* * *
Cole pushed Krieger hard. He had stopped and asked several people where the Giordano estate was. Luckily he was closer than he realized. Unfortunately he was close enough that he had little time. If he understood Diokles’ curse then he had until sunset to find Arlana. He was racing against the sun and prayed he would make it in time. The sun was low in the sky when he reached the village near the Giordano winery. Krieger was panting hard. Cole knew he was close but he couldn’t push the horse any more. He saw a stable on the edge of town and headed towards it. It was a very simple stable. He had hoped he could trade Krieger for a horse but when he arrived he worried that there would be no other horses in the stable. As he was dismounting a man came up to him. “Did you need to board your horse, senor?” he asked.
“Yes but I was hoping I could trade her for another horse that could quickly take me up to the Giordano’s winery. It is of the utmost importance that I reach it before sunset.” Cole said briskly.
The man rubbed his chin, looked at Krieger and then looked at Cole. “If I get to keep your horse then I can give you a horse to ride up there.” He replied.
“It is a trade then. Please we must hurry.” Cole urged.
After saddling the new horse Cole rode fast towards the winery. The sun was beginning to dip low into the horizon when Cole spotted the gates to the winery ahead. He urged the horse to go faster, praying that he would make it in time.
As he reached the gate in the distance he saw the silhouette of a young woman in the setting sun. As he felt the familiar pull grow stronger he knew it had to be Arlana.