The next half hour was lifted straight out of his nightmares. Marching through the forest, demon cats trailing a stone’s throw away. Holding Jack’s murderer at the tip of his dagger, yet knowing that he’d have to release her. Tristam’s tunic dampened with sweat and his arms began to ache from keeping such a tight hold on the woman. He didn’t know how far he could push this, but they needed to be on their horses with a good head start if they wanted any chance of outrunning the demon cats.

Agitated hoof steps sounded ahead. Through the trees, he glimpsed Lady tossing her mane, pulling her bridle at the demon cats’ scent.

The Demon Rider spoke again. “If I get on that horse, the cats will attack.”

“We’ll let you go once we’re astride.” Tristam nodded to Martin, who mounted his horse and aimed his bow to stand watch as Tristam jumped into his own saddle. “Send your cats to that far boulder.”

The woman narrowed her eyes, but inclined her head. The cats backed away, though not as far as Tristam had requested. “They’ll go no farther,” she said.

That would have to do. “All right, Martin, ready to ride?” Tristam muttered.

“Aye, sir.”

He took one last look at the Demon Rider, then gave his horse a sharp kick. Lady jumped into a full gallop. Tristam crouched down as the forest blurred past, urging Lady to go even faster. Behind him, he heard Martin fast on his heels. He rode without looking back until he finally saw farmland in the distance. He couldn’t lead the beasts into the farms.

Tristam risked a look over his shoulder. Martin rode madly on his heels, but beyond that, the road was empty. Cautiously, Tristam brought Lady to a halt. The two of them scanned the distance behind them.

“You all right?” Tristam asked between breaths.

“Tired, but kicking.”

“I suppose you’re going to tell me what an idiot I was for wanting to stay out there by myself.”

Martin grinned. “No, Sir Tristam, I would never dream of such impertinence.”

“One Demon Rider and two cats?” asked Malikel.

“Yes, sir.”

Tristam rubbed his eyes against the sunlight streaming through the window. It had been impossible to sleep after he got back, and he was now paying for it. His head throbbed, and there was a foul taste in his mouth that he couldn’t rinse out. Next to him, Martin stared at a pile of books on Malikel’s desk, blinking to bring them into focus.

“You’re sure this was the same woman?” asked Malikel.

“She recognized me,” said Tristam. He shivered as he recalled her voice, her odd way of speaking. Over the past two months, he’d imagined confronting her more than a hundred times. He’d envisioned yelling, threats, a fight to the death. But not the precarious standoff that had occurred last night.