Karissa swayed back and forth with each step of the horse beneath her. Again she felt guilty that her guards, and now Lilian and the Duke, were all walking while she was not. But that look her husband had given her when he had suggested she ride had reminded her of her station. 

Of course a lady would be prioritized above everyone else. Of course a Duchess should not walk when there was a horse available. Of course she was daft for suggesting such a thing.

Karissa shook her head, trying to drive that last thought away. She was sure that the Duke did not mean it like that. No, he had done his best to be kind about it, although she was certain he did think it was odd of her not to see the ridiculousness of it sooner. She was just… so unused to being treated as a lady.

I’ll just have to be more mindful of it moving forward. I won’t embarrass myself or the Duke… not if I can help it.

Karissa stared at the blue stag adorning the Duke’s cape, trying to think of some way to restart the conversation from earlier. But he did not seem interested in talking. His answers to her questions had been short and to the point. Maybe he found her boring already. Or maybe he just wasn’t good at socializing. 

A sudden screech filled the air, long and keening. The horses around her snorted and pinned their ears back.

“Wyvern!” A knight shouted, and each man drew their weapon of one accord. The screech stopped as abruptly as it had started. Lilian and Karissa were quickly surrounded by the Kyleon guards, who in turn were encircled by the knights of Hallel.

“Steady!” the Duke shouted, holding the reins of his horse with one hand while holding his sword aloft in the other. “It may not attack once it sees how many of us there are!” 

Lilian whimpered, reaching up to grab hold of Karissa’s hand. 

“My lady,” the Duke added in a lower tone. “When I give you the signal, take your lady’s maid and flee down the road. The keep is a day and a half’s journey ahead, but if you are swift you may arrive sooner and muster the remaining knights to come to our aid.”

Karissa swallowed the lump that had instantaneously formed in her throat. Me, flee and try to get help? 

The danger was immediately apparent to her with his suggestion. He, his knights, and her guards would stand and fight to give her and Lilian time to escape. But could she really abandon them if it became that dire? 

If only we had enough horses, Karisaa lamented. Then we could all escape…

A blue-scaled beast about the size of a yearling colt burst out of the trees across the road from where they stood, baring its fangs and screeching again. The triangular head at the end of its long neck bobbed from side to side. Then it rushed forward, and was met by three knights on horseback, who took turns shouting for its attention and then slashing at its legs, wings, and head until it hissed and retreated back into the woods, severely wounded. 

More screeching filled the air, seemingly coming from all directions.

“Lady Karissa, go!” the Duke shouted, tossing her the reins as more wyvern charged from their hiding places, biting and clawing at the waiting men. The beasts were of various colors and sizes, some as small as a large dog, while others matched even the tallest of the horses.

Dalvo grabbed Lilian by the waist and hoisted her up behind Karissa, then readied his bow and began shooting arrow after arrow at the attacking wyvern. Karissa gathered the reins and shouted at the warhorse, who bolted away quickly. 

Lilian’s arms were encircled tightly around Karissa’ waist, and they galloped hard at least thirty meters until another wyvern landed in the middle of the road in front of them, blocking the way ahead. The warhorse skidded to a stop, neighing loudly, and Karissa did not know if she should go into the woods or turn back. 

This was the biggest wyvern she had seen yet. Its iridescent green scales rippled over taut muscles as it took a few toying steps towards them, hissing menacingly. Suddenly the horse reared up and hit the wyvern in the head with its front hooves, leaving a large gash on the top of its skull. Lilian cried out as she lost her grip and tumbled off the back of the horse. 

“Lilian!” Karissa shouted, then winced as she heard the horse scream. The wyvern had not backed down when the horse had kicked it in the head. Instead it had lashed out with its claws, and Karissa was certain the warhorse was greatly injured. Karissa tugged on the reins to go around the attacking wyvern, but the horse reared up again and tried to deal the same blow to the beast. 

But it had learned already to avoid the sharp hooves. 

It ducked and rushed around to the left, eyeing Karissa with its black slitted eyes. Suddenly Karissa was yanked off of the horse from behind, and she somehow landed on her feet, supported by a strong arm.

“GO!” the Duke bellowed, pointing back to the other fighting men who were somehow holding the line against about a dozen attacking wyvern. Lilian had already gotten up and was running toward the knights and guards. Karissa was about to run after her, but then another wyvern emerged from the woods, blocking her path. 

The Duke, his horse, and the Duchess were trapped between the two beasts. Karissa backed up until she was almost back-to-back with her new husband, terror enveloping her mind. She had no weapon, no way of protecting herself from the multitude of teeth and claws that threatened to rip her to shreds. 

A steady drip drip drip was coming from the horse next to her, and she looked down and saw a pool of blood forming on the dirt road. Her heart sank as she realized that not even a seasoned warhorse could survive losing that much blood.

Now what do we do?