THIRTEEN

 

A sound somewhere between a screech and a creak began to sound in Julia's ears. It was like no bird she'd ever heard before, but a bird it must be, or a whole flock of them, for no door could keep creaking for so long.

Epona flicked her ears irritably. She heard the sound, too, and she did not approve of it. It took all of Julia's stubbornness to make her keep moving forward, for Epona evidently wanted to turn around and head back to Veluwe as much as her mistress did.

The sound grew louder, the closer they got to the bridge. But it wasn't until they reached the top of the stone arch that Julia saw it was no bird at all.

A giant wheel, like something that belonged on a cart the size of a house, sat beside the riverbank, turning slowly in the current. What made the wheel more remarkable still were the enormous sails sticking out the side of the structure – and the whole thing creaked in protest as it turned.

The storm was fast approaching, bringing with it strong winds that filled the sails, making the contraption groan even louder...until one of the sails suddenly snapped off, and took flight.

Epona whinnied in fright as the sail headed straight for them on the bridge, and bolted.

Julia, too distracted by the curious sight, was a moment too slow reaching for the horse's reins, so that when the horse moved, she found herself flying backward, toward the edge of the bridge and the river below.

She bit her lip, sending out a desperate plea to the water to protect her, before she landed on the river's surface, which felt as hard as any rock. Her breath blew out as pain exploded in her chest, and she wasn't even sure if her cry for help left her lips before blackness claimed her.