“Meet at Sheertop,” said the Ox, tugging on the reins. “May your exhibition—”

“Yeah, yeah, exhibition.” The Goat waved at them with one gloved hand as he hopped out of the saddle. He strode away from his horse, arms wide, and began to sing.

How many animals does it take,

To catch the wicked and make us safe,

Ox is strongest, loyal and true,

Goat is cleverest, valor anew

The other riders began edging their mounts forward, baring their crude weapons, calling to each other to get into formation. The Ox kicked her horse into a trot, but Anji twisted in the saddle, eyes fixed on the display.

“Why are we—”

“Quiet,” barked the Ox.

A call came from the mounted fighters as the Goat flipped his mask off and tossed it aside. Anji tried to make out the features of his face, but the angle at which the Ox was spiriting her away made any clear visage difficult. He slipped off his bandolier, removing one of the vials, the purple liquid inside pulsing and brightening. Then he smashed the vial against his chest in an explosion of glistening glass and vapor.

A single heartbeat passed before a roar exploded from the Goat. Anji blinked and he was doubled over. Blinked again and he staggered, back arching as he released another ear-splitting cry. His legs extended, his torso widened, and a pair of arm-length horns burst from his head. Black fur sprouted from his body, tearing apart the leathers that had clung to his skin moments before. Towering amidst the tall grass, shoulders heaving, a monster stood where a man had once been.

The gathered horses reared and screeched, hooves clawing at the air as their riders shouted confused commands to one another. Their leader, Fernand, tore away from the group as the Goat set upon them all with a snarl. He kicked his horse into a full gallop, headed straight for Anji and the Ox. The Ox sawed at the reins and brought her horse to a stop as Fernand closed in, the whites of his eyes wide, his teeth bared. Light glinted off his raised spear, and Anji felt the Ox shift behind her, then a glint of silver flew from the Ox’s hand across the narrowing gap between horses. The blade sank into the man’s face where his upper lip met his nose and wobbled there for an instant. Fernand’s head snapped back so hard Anji thought it a wonder it didn’t fly away, then he slid from his saddle and crumpled into the ground like a sack of bricks. Bone crunched, the sound joining the screams and shrieks of horses and riders as the Goat ripped and tore at them. Anji lifted her eyes from the mess that was Fernand to watch the Goat, just as the Ox maneuvered them around.