Time stopped.
Everything went red.
Kaida's fist connected with his face before she even realized she'd moved. The impact made a sick, wet crunch. The old man's eyes rolled back in his head and he dropped like a puppet with cut strings, hitting the ground in a heap.
Unconscious. Maybe dead. She didn't care.
"You old shit," she breathed, staring down at him. Her hand throbbed. "Did you just sell off my sister?"
The neighbors gasped and rushed to the old man, checking if he was still breathing. One of them looked up at Kaida with wide, frightened eyes.
"He's alive! But Kaida, you can't just—"
She was already running.
Rust lifted his head as she approached, clearly hoping they were done for the day. Tough luck.
"One more sprint, boy. Then you can rest. I promise."
She mounted up and urged him forward. The horse obeyed, though she could feel his reluctance. Poor bastard. She'd make it up to him later.
