Zypheria's Call (A Tanyth Fairport Adventure) by Nathan Lowell

departing wagon, scuttled across the road. Tanyth watched them examine the body, and then one man stood and stared after them, a look that might have been disbelief on his face. The wagon eased around the next bend and the heavy, green trees blocked the view.
    Rebecca blew out a breath and clambered over the seat to settle beside Tanyth. She looked back and forth between Tanyth and Frank. “You both all right?”
    Frank shook his head. “She’s not.”
    “Tanyth?” Rebecca took Tanyth’s slack hand in hers and stared into her face. “What’s the matter?”
    Tanyth took a breath, savoring the flavor of the warm, dusty air and the warm scent of horse. The darkness stopped creeping across her vision. “I’m all right,” she said. “Just a lil weak right now.”
    Frank snorted. “A lil weak, she says.”
    “What is it?” Rebecca asked.
    Frank glanced down at the two women and cast a glance over his shoulder behind them before answering. “Fool woman been sayin’ prayers again.”
    “I never said a word,” Tanyth said. “Not a word.”
    Frank snorted and shook his head. “Well, I was prayin’ as hard as I could. I figured you’d be prayin’, too.”
    Tanyth smiled up at his worried face. “I didn’t have time for prayers. I was just hopin’ that Rebecca wouldn’t get caught.”
    Frank nodded and smiled at the young woman. “Good shootin’, by the way.”
    She scoffed. “I hit his leg.”
    “From what? A hundred yards?”
    She shook her head. “Maybe fifty. And I was aimin’ for his eye.” She grinned. “Thomas always says I shoot low.” She spared a glance for the road behind. “Think they’ll come after us?”
    Frank twisted his head to look himself. “Naw. They lost the brains of the outfit, such as he was. And they’ll have to deal with the wounded guy. That’ll slow ’em down.”
    Tanyth’s breath started to come a little easier as they rolled along.
    “Think they’ll report us for attackin’ ’em?” Rebecca asked after a few moments.
    Frank shot her a look. “They attacked us.”
    She shrugged in return. “Our word against theirs.”
    Tanyth chuckled.
    “What’s so funny, old woman? You scared me nearly to death back there.”
    Tanyth reached up to stroke his leathery cheek. It felt almost hot to her touch. “I was so afraid they’d kill you,” she said, her voice barely audible over the clop and crunch of travel.
    He nuzzled her hand. “And I was sure he was gonna grab you and put a knife in you while I was tangled up in reins, but what’s so funny?”
    “Well, what are they gonna say?”
    Rebecca and Frank shared a look of puzzlement.
    Rebecca shrugged. “I still don’t get it.”
    “Can you see them walking into town and saying ’we got attacked by two old fogies in a lorry wagon. The old woman bashed Joe’s head in with a walking stick and some kid with a bow wounded...’ what was his name? Ethan?”
    Frank nodded. “Yeah, I think so.”
    “Some bandits if two old farts and a kid can best five of ’em,” Tanyth said. “You think they’re gonna admit that?”
    Rebecca laughed at that, but Frank didn’t look that convinced.
    “You think they’re gonna cause you trouble on the return trip?” Tanyth asked.
    He freed a hand to scratch his chin. “Prob’ly not. By the time I get back here, they’ll mos’ likely be long gone.” He glanced behind them again. “Still, when we get to Foxrun, we should probably let ’em know at the way station there.”
    “What if they’re from Foxrun?” Tanyth asked.
    Frank took a deep breath and then blew it out through his nose. “Yeah. That’s what I’m worried about.”

Chapter Nine:
Foxrun
    Long before she saw the village, Tanyth smelled the smoke and the sour aroma of people. She wrinkled her nose at the scent.
    “Should be Foxrun,” Frank said. “Musta had a rough winter.”
    Tanyth looked up to see him looking down at her, concern in his eyes. “I’m all right.” She stirred herself on the seat