He trotted over the frosted earth, hard as stone from cold. The wind bit at his thin skin, but it felt just right, the only thing that could cool his hot blood. His red hair was dark with sweat, foaming down his shoulders like a waterfall, and blood was staining the path he followed. The sun was dipping low, early as it was, deep winter banishing it from the sky for more than a few fleeting hours. He was stuck on a clockwork, and his body remembered the exact time they would call for him, his ears stuck sideways to listen.

  The call came, a long scream over the snowy plains, the very moment he knew it would. He recognized the voice immediately, it was the great bay stallion Duke. He galloped for home at a quick pace, whining softly from anticipation. He led his fleet of seven into the gate, their bare feet sounding against the stone tile. The Keeper waited for them there, a little black mare who was but fourteen hands tall. She carried her long black whip as always, the short black lash flickering in the harsh wind.

  He couldn’t wait for it to be quiet again. Everyone regarded him as though he were deaf, but he was so attuned that every word anyone spoke or any small sounds felt ear-piercing. It made him want to scream over it and run away, but he held himself. As much as this hurt, it would hurt more to leave. The punishment for letting his mask slip would be far more agonizing. On his worst days, though, the noise hurt him so much he didn’t care how many times the stick was cracked over his back.

  “Come here, Sultan,” the black Arabian said.

  He strode away from the line of horses, and she caressed his cheek gently with a hoof. The world stopped spinning for a moment when she looked in his eyes. She led him to the dim side room, where the washing tub was sitting. The holy water waited for him there, shards of ice drifting afloat.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  He was shaking all the way down to his feet. He was still burning and sweating from the running somehow, even with the blizzard raging outside. She drew the water over him with great care, like he was a priceless gem she wanted to protect. She whispered to him, and he did not hear the words, but the tone was rich and loving. For once everything was perfect here, everything was still. Like nothing he’d ever felt in a long time. He savored it because he knew it would be taken from him. When she finally stopped and left him, he lost himself. That feeling of contentment seemed unattainable. It was gone forever, it would never be back, and he felt he had wasted it.

  Rune’s true sight returned to him, and he saw that his face was buried in Marmalade’s neck. She had her arm wrapped around him and was dragging him along, but loosened her grip as she felt him stop his struggling.

  “Feeling better?” she asked.

  He broke free from her. “Yea. Thank you for looking after me.”

  “Look alive,” Lilith called out from up ahead. “We’re a quarter mile out.”

  They broke through the tree line at last and saw what was left of ERUJ. Flames were erupting from the roof of the East wing. Terrified horses were scattered everywhere in the parking lot, screaming and running away from the blaze. They were unable to make it further than the razor wire fence surrounding them. Armed officers cantered amongst them, trying to regain control of their prisoners.

  Orion stopped dead at the top of the ridge and stared with empty eyes. “Oh, Laci. What have you done?”