60
Michaela would not return to the army encampment tonight.
She would not risk her horses’ legs in the deepening snow just for the purpose of reporting to Rinaldo that she had not found his sister.
She did what she said she would do. She searched. At least until the snow was too heavy and blinding for her to try to force Telko and Rune to endure it.
She returned with them to their isolated meadow and allowed them to forage for whatever grass they could find beneath the snow.
Michaela was as hungry as they were. She hadn’t eaten since this morning. She left the horses to their meal and continued onward to find her own on the bank of the stream.
She disliked the feeling of snow on her bare feet and legs, but her inner warmth kept them from freezing. Still, she thought with longing of
