Giovanni snatched up the mace, much more confident with its heft in his hand. He rounded a tree to avoid the steed's advance, and brought the mace around hard against the creature's leg instead. Horse legs were like toothpicks-- this would certainly take at least the warhorse out of commission, if not the rider.

The horse toppled over onto one knee, keening in pain. The rider, though, slammed his hands together. The flesh twined to forge a wicked looking blade, which he viciously brought down upon Giovanni.

Giovanni held the handle of the mace up to block the blade, resisting the attack with all his might.

A disorienting shriek sounded in the air and a small piece of the night came rocketing down from the sky, striking the Nightrider right on the head. The creature bellowed and its grip slackened, allowing Giovanni to twist his mace around, glancing the blow off, and crack it against the side of his attacker's jaw. Both the man and the horse went sprawling and the crow followed, circling around it, wings beating in agitation. The Nightrider didn't move, but the steed took shuddering breaths.

Giovanni spared an incredulous glance at the crow, but they didn't have time to question the situation. He swung the mace hard into the horse's skull before wrenching it out of the viscera. Better to put the thing out of its misery. He turned to look for Roo, hoisting the mace over his shoulder.

Roo poked her head out from behind the rock, her face pale and eyes round. Blood streaked the side of her head, but she seemed to be in one piece. "You-- how did you--?"

"Let's go," he deflected, pulling her up by the arm. "You said it yourself-- we need to move."

As though confirming his words, a baying sounded some ways away from them, echoed by several similar voices beyond the black horizon. Roo shuddered, grabbing her torn gown and tucking it in her hand. "To Rhea. Go that way."

Her arm hurt fiercely where he held it - she'd rolled on it wrong, and she'd heard a grotesque crack, but there was no time to sit and wail in pain like she wanted to. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the Nightrider's mount's leg oddly seize, then snap into place. It was all starting again. She shouldn't have strayed from the path.

Giovanni noticed it too, but Venenzio's warning of reanimated dead surfaced in his mind. Better not to waste time. He supported her as they put some distance between them and the downed rider. "Who's behind all this? An enemy faction?"

"You could say that," she panted, trying to avoid slipping on wet leaves or tripping on wayward roots. "How far do you think we are?"
A caw sounded above them and then the crowd fluttered into view, beating its wings in time with their steps. The brush on the other side of Roo shuddered to reveal silky white fur - the doe from before, keeping pace as well.