Anya was becoming accustomed to Thorn's brisk walk. The horse's strides were long and fast compared to the slow plods of the sturdy mounts of the guardians. Often Anya had to slow down so Irien and the coach could catch up, but the routine grew old and Anya often found herself close to the leaders of the procession.

Pulling Thorn aside, Anya waited for her teacher to catch up. Thorn took the opportunity to lower her head and crop at the grass, usually Anya would not encourage such habits but since she was quite a distance ahead, she relaxed and gave Thorn reign. It was the familiar coach that alerted Anya that she had missed Irien, another rider rode along side Hana causing her to glance over both blonde heads. Alec was smiling at Irien, laughing softly.

"Anya, there you are. Alec here was looking for you."

Alec turned. "Indeed I was."

"So I see." Anya shot Irien a curious look. "What brings you out of your luxurious accommodation on wheels?"

"I wanted to prove to you that I can handle a bit of rough travel, despite what you think of me." He said, his white teeth glinting in a smile.

Anya laughed. "Just because you show me you can ride a horse while it is slowly walking does not tell me you can handle a...what did you call it? A bit of rough travel?"

The smile was wiped right off his face and Anya had to bite back a laugh.

"She has the most vicious tongue." Alec said to Irien as if she were not there.

Irien laughed once, and then pursed her lips.

"Do not mock me then, Sir Sumberland." Anya pulled lightly on the reins. Thorn protested by shaking her head, her strides slowing slightly before resuming their usual pace.

"I did no such thing! I came out here to show you I can withstand the trials of horseback."

"You wish to prove to me you are not a spoilt nobleman's son?"

"You I am spoilt?"

"Of course you are," Anya gave poignant look at his ridiculous traveling clothes. "Are those riding trousers?"

Alec clenched his jaw. "I'd like the chance to prove you otherwise, if your prejudice would allow."

Anya smirked. "It would need far more than seeing you in a saddle in floral breeches to change my mine."

"What should I do? What can I do to change it then?"

"Bad question to ask, young man." Irien leaned over. shaking her head.

Anya smiled, knowing full-well an ungodly suggestion would do her more damage than him. There was an oath she intended to keep and suggesting ridiculous schemes and activities were not expected of guardians. "Alright, race me."

"What do you mean race you?" he scowled

"You know very well—"

"Anya, I don't think that is a good idea."

"We won't hurt anyone, Ir—Lady Irien," she looked at the flat landscape they were traveling through and spotted a bunch of trees ahead of them. "Just to those trees and back."

"From experience I know it is pointless to try dissuade you, but I do warn you of the chance of punishment for disorderly conduct." Irien said, her back rigid and her face in a concerned frown.

"We would be punished?" Anya could not hide the bemusement in her voice.

"This is not Tjorin Vale, Anya. There are rules and propriety to adhere to."

"It's not like a race is going to offend anyone. It may liven things up. You haven't seen it but in front of us is a line of guardians and novices dying of this monotonous field. A race is a means to pass time. Wake the horses up."

"Display your farm roots?" Irien suggested.

"Who cares. What is life without a bit of risk? I may prove to the folk that I grew up with the livestock, but I never claimed to not have. So what do you say Alec?"

Alec looked straight ahead. His face set in a frown of evaluation. His chest lifted from his heavy breathing and finally he turned to her, "Alright, when?"

"Now!" she dug her heals into Thorn's side and the horse leapt forward in surprise. She could see Alec do the same to his bay. They passed by the company in a few seconds; oblivious to the reactions they stirred. Anya's hair was whipped behind him from the wind. Thorn whinnied with joy, giving a small buck. She heard Alec's bay answer.

The trees approached quickly, more quickly than she had anticipated. "Further!" she shouted on the top of her lunges. Alec looked at her; he had not heard her, "Further!" she shouted again, articulating the word as best she could.

He nodded with a sly smirk on his face.

A mountain of rock approached in the distance and both of them passed a look of understanding. That would be the turning point. Anya wondered how he would go about turning his horse in a half circle at a full gallop. Her father had taught her a maneuver during the Trey, Roan and Sam's training sessions. It was quite advanced and she risked Thorn hurting herself if done wrong.

When the mountain of rocks approached, she slowed Thorn down, and dug her heals on the inside flank, Thorn whinnied in protest, obeying more out of instinct. Without stopping her back legs moved to the side so that she was traveling horizontally for a few seconds and then with a final leap was traveling back towards the company. Anya looked back, Alec was stunned at her maneuver and was still trying to regain a gallop after his stationary turn.

She laughed to herself. It was not often she lost anything on horseback and embraced victory openly. She arrived back at Irien's side a short while later, beaming from ear to ear. Alec arrived a few seconds later, clearly out of breath.

"I suppose you still think me a spoilt brat?"

Anya laughed, "I didn't say you had to win, only agree to what I proposed. But no, my opinion of you—" Shouts at the front of the line cut her off.

"What's happening?"

"Not sure, stay here." Irien nudged Hana forward, leaving Alec and Anya.

They waited with the other novices as more and more guardians cantered forward. Anya swallowed, unsure if the disturbance was because of her or something else. A part of her hoped it was something else. The last things she wanted was to prove Irien right and receive punishment for having a race on a public road. She refused to believe there was such a law that forbade the activity.

Irien returned; she slipped off Hana next to the coach and poked her head through the window. Moments later, she was back on her horse and Lord Derrick and Lady Dhanna were jumping out and untying their horses.

"Irien, what is happening?" Irien ignored Anya's question, so she grabbed her sleeve and made her answer.

"Goblins."

Anya let go, too shocked to move again. Her whole body was frozen, eyes wide, nostrils flared, mouth agape. "Here? How—"

"I don't know, but your stunt with Alec clearly warned them of our approach. They must have been further up the road."

Anya felt her stomach drop. By the Gods! What would have happened if we continued...? Have I put us all as risk?

"Stay here, and make sure none of the novices move forward. Gather behind the coach. Understand?"

Anya managed a small nod and watched her teacher canter off to join the rest of the guardians further along the road. The line of white cloaks blocked the view of anything else that lay before them.

I have just brought danger upon us... Silverbark, what have I done?

"What must we do?" Alec asked.

Anya regarded him for a few seconds, her mind reeling. What were goblins doing this far west? "Get behind the coach!" she shouted. All turned to her but made no inclination to obey. "Get behind the coach now!" she shouted more forcefully.

They all seemed to awaken from a sleep and nervously kicked their horses. Gina popped her head out and looked around with her lips tuck between her teeth.

"What is happening?" she asked softly.

"Goblins." It was Alec who answered, when Anya made no attempt to.

Gina let out a shriek and retreated back into the coach.

Cowardly goose! Anya thought with more venom then she intended. No need to take your guilt out on her!

Anya remained in front of the carriage watching the line of guardians. They were waiting for something; either for the goblins to start the attack or something else.

Where are the Elite Warriors and why were they not traveling with us? The answer came to her like a floating cloud pushed by a gentle wind. Obvious and unassuming, yet a possible threat: There had never been a need for them so far from Shu'ed Mar.

Silence fell like a heavy blanket, a calm that seemed unnatural for the moment. A roar broke that silence, like a knife that cuts through cheese, it separated the quiet from the cacophony now filling the air. Terrible screeches that forced Anya to cover her ears.

The guardians stood silent, their horses moved nervously from foot to foot. As one, they drew their swords. that lay so unassuming at their hips. Anya could count the times she had seen Irien's rapier, and always it had been hidden in its bronze scabbard.

Some guardians kicked their horses forward, others remained still. Anya heard the crash of metal and unnatural cries of pain from the dying. Not a sound was heard from the guardians.

"What should we do?"

Anya turned to Alec who was looking at the line of backs.

"We can't just stand here." He growled.

"We must." She said weakly, "We know nothing of battle."

Alec swore under his breath.

Anya jumped at the sound of a guttural growl. She turned. Her heart skipped a beat. Big colourless eyes stared back at her; slimy skin pulled tight of contorted limbs, seven fingers on each bony hand with, sharp teeth and claws bared solely at her. A cry stuck in her throat. She stumbled back. Fumbling for something. Anything. "Alec!" Her voice was a harsh wheeze.

"Hmm?"

"Alec!"

"Yes, what is—by the gods!" Alec jerked his horse between Anya and the goblin, his sword ringing clear of its scabbard. The blade caught the light making the goblin snarl. "Anya, in the coach is another sword. Anya!"

Anya's focus snapped away from the snarling creature and she nodded.

"Do not make any sudden movements." He said softly. Anya nodded again and slowly backed Thorn away from Alec towards the side of the coach. Thorn danced nervously but obeyed. Dismounting was difficult. Thorn was barely listening to her soft words of comfort and when she was on the ground, the mare sided, pushing Anya into the coach.

Anya spotted a bunch of novices hiding. She glared at them.

"Don't move." She whispered, "And don't make a sound." She opened the coach door. Gina was crouched on one of the seats, her hands over her ears. She jumped at Anya's entry but relaxed afterwards.

"What is happening? Are we winning? How many are there?"

Anya ignored the questions and scanned for a sword. She spotted it in the corner and grabbed it.

"Anya, that is mine! What are you—"

"Alec needs help, now, if you aren't willing to do it then I must. It's useless just lying here...like its owner."

Gina pouted. her defined brows dancing in frustration. Closing the door, Anya crept out from the side. A yelp escaped her lips before she could stop it. She had not heard Alec attack. He had fallen off his horse and was underneath the goblin, the only thing keeping the creature's dripping fangs from burying itself in his flesh was his tight grip on the fleshy neck.

The goblin had its own hands around Alec's making blue marks where the long fingers squeezed. Without thinking she unsheathed Gina's sword. The blade was light, much shorter than Alec's, which lay some distance away. She plucked up all the courage she had and crept behind the Goblin. When she was close enough to hear Alec's soft grunts she raised the sword above her head and brought it down with as much force as she could muster. The blade sank into flesh with a thud and a cry, but it caught at the surface, barely half its width buried in the goblin's shoulder.

The goblin knocked Anya back with its arm, its bellow a threat, its eyes afire. Gina's sword flew from her grasp, landing by the coach again. Anya landed on her side, the impact knocking the breath out of her in a grunt. Her arm scraped against the dirt, skin peeled away and burnt an awful pain. The goblin grabbed Gina's sword and advanced, a malicious grin distorting its already hideous face.

Anya looked frantically for something to throw at it. Panic and bile built up in her throat. She backed away. The ability to run evaded her, strength evaded her. Her arm burned and her left side ached. Something cold and sharp pricked her back.

Alec's sword!

Alec still lay helplessly on the floor, eyes shut.

Is he dead? Oh gods please let him not be! Please!

The other novices were staring wide eyed at the whole scene from behind the coach. Anya wanted to scream at them to help or distract the creature approaching her. The creature that wanted to kill her.

Go find help, idiots!

She brushed her fingers over the sword, searching blindly for the hilt. The leather came cool and soft under her pads and she grasped it.

The goblin's approach was fast. A strange gurgling sound was coming from its snapping lips, as if it were laughing.

When would the right moment be? Is it close enough? How heavy is Alec's sword?

She tried picturing Nic on the day of the Wrestle and how he had beaten Robert with patience and determination. It was all she had to go on and it was the only thing giving her courage to face the monster in front of her.

The goblin lifted the sword high and the laugh grew louder. It swung downwards. The blade blurred. Anya swung Alec's sword from behind her and thrust it with all her might into the belly of the beast. Dark green blood squirted onto her face and hands. The goblin's laugh died, replaced with a high shrill of pain. It dropped the sword, staggered back, and finally fell.

Anya did not have to look twice to know it was dead. The bile that had been waiting to exit her system forced its way out. She sat there, sick to her stomach and aching all over her left side. She looked at Alec's body, still as a rock. A few novices, including Gina, were rushing towards the two of them but she saw no more as a wave of darkness enveloped her.