Chapter 5: Men in Black
An uneasiness, an untangible darkness, covered Algon Forest. Gin could feel it. Regardless, he took a deep breath and rode into the trees that were his home. There were no Men in Black that Gin could sense, but his better sense told him they were there, somewhere.
Gin still didn't know what his hurry was when he got to his house, nor why he wanted to get there when there were unknown villains nearby whose mere mention froze his blood. He unmounted and climbed silently to the door. Once inside he closed the door behind him, panting. He was safe.
Wait. That wasn't it. What? He was home safe, but why did he have a feeling that wasn't what he had come for? Gin scanned the room. Stove. Table. Wall. Necklace.
That necklace! He know Roanah had tricked him into taking it. Somewhere deep inside Ginothroph knew this was what the Men were looking for. " 'It ain't here,' " the Man at Padona had said, "an' they took off that way." Well, it was safe here. He was safe here.
But he wasn't safe here. He knew it. Gin kicked the table. It hurt, but he didn't care. He knew what he had to do. If he and the necklace weren't safe here, he'd have to leave. And of course, the necklace would have to come too. He was hating himself for taking it around now.
Gin grabbed the necklace off the wall and stuffed it into his pocket. The next moment he was out the door. The horse was still there, waiting for its new master. Gin slapped himself in the forehead. No wonder he didn't feel safe hidden in his tree, he had left a horse standing right next to it! "That's stealth for ye," he muttered to himself. "Might as well put a sign up."
Noise. Gin heard a noise. A whinney. He looked down. It wasn't his horse. He shook himself into action. There was only one obvious conclusion, and he didn't have time to think about it.
Only, he was thinking about it. Suddenly a horse broke into view with a Man on its back. It is unnecessary to describe him. Gin threw all caution to the wind and jumped. Big mistake. In the same moment, his horse bucked and ran, the Rider looked up and saw the flying Nod, and another Rider burst into the scene. This one, unaware, broke Ginothroph's fall. All at once the first Rider pointed, the second grabbed Gin's ankle, and Gin broke loose the moment he felt the hand closing down. He kicked with the other foot, landed on his feet, and ran. It was very impressive, until he ran into the other three Riders. Gin shouted a Noddish exclamatory.
"Take him," the first Rider commanded. Gin ducked under the horses and ran. He didn't know where he was going, but that wasn't bothering him. He was fine so long as he kept running, even if Nods were naturally slow. He was just disappointed he couldn't think of a nice rebuttle to the Rider's command when he took off running.
He had not gotten far when he ran straight into another horse. Hang it all, another horse. After he had a few seconds to think, Gin realized it was his horse. He quickly grabbed its neck and mounted. Time to go.
Ten feet ahead the five Riders came into view, hoofs pounding, galloping full speed towards Gin the Nod.