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The ground disappeared beneath her.
One moment Bradamante was on the verge of pushing herself off the horse’s back, the next moment it was as though the horse had taken wing. All she saw was the darkness of a featureless night.
The rain had suddenly stopped. Or else the horse was too fast for the raindrops to touch him.
His stride was so smooth Bradamante might have been lying on her belly on the unmoving ground. But she could smell the horse’s coat and the pungent scent of the wet woolen blanket draped over his back. The fibers of it felt rough against her chin.
A man sat in front of her astride the horse. She could feel his backside pressing against her left ribs. Her left arm was extended above her head, her wrist still locked with his.
Bradamante knew who this man was. She und
