Free Enchantment by Nina Croft

Casterix...” He shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. She’ll know. And Shayla—perform the choosing ceremony as I told you, it will strengthen the bond between the two of you.” He turned his head so he could regard Tallon. “Take her and go.”Tallon grasped her hand and tugged. For a second she resisted, then the resistance drained from her and she gave in.
    They ran across the clearing, to where the horses were tethered under the trees. Tallon studied them for a moment before turning to Shayla. “Can you ride?”
    “No.” Riding was for the rich, and Shayla and her mother had never been that. She’d never even been on a horse, and she examined the big beasts warily.
    “You’d better ride behind me then.” He went along the row of animals and freed the ropes that tied them to the trees. The beasts were well trained and didn’t move, until he slapped the nearest on the rump and waved his hands in the air.
    They stampeded through the stream, kicking up a spray of cold water.
    The remaining horse, a huge black with a fierce gleam in his eyes, reared and kicked out, but didn’t break the rope that held him. Shayla could smell the warm flesh, the sweat rising from his body.
    Tallon released the rope and took the reins. After swinging himself easily up into the saddle, he held out a hand to Shayla.
    She inched forward and the horse snorted and stamped. Glancing back over her shoulder, she caught a brief glimpse of the clearing and Callum.
    She couldn’t let his act be in vain. And anyway, she refused to be intimidated by a great hairy brute. She stepped forward, slid her palm into Tallon’s, and held on tight as her swung her up into the saddle behind him.
    “Wrap your arms around my waist and hold on.” She didn’t need to be told twice. Sliding her hands around him, she gripped on tight, burrowing her face against his broad back.And then they were off. It was no flat out gallop; the trees were too thick for that. Instead, they wound there way between the trunks. She felt each twist and turn of the horse’s body beneath her, the tensing and relaxing of Tallon’s muscles as he moved with the animal. Then the splash of water as they entered the stream and the speed picked up.
    Suddenly, she realized she was free. Lifting her head from Tallon’s back, she peered around her. On either side, the trees were flashing by. The hooves kicked up water so the droplets sparkled like jewels in the brief flashes of sunlight.
    She shook her head, so her hair streamed out behind her and laughter erupted from her lips as relief flooded through her. They had come so close to death, but they were alive and free. Her mother was safe. Callum...well at least he was out of his prison and while there was life, there was hope.
    Tallon glanced back over his shoulder, a slightly startled expression on his face. Maybe he thought she had given in to hysteria, and maybe he was right. For a little while, she wouldn’t worry about the whys, she’d just enjoy the escape from tension, however short it might last.
    “I love you,” she shouted the words and they were carried away by the speed of their race. But he must have read her lips because the startled expression was replaced by a smile and he nodded and turned back, urging the horse on.
    They kept up the speed for what seemed like an age, but finally, Tallon glanced behind him, then slowed the horse to a walk.
    They scrambled up the bank and then headed away from the stream and continued on for few more hours. Only as the light was fading, did he pull the horse to a halt and swing himself to the ground. He held up his arms to Shayla, and she slipped from the saddle. He caught her as her knees threatened to give way beneath her.
    She groaned. “I don’t think I like horses,” she said casting the animal a disgusted look. It snorted and stamped its foot.
    Tallon picked her up and carried her to where a fallen log formed a natural backrest and then lowered her to the ground.
    She sat