Chapter 41
The wind stung Odi's cheeks as she rode, the horse galloping across uneven terrain beneath the grey morning sky. Her mind whirled with thoughts of the Heartstone, of Darius, of Ben's letter—and then, suddenly—
A thud.
A sharp whistle through the air.
The horse neighed wildly as a crude catapult stone struck its flank. It screamed in pain and crashed to the ground, sending Odi flying off its back.
She hit the earth hard, rolling once before her body went still, dust rising around her. She coughed, pain stabbing through her side, and scrambled to her feet, panting, her heart thundering.
Odi's boots thudded against the dry path as she trudged onward, clutching her bruised side. Her horse lay a distance behind, moaning in pain, its leg crushed from the catapult Oliver had launched.
Oliver had come running.
His face was wild, twisted, haunted. He panted with rage and triumph.
"You can't run from me, Odi," he bellowed as he emerged from the trees. "You're mine!"
