See Prologue for rating and further Author's Notes.

A/N: I'm sorry for the delay. Real Life has been attempting to kick my behind... and has, for the moment, failed. It'll probably come around for a second bout before too long, but while my muses are talking to me, I'm taking advantage. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Chapter 3 – The King's Ride

The pace they set was swift, though the party was careful not to push the horses too hard or too fast. Were they to be lamed, it would delay them… and they would, Zachary thought, certainly arrive at some tragic scene. He'd just discovered Jonah's existence and had no intention of losing him this quickly. There was several days' journey ahead of them, and the King would not suffer his own impatience to endanger either his companions or his new-found family.

'And then, of course, there's Karigan,' Estora's voice whispered, teasing him even now, and taking him somewhat by surprise. He avoided showing it, and merely kept his eyes focused on the path before him. He'd thought Estora had been allowed only that one message.

'No, dear friend,' she whispered again. 'I'm here until things are as they should be. It's likely you won't be the only one hearing my voice once you reach Haven. Karigan's had the ability – in one form or another – since she was Called to the Green. I've had it explained to me by those who've gone before, that it's part of Karigan's Gift. If I have to interfere to get the two of you to see sense, then I will.'

'A ghostly match-maker, old friend?' he thought back in reply, a hint of a smile gracing his otherwise serious visage. He'd long been aware of Karigan's affinity with spirits, however grudgingly she bore it.

Estora's laughter rang in the back of his mind. 'I may have to say something to push her your way, even if it's only as a surprise. I've been hearing a few stories of what Karigan's been through and done… stories she never thought to tell me. Truly, considering that she's quite the heroine in all of them, it doesn't surprise me; she's never been one to glorify herself. That is as it should be. Were she a braggart, neither you nor the Weapons would adore her as you do.'

Zachary only smiled in response, and kept riding.

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Haven, early the next morning

Whispers and a warning woke Karigan from a sound sleep, and she came alert with a speed that would have done Drent proud. Every day in the Green had seen her grow stronger in her gifts, and she was no stranger now to split-second warnings delivered by the voices of the dead… her own veritable horde of ghostly guardians. This night – for it was not yet dawn – the voices were loud and insistent. 'Beware. Death approaches the gates.'

Dressing quickly, Karigan roused Haven's Guard, knowing that the spirits had alerted her before even her eagle-eyed tower guards would have been able to see the approaching enemy. A word to Fastion, her friend, her second – and in the eyes of Haven, her brother – guaranteed that the news would spread quickly, and it would be only moments before Brienne and Jonah were safely hidden in the tunnels beneath Haven – tunnels modeled closely on those with which both Weapons had been quite familiar. Should Haven fall, there was a second exit through the tunnels which would lead well away from the fighting, and offer safe passage to Karigan's only child and the woman who'd sworn to guard him even should it cost her life.

There were four swordmasters in Haven, and before even the faintest hint of the sun's rays touched the horizon, three of them stood on the eastern wall… waiting… watching. Karigan drew comfort from the presence of both men – one, her brother, quiet, determined, and steady. The other was her teacher, whom she'd stolen away from Selium at the earliest opportunity. Nethien Rendle, older, with hair gone from graying to completely silver, was nonetheless an intimidating presence when he wished to be, and could not, under any circumstances, be considered easy to kill.

Just as much comfort was found in the fourth swordmaster, the one who did not stand at the wall with the others… because she guarded that which was most precious to Karigan. On this night, of all nights, with the voices of spirits howling in her ears and tingles of foreboding shivering down her spine… on this night, she blessed Brienne more than any other. "A messenger's swiftness to you if we fail, Brienne, for you will need it to carry him far from here." The wind caught her whispered words and whipped them away from her, and away from the ears of the two men standing at her side.

The first hint of light touched the horizon… and gleamed off groundmite shields numbering in the thousands.

**

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Encampment, the same morning

Zachary woke with a start, a raptor's screech ringing in his ears, and the wind whipping his hair as though it had been disturbed by a large set of wings. With no further thought, he rousted his companions out of their bedrolls, startling all save the Weapons and those who had been on watch.

His voice held no hesitation. "We leave. Now."

Lord Governor Coutre seemed about to protest the haste at first, but at Zachary's look, the older noble held his tongue. Neither Weapon nor Rider in the group did anything other than follow their monarch's orders, silently and with speed. It took only a matter of moments to clear the encampment, mount up and move, a sense of urgency chasing every hoofbeat.

And in his mind, Zachary heard again a ghostly whisper, though this voice was not Estora's. 'Time grows short for your beloved, High King. To save her, you must do as she did on that first mission, do what none save the Riders have… Ride, Firebrand! It's the Wild Ride!'

Around him, the landscape snapped into greater clarity, a rabbit that had nearly darted across the road before them came to a stop, slowed to a crawl as the riders passed in a blur. To Zachary, the sight seemed surreal, and only the feel of his horse beneath him reassured the King that he remained in this world and had not passed to the next. Looking to either side, he noted that his companions had been swept up in the Ride with him, and he could only hope to arrive at Haven in time to prevent whatever had stirred the very gods to act.