Free Lovers in the Woods by Ann Raina

got in your genes?
If I read it correct, your family says you can find anyone in any
surrounding faster than any police force in this quadrant.” He
shook his head in mock surprise. “My, I’m disappointed.”
    “You didn’t answer my question.”
    He pulled the reins and Tessla, woken from
her silent reverie, came to an abrupt halt, shaking her head in
protest.
    “ Tell me, Ms Officer, what had you planned
if I’d turned out to be a complete idiot when it comes to
navigating? Sending smoke signals?”
    “That was mean.”
    “No, honest. I could have galloped away and
left you stranded.”
    Rayenne turned Bunty, gritting her teeth.
    “I didn’t say that I wouldn’t find a way out.
I wanted to know if you can lead us through the woods without
getting lost in its center.”
    “Lost? Ah, now I get it.” He pointed a finger
at her. “Maybe I read the ads, but you heard some lore about the
heart of Emerald Green, right? Am I right?” He brought his mare
close to the gelding, snickering.
    She glared at him.
    “ You’re afraid that the
soil is thicker there, more dangerous. A place where compasses
don’t work and the eyes trick you. And that there are animals no
one has ever heard or dreamed of.” He nodded, smiling ugly. “And
that, maybe, maybe, these beasts would swallow you whole for
breakfast and lick their fingers —ah, fangs — after that.”
    Rayenne wanted to place a fist in his smug
face. He was much too close to the truth. She ground her teeth even
tighter, until it hurt. Sajitar was unruffled.
    “And that we
can’t find a way back because those beasts would cloud our minds.
Before or after they ate us, that’s the question, hmm?” Sajitar
laughed out loud. “Oh, come on, be reasonable. If it weren’t so
funny I’d say the Horlyns made up this story to keep the
lumberjacks from getting too bold.”
    Rayenne was as irritated as she was angry. Did the officers mock me? “Well, then,
who made up the story? You can hear it from here to Belson
Park.”
    Sajitar shrugged, looking
indifferent.
    Rayenne caught herself watching
his broad shoulders mov ing and the drops of rain falling from the dark
brown strands of hair. The moment she had awakened, she had ever so
lightly touched his skin at the temples, not really wanting him to
wake up, but driven to feel his warmth. She had swallowed and
willingly turned her thoughts to her family and home. That had
mellowed her enough to take her hand back and get up, telling
herself that she just wanted to make sure he was alive. Sajitar
woke only moments later and she was not sure if he had felt her
closeness.
    “ One piece of an adventure leads to
another.” Sajitar sniffed and readjusted his butt on the saddle,
wincing. “One man tells a story of what he has experienced. The
next one adds a piece, then another comes along and tries to
justify his anxiety by making up another piece of the story. That
piece contains the odd animals and even more dangerous happenings
in the center of the woods. Do you want to know my guess? All of
these people haven’t gotten very far in such a short time. And if
they want to brag, they make up lies. Considering the stories
around these woods, it must be more dangerous than flying through
space without a space suit!”
    “Tell me something, Saji. You left Belson
Park one day after the assassination. Why?”
    Sajitar flinched at the sudden change of
subject. Ray watched him closely as he pondered over an answer and
finally came up with
    “Let’s say, I had some not so nice encounters
before.”
    “You didn’t, by accident, get a memo to leave
town?”
    His glare made her smile.
    “I decided to leave before the other side
insisted on my departure with more firepower.”
    “Now you say that you were forced to leave.
When I talked to you back at the village, you made it sound as if
you had enough of the city already, like being bored.”
    “That hits the truth nicely, doesn’t it? If
you have armed muggers at your door