neck and reddened the trampled snow as his body disappeared under the sorrel's churning hooves。 Sidana； cowering against the still…closed gate； stared at the carnage in mute horror as Dhugal grabbed a fistful of reins and glanced around wildly for the nearest escape route … which was fast being filled by foot soldiers and other mounted men pressing through the throngs。 He suspected that most of them had no idea who he really was。
There was clear space around him now … except for the bloody body of the slain and trampled guard … but the panicked citizens fleeing his horse's hooves would block pursuit for only so long。 He must take his chances now。 Far across the square he could see archers approaching。 If he could not break free at once； they would cut him down。 Kneeing his mount closer to the gate and the petrified Sidana； he seized her upper arm and dragged her UP to the saddlebow in front of him； to shouts of dismay from the approaching soldiers。
〃Sorry； coz； but you must be my escort now；〃 he gasped fighting to keep girl； sword； and his seat as he made the bay rear in defiance。 〃Out of my way； if you'd not risk the lady's safety！〃 he shouted。
She squirmed in his grasp； elbowing him in the ribs hard enough to nearly make him drop her； but he only swore under his breath and held her the more tightly clapping heels to the horse and incredulously watching the guards melt from his path as he bolted for freedom。 Sicard and his sons were screaming frantically for horses； Caitrin half…fainting； Loris mouthing unheard orders as Dhugal shot by them。 His passage through the city streets became a blur of screaming； scattering people and shouting soldiers in pursuit； the chaos heightened by the loose horse which plunged along just ahead of them； helping to clear a path。 Only a handful of riders pursued them at first。 The city gates stood open as they usually did during daylight； and Dhugal and his still…struggling passenger careened past the gate guards and out across the snow…slick draw before anyone could do more than stare in surprise。
His pursuers were heavier than he in their war harness； so Dhugal managed to pull away slowly for the first few miles … but only at the expense of his gallant bay； running out its heart for him。 Double…mounted； he could not sustain such a pace for long … but neither could his pursuers。 He had temporarily lost sight of them when he pulled the blown bay to a shuddering halt and slid from its back； thrusting his sword upright in the snow。 The horse staggered at the sudden lessening of weight and nearly went down； and Sidana clutched at the saddle； white…faced。
〃Easy； good friend；〃 Dhugal murmured； laying hands on the bay's heaving chest and soothing with his voice。 〃Better service a man could not ask； but you have earned your rest。 Your stablemate shall carry us from here。〃
Still stroking the spent animal with one hand； he turned and held out his other to the sorrel； whistling low。 The second horse was also lathered and breathing heavily； steaming in the cold air； but still with spring in its step for having run unburdened。 Whuffling softly； it pricked no its ears and came to butt its head against his chest and present a sweaty face for scratching。
〃There's a good fellow；〃 Dhugal said with a grin as he obliged； glancing up at Sidana as he continued to stroke both animals。
Her expression brought him to her side at once； to lift her down and let her sink onto the snow in a heap of fur…lined cloak； weeping。
〃I'm sorry for your rough treatment；〃 he said； easing to a crouch beside her。 〃I had to get away； though … whatever the cost。〃
〃Whatever for？〃 she sobbed。 〃Didn't my father offer you enough？ Can you betray your blood so easily？〃
〃To have stayed would have been to betray it far more；〃 he replied。 Nervously he glanced back the way they had e。 〃What your father is doing is wrong。 He usurps the rights of King Kelson。〃
〃Kelson？〃 Sidana hiccoughed and tried to stop her sobbing。 〃What obedience do you owe him？〃
〃I am the heir of Transha；〃 Dhugal replied。 〃My father is King Kelson's liegeman。〃
〃Your father is his liegeman。 You have sworn no oaths。〃
〃Have I not？〃
〃Well； you are free to give your allegiance where you will；〃 she said； staring up at him with great； accusing eyes。 〃But how could you； with your family's blood joined to Meara's？ Your uncle is my father； and the father of future kings。 My brother will someday rule a reunited Meara。 You could have been a part of it … would have been a part of it。 Father had promised you a dukedom！〃
Sadly Dhugal shook his head。 〃Only my king may give me that； Lady；〃 he said； standing to rest his hand on the bridle of the bay。 〃And it is not your brother who shall rule a reunited Meara； but mine。〃
〃But … I thought you had no brothers。〃
He shrugged and smiled。 〃None yet live who were born of my mother … but I have a brother； fair cousin： a brother of blood； to whom I owe total allegiance； one worth forfeiting my very soul to protect and serve … which I may have done； by breaking my oath in escape； and taking you with me。〃 He sighed。
〃But having risked that； I don't intent to waste it all by being taken now；〃 he said； offering his hand to help her rise。 〃Your hand； please； my lady；〃 he added； when she drew back in protest。 〃Don't force me to add another offense to the litany of my crimes。 Despite what you may think； I was taught to honor and revere women。〃
Rebellion and indignation flared again in her dark eyes but Sidana was too much the daughter of nobility not to recognize an untenable position。 Spurning his offer of assistance； she gathered the shreds of her pride around her with the fur…lined cloak she wore and wobbled to her feet； though she did allow him to lift her onto the sorrel's saddle。 She sat woodenly as he scrambled up behind her and reached around her to gather up the reins。
A moment to retrieve the sword set upright in the snow； and then he set heels to their mount and urged it forward； glancing back over his shoulder at the dark specks of their pursuers。 The bay followed them for a while； but gradually fell behind and was lost as the sorrel settled into a modest but steady pace。
They managed to keep moving for another hour； until the shadows were long and weak on the virgin snow of the Cuilteine Road； but their horse was nearly spent as Dhugal drew rein at the top of a rise and turned to look back。 Their pursuers could be discerned as three or four score horsemen now； drawing inexorably nearer。 Sidana stirred in his arms and gazed after him； the wind whipping a tendril of her dark hair against his face。
〃My father will kill you；〃 she said softly； not turning her head 〃After my brothers finish with you。〃
A tightness spreading beneath his aching ribs； Dhugal swallowed and shifted his gaze in the direction they had been fleeing … toward Gwynedd； and safety。 They would never reach it now。 Their horse would be lucky to make it down the hill； much less carry them beyond。 And whether or not Dhugal were calloused enough to threaten harm to Sidana when they caught up to him … and even if he followed through … they would kill him for what he had done。 Whether quickly or painfully hardly mattered； under the circumstances。 Dead was dead。
But as his eyes darted longingly back toward the east and safety； he caught a trace of unexpected movement： more horsemen approaching； perhaps even more than pursued him。 He drew in breath sharply as he strained his eyes in that direction； for they could not be Sicard's men； and have ridden fast enough to circle round this way。 But if not Sicard's； then it mattered little whose they were。 Anyone was preferable to being taken by the Mearans。
He did not pause to analyze it further。 Setting his heels to their trembling mount； he forced it down the hill； holding Sidana close against him as the animal stumbled and lurched； near to foundering。
He might still die。 He might break his neck falling from this fool horse； if it didn't watch where it was putting its feet。 Or the men ahead might be no more merciful than the ones behind。
But he was not going to wait for the Mearans to take him。
CHAPTER TWELVE
All the men of thy confederacy have brought thee even to the border： the men that were at