Kaida
For long hours we rode in the creek, the horses patiently walking against the current. With each passing hour my hopes of finding a town to spend the night in slipped away.
Most of the time the water was no deeper than the horses’ knees, but now and then they would wade through deeper stretches where it came up to their bellies. The sun was blazing hot, and the way it reflected off the slow-moving water made my head ache behind my eyes. Sweat trickled down my neck and soaked my dress beneath my breasts, and flies buzzed around my head, trying to get at the tender skin behind my ears.
The only small mercy was the slow pace. No bouncing and jostling in the saddle.
It was late afternoon when Jace finally guided his horse up a sandy bank. “We’ll camp here tonight.” Gerald grunted as
