Forbidden Quest, 2nd Edition Read online

  Hopper hit the grass with a grunt of frustration, “I now understand why they make dog food out of horse meat!”

  “Nonsense Hopper, he’s just testing you. Give it one more try. This time, hold on with those long legs of yours; take control, don’t let him push you around,” Nicole offered, smiling brightly at him from atop of the dappled gray stallion.

  “Maybe I should test my club on its stubborn skull,” Hopper muttered. He approached the large black stallion with a dark growl.

  “That’s the spirit,” Jack called to him as he mounted a young tan mare and stuffed his long sword into the narrow sheath attached to the saddle. “Give him one of your famous uppercuts, Hopper. Let’s see how he likes it.”

  “He’ll do no such thing!” Sarah called out. She had her own struggles trying to mount a small white mare. “You can do it, Todd, grab hold of the reins before you mount him.”

  “Maybe Sarah could zap him with a spell or something,” Jack teased.

  “Now that’s an idea.” Hopper turned to smile at the tall beauty as he grabbed hold of Wind’s black mane.

  “With my luck, I’d turn him into a buffalo,” Sarah laughed.

  “Now that’s the best idea yet,” Jack added, bracing himself as Hopper climbed on top of the stallion again. “If he can’t stay on this time, I say we have buffalo steaks for supper.”

  “You could make an instant enemy with a comment like that,” Nicole said, her smile vanishing.

  “Pardon me, Wind, you old blowhard!” Jack rolled his eyes. “I believe my partner’s forgotten about that black mink coat she insisted Tom buy her last year for Christmas. Suddenly she’s become quite the animal activist, and now apparently a vegetarian to boot.”

  “That’s it, Hopper, now use the reins to guide him,” Nicole said concentrating on Todd and ignoring Jack.

  Hopper’s massive legs hung just far enough below Wind’s belly to allow him to latch his feet together. With this accomplished, there was no dislodging him. The stallion quickly ceased its resistance and let the troll to steer him back toward the others.

  “Does he have the same effect on you in that position, Sarah?” Nicole’s comment made Sarah blush more deeply than her crimson locks.

  “Which way wizard?” Jack quickly interceded before Hopper had a chance to respond.

  Nicole’s teasing had brought Sarah’s quiet demeanor back, and her voice mirrored it. “The map shows the mountains running along the southern border of the village,” Sarah answered. “There’s a creek that dumps into the river near the base of the mountains. That’s where our first goal is.” Sarah urged her horse closer to Hopper and added, “Nicole, fix the front of your vest before something pops out and shocks us all.”

  The elf’s laughter filled the small patch of woods. Nicole ignored Sarah’s comment and instead turned her horse toward the south and led the way.

  “Who’s riding shotgun?” Hopper called after the others as they fell in line behind Nicole.

  “Looks like you have that honor,” Nicole called back to him, her sultry voice echoing through the trees.

  “Good idea, Hopper,” Jack added. “That Inn Keeper turned to jelly at the sight of you. It’s probably best that you stay hidden.”

  “Okay, I’ll hang back a bit. But if things get hairy, I’m coming in.” Hopper glanced at Sarah’s disappearing form. “Keep an eye on her Jack. I don’t want her to get hurt and miss out on this adventure.”

  “Don’t worry, Todd nothing’s going to happen,” Sarah called back to them.

  A pair of dark Sapphire eyes stared silently from the brush beside Sarah. The tall, lithe figure moved swiftly back into the shadows of the forest to disappear unnoticed by the adventurers.