Once in Fullerk he would purchase a sword of his own.
    Ronan felt ill. Never before had he felt he needed a weapon to protect himself. Now he needed one to protect two others as well.
    The day dragged on and though he did give in and allow them to stop to relieve themselves, Ronan made certain they did not tarry long. The centaurs stayed with them, in the trees, moving when they moved, stopping when they stopped.
    By nightfall, even Ula and Arien knew they were there. They would have had to be blind and stupid not to know it. Keegan and Ronan’s behavior alone probably tipped them off that there was something amiss. As they set up camp, everyone was solemnly quiet. And when they lay down to rest, none of them spoke a word.
    Ronan remained awake, listening. The centaurs made no sound, not even a rustle and he assumed they did not sleep. Ronan suspected that none of the others slept either.
    Only once, Ahearn appeared a bit nervous, then settled again. Ronan could only guess that one of those that watched them had come for a closer look for he could see nothing when he looked out at the dark trees. The centaur obviously fell back again and the rest of the night dragged on undisturbed.
    If they were lucky, they could make Fullerk without any trouble. If they were not lucky, the centaurs would be just as weary as they were and perhaps that would weaken any attack they were planning. Either way, Ronan felt it would give him and those that traveled with him the upper hand in the situation.
    To his relief the centaurs did not attack that night. The next morning they just continued following, watching. Ronan did not know how it felt to be hunted but he guessed it was very much like he was feeling now. They were prey being followed, with no control that could do nothing but wait for the hunter to make his move. Ronan didn’t like it and by midmorning he felt like charging into the trees.
    “There is a fork in the road just ahead. Both ways will take us to Fullerk.” Keegan called back, pulling the reins of his horse. They all stopped and looked at Ronan. It was his call.
    “Which way is quicker?” Ronan asked, wanting to get to the town as soon as possible. The closer to Fullerk the less chance they had of the centaurs in the trees attacking them.
    “We’d have to cross a bridge but it’s not safe. If we were to cross, we would have to do it one at a time,” Keegan answered. “I think it would be better to go the other way. It would take a few more hours but…”
    “We take the bridge.” Ronan interrupted, thinking a few hours could make a difference in