13. Zas’tu
13
ZAS’TU
I spot the trap but there is no way to warn Kat. Sometimes the best way to handle a trap is to spring it before the enemy is prepared.
I kick my mount into greater speed. As I draw my lochaber it enters a full gallop. I glance over my shoulder and see that Kat is falling behind, which is exactly what I wanted. Her smaller mount isn’t strong enough to match the speed of the alpha that I ride.
The small mounds I noted in the sand are about a wingspan apart. I keep the guster on a path to ride between them. I do not want them to know I have spotted them until it is too late.
At the last possible moment, I jerk the reins to the left. The guster fights my control, growling and emitting a shriek but I pull harder, and it shifts course. I bear directly down on one of the mounds.
The buried Zmaj realizes what I’m doing and leaps up. Sand explodes, filling the air as the Zmaj rises from his hiding place. He spreads his wings, trying to catch the wind, but I’m too close.
I don’t want to kill. Instead of driving the blade of my lochaber in, I swing the weapon over my head and strike with the shaft.
The Zmaj screeches. I hit with enough force that I am certain I broke his ribs. He tumbles mid-air and slams onto the sands. The forward momentum of the guster carries me past where he lands.
I jerk the reins, forcing the guster into a sliding stop. It struggles, wanting to feast on the downed foe, but I force it towards the other mound which only now is moving. The Zmaj that was waiting there is reacting.
Katarina’s mount has closed the gap and is riding too close. I see what is coming, it plays out in my head before it happens. Cold races over my limbs. There is not enough time for me to intervene or stop it. As she passes by the Zmaj emerges from his hiding spot.
He leaps up, glides over, and grabs her as he passes. Her feet tangle as he tries to pull her from the saddle. As dangerous as it is, it works in my favor. Instead of landing on the opposite side of the guster with her as a hostage, he is pulled up short.
The two of them fall on the far side of the guster. He hits the sands, rolling away while she is left dangling next to the guster, trapped by the stirrups. The guster, reacting in fear and without its alpha to follow, rears and screeches, then slams down and rushes away.
I have to choose between the two enemies and saving Katarina. There is no choice, really. I kick my mount.