Kiara wrapped her hands around his. "Like Jonmarc says, you do know how to put on a show."
"I really had nothing to do with what happened in there."
"I know. But if you were looking for a sign, that was pretty clear."
Tris shook his head and looked out the window. "The sign was clear, but the meaning never is. Grandmother was wary of taking signs as divine messages. It's dangerous to count on them."
The carriage and its guards left the temple grounds, heading back to Shekerishet. The road ran through an old section of the forest,
where ancient trees towered and the underbrush had long died back in the heavy shade. Pounding hoof beats behind them roused Tris and Kiara in alarm.
"Keep the carriage moving!" Soterius shouted. From behind them stormed black-clad riders, their faces covered by cloth. Tris and Kiara were thrown back against the seat as the driver snapped the reins and set the horses into a gallop. On the hills around them, Tris could hear the clang of steel and the cries of battle. Vyrkin howled. He drew his sword.
"Are they crazy? It's broad daylight!" Kiara protested, hanging on as the carriage jostled and bumped.
"They know what they're doing," Tris replied, bracing himself as the carriage careened onto two wheels. "The vayash moru aren't out by day. We're less protected than we were on our way to the temple."
The driver veered, sending them reeling into the side of the carriage. Riders on horseback closed in around the carriage, and Tris saw the driver tumble from his seat. One of the riders leaped from his horse to take the reins, but the horses, trained to respond only to the driver's code words, kept up their frenzied pace.
A black-clad rider grabbed for the door handle of the carriage, and Tris's magic threw the attacker clear. Kiara grasped the handles of the metal warming box with her cloak and slid back the cover, throwing burning embers on the rider who tried to reach for her through her window.
"Shoot the horses!" A rider cried, and Tris heard the twang of bows. The carriage lurched and banged as the horse team staggered. Kiara cried out as arrows struck the side of the carriage, embedding in the wood deeply enough to show the point through the fabric that covered the interior. Outside of the carriage window, the scenery flew by; Tris wondered if the brigands hoped that a wreck would be fatal. The carriage careened forward, its horses panicked.
"If we don't get this thing stopped, we'll be dead with or. without the bandits," Kiara shouted over the din of the speeding carriage.