The Rogue Retrieval (24 page)

“Stay with me,” Moric said. He whispered something to his mule that had it take off at a gallop.

“Follow him, please,” Quinn said to his mount. The animal took off running. It was all he could do to hang on.

Magic mules! Logan's never going to believe this.

They crossed one ridge, and then another, heading for the mountains. Less than an hour's ride. How far was that? It couldn't be more than ten miles. Maybe even close enough for the link.
I need to find out what the hell is going on.
He let go of the pommel long enough to tap on his comm unit to listen-­only mode.

He gasped. God, he could
hear
them.

“I
t's been a few days since we saw another traveler,” Kiara said. “Are you sure this pass is still open?”

“It should be, unless they got an early avalanche.”

“There's not much of a road here.”

“Smugglers aren't really known for their road-­building skills,” Logan said. “Draws too much attention.”

“I believe Logan's correct on this point,” Chaudri said. “Even Dr. Holt said he could never find smugglers here, if they didn't want to be found.”

They were trying for one of the
less official
mountain passes that Logan had used on other missions. Smugglers wouldn't look twice at them or their cargo, as long as you greased them a little. Landor and Felara maintained two main travel routes through the mountains that marked their shared border, but taking either of those would be too risky. They might be searched, and they'd certainly have to answer questions about the prisoner. Landorians prided themselves on doing what was right, what was just. Offering one of their officials a bribe was the surest way to get tossed into a dungeon.

“How long ago did you last come this way?” Kiara asked.

“When we were putting relays on the northern coast,” Logan said. “Right before Maggie was born, so it had to be two and a half years ago.”

“A lot can happen in that time,” Kiara said.

“Oh, I'm sure there's been some turnover. But catching smugglers is like swatting flies in a stable. You think you got them all, and the next day there's even more of them.”

“And these stable flies are the ­people you trust to let us pass through the mountains unmolested?”

“No one said anything about trust. We'll pay well and also let them know we're not to be trifled with.”

Mendez came into view, returning at a full gallop. “Heads up,” he said over the comm unit. He was breathing hard. “Some kind of mounted patrol ahead. Coming right at you.”

“So much for a quiet passage,” Kiara said.

Logan ignored that. He made a quick scan of the area. “Not much cover around here.”

“If it's a Landorian patrol, we don't want to be caught while trying to hide,” Chaudri said.

“We'd never keep the horses quiet anyway,” Logan said. “Damn.”
We just can't catch a break on this mission.

“Hands off weapons, but keep them ready,” Kiara ordered. “We're just Felarans returning home.”

Logan eased his mount closer to Thorisson. “I'll have a crossbow ready to shoot you. Don't try anything.”

Thorisson glanced at the crossbow, then at Logan. He said nothing, which was worrisome.

Mendez reached them and fell into line beside Logan, so that both of them could keep an eye on the prisoner. A cloud of dust and a thundering of hooves marked the approach of the Landorian patrol. They spotted Kiara's group and lowered their lances, peeling away smoothly into two lines that quickly encircled them. Logan had to admire the clean execution of the maneuver; this was something the patrol had clearly done before.

The riders halted at the same time. Everyone had a lance lowered at them, a spare lashed to the saddle, and a sword at his belt. No crossbows, though, which was curious. Their mounts were warhorses; the large, powerful animals were good for charges but not distance.

One man rode forward and lifted the visor on his helmet; the red-­and-­white crest on his shoulder marked him as an officer. “State your business in Landor,” he said.

Kiara didn't have a chance to speak, because Chaudri—­of all ­people—­decided to call an audible.

“State your business in asking, sir,” she said. “Who are you to challenge us?”

The officer hesitated. “Fair enough.” He removed his helmet, revealing a shock of red hair. He even had the mustache and beard to match. “Staff Sergeant Rupert of the Landorian Royal Corps.”

“Lieutenant—­” Logan said under his breath.

“Let her roll with it,” she muttered back.

Not that he had much of a choice—­Chaudri was already in full swing. “Thank you, Staff Sergeant. And I appreciate what you and your men are doing to keep the border safe. You needn't worry about us, however. We're Felarans and on our way home.”

“Why not the southern pass?”

“Selfish reasons, really,” Chaudri replied. “Eastern Felara is bleak this time of year, but the Landorian forests are truly breathtaking. At least, that's what my husband's favorite aunt used to say, and I'd never hear the end of it if I took the easier route home and missed Landor's finest colors.”

The sergeant nodded. “I can understand that,” he said. He signaled his men, who raised their lances, but still kept them neatly encircled. “You don't have the look of smugglers, but we've been having problems in this area. Will you consent to a search?”

Logan tensed. A lot of the gear might pass inspection, thanks to the company techs, but the MP5s would almost certainly raise questions. And they definitely couldn't afford to have them confiscated. Yet he was at a loss at how to stop them.

But Chaudri wasn't.

“I'm sure you and your men have more important things to do,” Chaudri said. “Perhaps it would be more expedient to provide you a list of our belongings. My secretary keeps one at hand.” She gestured vaguely at Kiara.

The lieutenant's eyes widened slightly, and she bit her lip. Logan did, too, but mostly so he wouldn't laugh.

Hell—­she said to let Chaudri roll with it.

Kiara removed the parchment from the satchel behind her saddle and handed it to the staff sergeant. The list itself was innocuous; the company linguists prepared a number of such documents for encounters like these. The officer squinted at it. His eyes didn't move across the words, though—­he probably couldn't read. It made sense: with the polyglossia, speech made for far easier communication.

And it would be embarrassing for a leader to admit such a deficiency, even if it was fairly common in Alissia.

“I don't see anything of concern,” the staff sergeant said.

How could he?

“We'd just as soon be on our way, then,” Chaudri said. “I'd like to cover some ground before sunset.”

“Very well,” the staff sergeant said. He put his helmet back on and signaled to his men. They spurred their mounts and began moving, forming up into two columns once more.

Logan's horse shied at the sound and movement, spinning him half around.

Thorisson saw his chance and took it.

He kicked hard at the side of his horse. The already-­frightened animal leaped forward through the widening gap in the line of patrol horses. Logan put a hand to the hilt of his crossbow, but hesitated. He didn't have a clear shot, and one of the patrolmen was likely to skewer him if he raised a weapon.

Mendez managed to nudge his horse clear and went after him. Kiara and Chaudri broke away as well.

“What's happening?” the staff sergeant demanded.

“His horse must have spooked,” Logan said.

“His hands were bound. Were you holding him
captive
?”

Logan sawed the reins around so that his mount spun in a half circle. A gap appeared in the cavalry line riding past. “Beg your pardon, Staff Sergeant.” He kicked hard and his mount shot forward.

I'll let Chaudri explain that one.

M
oric had slowed them to a walk, and now signaled a halt. He dismounted. Quinn did the same, and ran up just as the magician cast his scrying window. He could barely see them beyond the line of surrounding horsemen.

“Where are they?” he asked.

“Just over the next ridge,” Moric said.

“Shouldn't we do something?”

“Hush, child!” Sella said. “Intervening now would only get them killed.”

He watched as Chaudri did most of the talking; she gestured at Kiara, who handed over some kind of parchment.

“Good, good,” Moric said. “Give them a good story, back it up with some papers.”

Quinn heard Chaudri doing just that. Gods, but it was good to see her again. She certainly looked convincing. Nothing but confidence on her face. The redheaded officer seemed to be buying it, too.

“Look there,” Leward said. “The prisoner is up to something.”

Quinn realized he was talking about Thorisson.
Oh, no.

It looked like the patrol was moving on, but then Thorisson ruined it. He broke away from the group and rode off. Chaos ensued; Kiara and others rode hard after him. The red-­haired Felaran officer took command of his patrol again and sent them off in pursuit. They were all riding west, toward the mountains.

“
Now
we can intervene,” Moric said. He turned to the two magicians. “Keep it subtle, please. Better not to reveal our involvement.”

“Better not to have been involved in the first place,” Sella said. She strode off in the direction of the pounding hooves. Leward followed at her heels. Quinn lost sight of them almost immediately; the concealment spell seemed to be working.

“What should I do?” he asked.

“Watch, and stay quiet,” Moric said. “I need to concentrate.”

L
ogan ducked under another tree branch, trying to keep Thorisson in view. He swerved left around a dead pine; the Landorian soldiers riding hard behind him didn't see it in time. They crashed heavily into the pine and rolled. Another close call. By rights he should have been captured a dozen times over. Another rider turned up on his six almost immediately. There was no end to the expert horsemen, and he was on
their
turf.

At least the trees are close enough that they can't use their lances.

They had been so close to getting away from the patrol and into Felara. Damn Thorisson for screwing it up. If Logan got the chance to shoot him, he would.

And then he'd probably do it again, just for the hell of it.

Unfortunately, the man seemed to know it. All of that awkward riding and tugging the reins had been for show. He rode perfectly well now that his life depended on it, even with his wrists bound. Was that by chance, or had whoever sent him already known what to expect through the gateway? If he got away, they might never know.

Kiara was somewhere to his left, and Chaudri with her. They were trying more to elude the Landorian patrol than anything.
I guess they didn't even try to talk their way out of it.

He felt a little bad about just taking off, but he'd be little use to them if he were captured by the Landorians. And Thorisson was now the key to this mission, so letting him escape wasn't an option. Even if it meant leaving Chaudri and the lieutenant in Landorian hands.

Still, that thought tore him up inside.

He cleared his head of regret—­
time for that later
. With a quick glance over his shoulder to see where his pursuers were, he focused his attention ahead of him once more.

“Mendez, where are you?” he asked.

“On your three. But I've got a ­couple of these King Arthur types on my tail.”

A crashing noise came from somewhere to Logan's right. A horse screamed.

Hope that wasn't him.
“Mendez!”

“Make that one on my tail,” he answered.

Thorisson cut right; he'd found a trail heading downhill.

“Bearing right!” Logan said. His mount stumbled over a hidden log, but kept its footing. Another stroke of luck. He pounded on down the trail. There was a creek ahead, swollen nearly to the banks with groundwater from the recent storms. Thorisson plunged into it. The water nearly reached the stirrups. He gained the far bank just as Logan's mare hit the water. Thorisson leaned low against his horse's neck; Logan could have shot the packhorse, but couldn't bring himself to kill it just to recapture the prisoner. He had other problems, too. Muddy water swirled over his boots, halfway up his mount's back. It was rising.

“Watch the creek,” Logan told the others. Almost instantly, the water picked up speed, gurgling and swirling around him.
That doesn't seem right.
His horse gained the far side and clambered up. He tugged back on the reins to watch the others cross.

“Keep moving, ­people,” he said. “The water's rising.”

“Don't wait for us,” Kiara said.

He pretended not to hear.
I abandoned them with the Landorians. I'm not leaving them again.

Mendez splashed in next. The women were right behind him, but the water was twice as deep now. Twice as fast, too. Kiara's mount balked at the edge and nearly threw her. Chaudri's mare crashed into hers. Both stumbled down into the churning waters.

Shit.
Logan jumped out of the saddle and waded in, keeping hold of his reins. Mendez tried to turn back to help, and then
his
mount was slipping.

“Go, go!” Logan shouted. He skirted them and made a grab for Kiara's bridle. Never had cold, wet leather felt so good. “Easy, girl. Easy.” He braced himself with his own reins and started backing out. The lieutenant had kept her saddle, and managed to grab hold of Chaudri's mount. Logan was almost to the bank, but the water surged around him. He slipped and would have gone down, but an arm slipped under his shoulder and held him up.