The carriage lurched violently to the right.
Jack's eyes snapped open as the vehicle tilted, wood groaning under sudden stress.
Lyra gasped, her hand shooting out to brace against the wall.
Rhys grabbed the seat to keep from sliding, and Father Caelen remained steady despite the angle.
The carriage shuddered to a stop, listing at an awkward tilt.
"What happened?" Jack called toward the helm.
One of the guards jumped down, his boots hitting dirt with a heavy thud. "Rear wheel, my lord. Axle's cracked, and the wheel's split clean through. We'll need time to replace it."
Jack pushed the door open and stepped out, his boots finding uneven ground as he assessed the situation. The carriage sat at a steep angle, its rear right wheel shattered, its pieces scattered across the road.
Rhys emerged behind him, followed by Father Caelen and Lyra. The four of them stood in afternoon light that filtered through the forest canopy, painting shadows across the dirt road.
