Korie’s words barely had time to register before he ran. Coward.

  Lyra surged forward, her boots striking hard against the wooden floor. Bursting through the door, she spotted him already several steps ahead, moving with the speed of someone used to escaping. Even with the weight of the pack slung over his shoulders, he was fast - faster than her, even with his burden. Her armour was well-made, fitted to her body, balanced in a way that allowed for speed when necessary - but against Korie’s light frame, she was struggling to keep pace. Still, she pressed on, refusing to let him vanish into Brimmond’s streets and she kept her eyes locked on his figure, watching the way he moved, searching for any sign that he might falter, that she might get an opportunity to close the gap.

  Brimmond had begun to wake, and the narrow streets that had been mostly empty just minutes ago were now cluttered with merchants setting up their stalls, dockhands carrying crates, sailors heading toward the piers.

  Korie dove into the crowd with practiced ease, slipping between bodies, using the press of people to slow her down. Lyra growled in frustration as she forced her way through, pushing past men hauling barrels and women balancing baskets of fresh fish.

  He was heading toward the docks.

  Her stomach twisted.

  If he boarded a ship before she caught up - if she lost sight of him - he’d be gone.

  She doubled her pace, forcing herself through the last of the crowd, nearly bowling over a young boy carrying an armful of fruit, only to hear the sudden, piercing shout that rang over the morning air.

  "Horse thief!"

  Then, the unmistakable thunder of galloping hooves. Lyra barely had time to react before she caught sight of him. Korie, mounted atop a sleek black stallion, the stolen horse already galloping down the open road, hooves striking the ground in a steady rhythm of escape. Lyra cursed, grinding her teeth as she watched him vanish into the distance. She would never catch him on foot.

  She needed a horse - now.

  Her gaze swept the dockside stables, scanning the handful of heavy-built draught horses still tethered nearby. Unlike Korie’s stolen mount, these were not sleek racing animals. They were strong, bred for hauling goods rather than fleeing.

  And then she saw him.

  A rich bay stallion, his deep, earthy coat shifting between dark brown and warm mahogany under the morning light. His thick, muscular legs ended in striking white feathering, a sharp contrast against his darker body. A horse built not for speed, but for endurance.

  Nearby, a dockhand stood, watching her with open suspicion as she strode toward the horse.

  "He yours?" she asked, jerking her chin toward the stallion.

  The dockhand hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "Aye, but the bastard's more trouble than he’s worth," he muttered. "Stubborn thing - no one’s had much luck keepin’ him steady."

  Lyra didn’t hesitate.

  She pulled a small pouch of coins from her belt and tossed it toward the man, the weight of it hitting his chest before he caught it with fumbling hands.

  "Consider him sold," she said, already untying the horse’s reins. The dockhand blinked, then let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Hells, take him. You might’ve just done me a favour."

  Lyra didn’t waste another second.

  She swung herself into the saddle, gripping the reins tight. The stallion snorted, shifting beneath her, muscles tensing as though testing her resolve. She didn’t give him the chance to decide.

  A sharp kick of her heels, and the powerful beast lunged forward, hooves striking the ground with force as they shot forward.

  The wind whipped against her face, strands of dark hair slipping loose from her braid as she leaned forward, urging the horse to pick up pace.

  Korie was ahead but she was coming for him.

  ??

  The horse was a powerful sprinter, launching into a full gallop the moment they cleared the city gates. Its hooves stomped against the packed dirt road, each stride stretching long and effortless, as if it could run forever. But no horse could sustain such a pace for long. Even so, Korie urged it onward, casting glances over his shoulder every few moments at the couple of guards on horseback in the distance, heart pounding nearly as loud as the hoofbeats beneath him.

  The city walls shrank into the distance and they easily outpaced the guards, yet they remained on their tail. His grip tightened on the reins, fingers clammy despite the cool morning air.

  He was catching his breath still from the chase through the city. He was glad he'd chosen the horse instead of a ship in that split second decision. He had no knowledge of where those ships were headed and a horse offered far more control over the situation. He could ride wherever he wished to. His only problem was his inexperience, as he had never had a horse in his possession before... Surely it could not be that difficult.

  He exhaled sharply, forcing himself to focus. They needed to disappear. The road was too open, too exposed. He gave the reins a sharp tug, guiding the horse away from the well-worn path and toward the forest’s edge. The animal tossed its head at the sudden change, ears flicking back in protest, but obeyed. As soon as its hooves left the firm ground of the road and crunched into the softer earth and forest grass, Korie eased it into a trot, slowing their pace. The cover of the trees was their best chance.

  He found this a good moment to dismount. Riding through dense woods seemed complicated, and he had no time for practice. "Alright, slow down now," He muttered to himself as though the horse could hear, gently pulling on its reins and patting its neck. The stallion hesitated for a moment, tilting its head slightly, blinking and trying to understand what was being asked. He slowed down to a stop, his tail flicking.

  Korie exhaled a long sigh, sitting there for a moment as he took a moment to pause. He'd seen others dismount before, so he had a loose grasp on how to do it himself. He unhooked his feet from the stirrups, gripping the front of the saddle with uncertainty.

  He was mostly trying not to land with his head... He moved his leg over to the right side and slid down, landing with an oof as he readjusted to the ground.

  He gave the horse some pats on the neck, grabbing the reins loosely. "Alright, let's go," He spoke as though the horse could understand him. The horse’s ears pricked forward, reacting attentively. It followed along as Korie stepped forward, walking over thick roots as the forest floor quickly became uneven. The horse appeared to be particularly polite, despite the way Korie had just stolen it from its owner. His escape had gone very smoothly overall.

  The air was cool and fresh in the early morning, the scent of pine and earth filling his senses. Though the ride from the city had been fast and tense, the steady walk through the trees gave Korie a chance to collect his thoughts. That woman, whose expression had been so tense at the mention of home... He felt a pang of sympathy for her. Hopefully she'd find a better path in her life and wouldn't get involved with that wretched man. Either way, he was not planning on finding out where she'd end up.

  Every now and then, he glanced back, checking for any sign of pursuit, but all he could see were the shadows of the trees stretching out behind him.

  After a while, he found a small clearing by a river and decided it was time to rest. He stopped and gave the reins a gentle tug, leading the horse to a patch of soft grass. He took a deep breath, stretching his legs and letting the quiet of the forest wash over him. The only sounds were the occasional rustle of leaves and the distant call of a bird.

  As Korie stood beside the horse, reins loosely in his hand, his eyes caught the way the saddle was sitting; slightly lopsided, pressing unevenly into the horse’s sides. The leather seemed to dig into the animal’s ribs in a way, as if it was too tight. It was something he hadn’t paid attention to while riding, but now, with the horse standing still and the quiet of the forest surrounding them, the pressure seemed much more apparent.

  He ran his hand along the leather straps curiously, his fingers brushing over the smooth material as he tried to figure out what was wrong. The saddle felt secure, but something wasn’t right. His eyes followed the strap that ran across the horse’s belly, a wide, thick piece of leather that seemed to hold the saddle firmly in place. He tugged at it gently, trying to see if it would loosen, but the strap barely shifted. Korie’s brow furrowed as he pulled again, this time more firmly, and to his relief, the strap gave just slightly.

  A soft snort from the horse made him pause, as if it had noticed the shift as well. He realized he could loosen the girth a bit more, so he tried again, giving the strap a careful tug. This time, it shifted more easily, and he felt the saddle settle slightly. The horse’s body seemed to relax in response, shifting its weight and shifting the saddle back into a more comfortable position.

  Korie gave a quiet sigh of relief, running his hand over the horse’s side to check for any more discomfort. The animal’s breath seemed calmer, and it seemed to appreciate the small adjustment. Korie wasn’t entirely sure he’d done it right, but the horse’s response told him he was on the right track. Satisfied, he tightened the girth just enough to keep the saddle secure, then stepped back and gave the horse’s neck a gentle pat.

  Korie took a seat on a large rock and left the animal alone for a moment to have a drink and graze and whatnot. He stared up at the sky through the leaves, emptying his mind. The clearing had a serene feel to it, far different from the noises of a busy city.

  The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  Once he decided they'd rested long enough, he tightened the girth again, making sure everything was secure before taking up the reins once more. He led the horse back through the trees, moving at a steady pace.

  Much later, the sun sank lower in the sky, and the heat of the late afternoon hung in the air. Korie knew they needed to reach the road before it got too dark. The thick trees around them made it easy to lose track of direction, and he couldn’t risk getting lost.

  He led the horse toward the edge of the forest, guiding it carefully. As they stepped onto the main road, the sound of the horse’s hooves on the harder ground was a welcome change. The path ahead felt more familiar, and Korie allowed himself a brief sigh of relief as the trees began to fall away behind them.

  As they continued along the road, Korie’s eyes caught a faint light in the distance. At first, it was just a smudge on the horizon, barely noticeable against the darkening sky. But as they drew closer, the outline of buildings began to take shape, the warm glow of lamps flickering in windows. A small town, nestled at the edge of the road, appeared just as the last rays of sunlight faded. The thought of food made Korie’s stomach rumble. He knew he wasn't carrying much gold on him at the moment, but he had plenty to afford a good, hot meal and a bed to sleep in, and that was exactly what he was planning on doing.

  ??

  The fading light of dusk bled into the horizon as Lyra pushed her horse forward, her heart pounding in rhythm with the stallion’s heavy hoofbeats. She had lost Korie. The realisation gnawed at her, sharp and bitter, but she didn’t have time to wallow in frustration. He was ahead of her, riding a stolen stallion far faster than her own mount. Every moment she hesitated, the gap between them widened. Her horse’s hooves drummed against the damp earth, the sound swallowed by the dense woods stretching in every direction. Tracks left behind by Korie's horse and guards in pursuit of him were still visible, deep imprints pressed into the softened ground but they wouldn’t last forever. The shifting winds and looming rain threatened to erase them, and then she would have nothing to follow.

  She pressed her heels against her horse’s sides, urging it into a faster canter. The beast huffed beneath her, muscles straining as it pushed through the overgrown path. Twigs snapped underhoof, and low-hanging branches clawed at her cloak as she ducked and wove through the dense woodland. The forest around her was unfamiliar, the towering trees a dark canopy that blocked out much of the fading light. Korie had chosen his route well - one that would slow anyone giving chase. Lyra wasn't one to give up so easily though.

  However, as daylight started to fade, her own horse was tiring.

  She could feel it in the way his strides shortened, in the roughness of his breath, in the way he fought against her urging. He had given her everything, pushing himself to the limit in pursuit of Korie and his stolen horse. He had carried her hard, too hard, and now exhaustion was creeping into his movements. Lyra clenched her jaw, scanning the path ahead. She didn’t want to stop. She couldn’t afford to.

  And yet, if the horse collapsed beneath her, she would lose more than just time.

  With a reluctant sigh, she pulled back on the reins, slowing the exhausted horse to a trot, then a walk. His sides heaved, his sweat-darkened coat steaming in the cool night air. He had done all he could for her today - pushing him further would be a mistake.

  Lyra swung out of the saddle, landing lightly on the damp ground. The scent of earth and rain clung to the air, thick with the promise of an oncoming storm. She ran a hand down his neck, feeling the tremble of his muscles beneath her fingers.

  “All right,” she murmured, glancing around for shelter. “We’ll rest.”

  The land had opened into a shallow valley, the trees thinning into rolling hills and scattered rocks. There was no shelter in sight, but a small outcrop of stone jutted from the hillside a short distance ahead. It would have to do.

  She led the horse forward, murmuring quiet reassurances as she ran a hand down his lathered neck. He was still trembling from exertion, his breath coming in ragged pulls. Guilt pricked at her - he had given her everything, and she had asked for too much. She reached for the bridle, intent on removing it, fingers brushing over worn leather - then pausing. There, carved into a metal plate across his noseband, was a name.

  Orion.

  She traced the letters with her thumb, the engraving smooth from years of wear. She exhaled softly, a strange feeling stirring in her chest. She hadn’t known his name. Hadn’t even thought to ask.

  “Orion,” she murmured, testing the name aloud.

  The horse flicked an ear at her voice but remained still, his exhaustion outweighing any response. Lyra let out a breath and unfastened both bridle and saddle, setting it down beside her as she eased onto the ground. The moment she stopped moving, the exhaustion crept in, settling deep into her bones. Her legs ached from the hard ride, and her fingers were stiff from gripping the reins too tightly. The night had fully settled now, the sky stretching wide and dark above her. The world felt impossibly quiet.

  Korie was still ahead. He had the faster horse, the advantage. He could be miles away by now.

  But there was no use dwelling on that. Not when the night had already fallen.

  Leaning back against the rock, she pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, eyes flickering toward the distant path where Korie’s tracks had vanished into the night. She would find him again. She had no doubt about that.

  For now, though, she would have to wait until morning.

  Morning crept into the valley, slow and heavy with mist, draping the land in a hush that even the wind did not break. Lyra stirred, her limbs stiff from a restless night, her cloak damp with dew. Orion stood nearby, his breath clouding in the cool air, his ears flicking toward the distant sounds of waking birds. She ran a hand down his side, feeling the warmth of him beneath her fingertips. He had rested, but he was still tired. So was she but there was no time to dwell on it.

  She stepped away, scanning the ground where Korie’s tracks had been clear the night before. Her stomach twisted. The tracks she had followed so relentlessly the night before had faded. The night air and morning damp had softened the earth, washing away the deep imprints left by his stolen stallion.

  Though, there was only one path forward. The valley stretched into rolling hills, and beyond them, a narrow road wound between the cliffs. It was the only route eastward, the only place Korie could have gone unless he had chosen to double back. She doubted he had.

  After tacking Orion back up, she pulled herself into the saddle, ignoring the protest in her sore limbs.

  "Just a little longer," she murmured. Orion huffed, as if unimpressed with the promise. She pressed her heels to his sides, and they set off.

  Orion moved reluctantly at first, his muscles stiff, but he soon found his rhythm as they travelled onwards. The morning mist began to lift, burned away by the pale light breaking through the clouds. The wind picked up and with it, carried something unexpected - a sound, distant but distinct.

  Bells.

  Lyra furrowed her brow, her grip on the reins tightening slightly as she listened. It wasn’t just one bell tolling in the distance, nor the heavy, rhythmic chime of a great bell tower. It was lighter, constant, carried on the shifting breeze like an unseen presence whispering through the valley. As she and Orion approached, the sound grew clearer.

  A town lay nestled between the hills, cradled in the valley's arms, its rooftops clustered together beneath towering spires. At first glance, it was like any other settlement - a scattering of houses, winding streets, an open square where people moved about their daily routines. But what set it apart, what made Lyra sit a little straighter in her saddle, were the bells.

  They were everywhere.

  Church bells crowned the tallest buildings, their golden curves gleaming faintly in the hazy morning light. Smaller bells dangled from archways and doorways, swaying gently in the breeze. And then there were the wind chimes - thousands of them, hanging from eaves, strung across shopfronts, suspended from lampposts and trees. The wind carried their music through the streets, a constant, haunting melody that filled every quiet space.

  As Lyra guided Orion down the main road into town, the bells above her sang their ever-changing song, carried by the shifting wind. The town was unlike any place she had ever been. The chimes and bells filled the air with a restless melody, as if the very bones of the town whispered secrets on the breeze. It wasn’t long before she spotted a weathered wooden sign swinging gently above the main street. The painted letters were old but still legible:

  Welcome to Zephyr Hollow

  Lyra pulled Orion to a stop, scanning the bustling street. People moved between shops and stalls, their movements slow and unhurried. Some nodded in polite greeting, but most paid her no mind - travellers must have been a common enough sight, even in a place as peculiar as this.

  What she needed now was a stable. Orion had carried her hard through the night, and though he would keep going if she asked, she knew better than to push him further.

  A little farther down the street, she spotted what she was looking for - a large open stableyard with a long, slanted roof. A few horses stood tethered outside, lazily flicking their tails as a stable hand moved between them, tending to their needs. It was as good a place as any.

  She swung out of the saddle and led Orion inside, where the scent of hay and warm animals filled the air. A young man, no older than twenty, glanced up from where he was brushing down a chestnut mare. He set the brush aside and strode toward her, wiping his hands on his trousers.

  "Need a stall for your horse?" he asked, giving Orion an appreciative glance. "Looks like he’s had a rough ride."

  Lyra nodded. "Yeah. Just for the day, maybe longer. He needs rest, food, water - the works."

  The stable hand gave an easy smile. "You’ve come to the right place. Five silvers will get him a stall, fresh hay, and a proper meal. Another two if you want him cleaned up."

  She reached into her coin pouch, counted out the seven silvers, and handed them over. "Take good care of him."

  "Always do," he said, leading Orion toward an empty stall.

  Lyra exhaled slowly, rolling the tension from her shoulders. With Orion taken care of, she could finally take a proper look around town. But just as she turned to leave, something caught her eye - a horse, sleek and dark as ink, standing in one of the outer pens.

  Her breath hitched.

  She knew that horse.

  The stallion Korie had stolen.

  For a moment, she stood frozen, staring. There was no mistaking it - the sheer power in its frame, the shine of its coat. But how? If the stallion was here, that meant Korie was here.

  Swallowing her shock, she stepped closer, turning to the stable hand. "That’s a beautiful horse," she said carefully. "Who does he belong to?"

  The young man chuckled, shaking his head. "Oh, now there’s a story. That beast belongs to no one right now, far as I know. Some horse thief rode him into town last night, but he didn’t get far. The most excitement we’ve had in years."

  Lyra’s pulse quickened. "What happened to him?"

  The stable hand shrugged. "Got arrested. If I had to guess, he’s sitting in the town cells right about now."

  Lyra let out a slow breath, processing the news.

  Korie had been caught.

  For the first time since the chase had begun, she wasn’t the one trailing behind. The game had changed, and now she had the advantage.

  She straightened, adjusting the sword on her hip and her pack, and cast one last glance at the stolen stallion before turning toward the town center.

  It was time to pay a visit to the Zephyr Hollow cells.