Zane takes my hand and brushes a kiss on my knuckles. Shadow snorts. I know he can understand my words. In fact I'm pretty sure he's laughing at me. He pads over to Zane and licks his cheek. Then he rolls over onto his back, tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.
"Did that massive animal just submit to me?" Zane asks, his eyes widening as he strokes Shadow's chest.
"It appears so," I tease. "Guess you're now officially our alpha male."
I fail to notice the dangerous glint in Zane's eyes until I'm flat on my back with his body sprawled out on top of mine. His lips brush mine in a kiss so tender I melt under him. My arms snake around his neck, holding him to me. He explores every inch of my mouth with his adept tongue, driving me wild. I writhe against him, my body alive with desire. But still he continues his lazy assault on my mouth. My hands move back and forth over his arms feeling the play of muscles under his shirt. When he releases my lips from his, I'm unable to move. Lying beneath him, I gaze into his fiery eyes panting softly. He brushes some wild strands of hair from my face.
"You forgot to braid your hair," he murmurs. "I'm afraid we just made a rather large mess of it."
"Nothing a brush and an hour or two won't fix," I grumble back at him.
He digs through my bag and pulls out the brush, which I accept with a smirk. Wisely, he decides to ignore my temper and instead pulls together some food for breakfast. As it turns out, my hair isn't as tangled as I feared. I manage to tame it in just a few minutes and start braiding it again with reluctant fingers. While I'd prefer to leave it loose, it would only get in the way in a battle. Once I finish with my hair, Zane hands me some berries, bread and cheese for breakfast.
"We need to get moving," Zane says, staring off to the east. "I'm hoping we'll reach the next Zodiac Inn by nightfall."
He picks up my travel pack, holding it while I put my arms through the straps. Tearing off a large piece of the bread, I hand it to him along with some cheese and berries. Shadow bounds off into the distance, hopefully to find his own breakfast. We're too low on supplies to share with him. The wolf has an insatiable appetite. I breathe a sigh of relief that jerky isn't on the menu this morning. It was once my favorite snack, but I've had a bit too much of the salty treat lately. The cheese is sharp cheddar and quite tangy. It pairs quite well with the sweet strawberries. For travel food it leaves me feeling satisfied and refreshed.
Shadow returns with some disgusting large bird dangling from his jaws. Fortunately I'm finished eating since I doubt I could stomach food after watching the wolf play with his unappetizing breakfast. Zane seems oblivious to Shadow's antics as he continues to observe our surroundings. I follow behind Zane as we head southeast toward the mountains and the brilliant sunrise.
Chapter Twelve
Daniale River Bridge
Another long day of walking interspersed with monster battles weighs down my body and soul. We've made it to the Daniale River and have been following it east for several hours. The river itself has provided a pleasant visual diversion. There's a steep drop on our side of the river. A sheer cliff wall falls straight down thirty feet to the churning water below. This section of the river flows quickly, crashing into the many rocks peppering the river. It creates a beautiful mixture of blue water foaming into white caps at each rock. The boulders in the river appear enormous, but the fact they can be seen must mean the water level is low right now. As I run out of things to distract my mind, the overwhelming fatigue returns.
The sun is beginning its slow descent in the western sky and yet we continue our punishing pace. While I realize we don't want to be out on the plains after dark, my legs just don't seem to care anymore. My feet are screaming in protest as I cling to Zane's arm. I'm just not used to this much exercise. When out hunting, I'd perch in a tree waiting for prey, sometimes for hours. There was no running around from sunrise to sunset every single day.
I'm about to plop down on the ground in protest when I hear Zane's startled gasp. My eyes follow his to the large wooden bridge in the distance. His quickened pace catches me off guard. To keep from falling, I release his arm. Whatever is on the bridge has also caught Shadow's attention. He tears off after Zane leaving me to trail behind them alone. A shrill scream pierces the air making the hair on my arms stand on end. Feeling a surge of adrenaline, I race toward the chilling scream. It sounded like a child.
When I arrive at the bridge my heart falls at the sight before me. There are four goblars halfway across the bridge, their slick green skin glistening in the waning light. My stomach roils at the sight of those nasty little humanoid goblin-like things with sharp fangs. We fought a group of six yesterday. They only come up to my hip but still pack quite a punch. Despite being stocky, they move with amazing speed. These are armed with short swords. The ones we fought yesterday were unarmed and still were difficult to defeat.
Just past the goblars, farther down the bridge is a lone wagon. A man, woman and two children are huddled off to the side. The two white horses hitched to the wagon are shying and whinnying in fear. Those poor people are in danger of being trampled by their own horses. Another scream pierces the air, drawing my eyes to the small child lying on the ground near the monsters.
Zane shouts and the goblars turn as one to stare at him. Their rage is apparent but they stand their ground, unwilling to give up their prey. Shadow is next to him growling low in his throat and snapping his jaws. The monsters seem torn between attacking the prey at their feet or Zane and Shadow. When they turn back to the people on the bridge, Shadow races across, leaping over their heads. He lands in front of the wagon, a snarling mass of black fur. For some unfathomable reason, Shadow's ferocious presence calms the horses enough that the man is able to grab the reins. As I reach Zane's side, I untie my bow and ready an arrow. My first shot hits one of the monsters between the shoulder blades. The goblar spins around with the arrow still lodged in its back, howling in rage. I stare in stunned silence.
"It'll take more than an arrow or two to take these monsters down," Zane shouts in outrage. "They're using dark magic to increase their stamina."
"How do you know?" I ask. These goblars appear the same as the last ones we fought.
"Their aura is stained inky black," he answers. "Stay back while I engage them. When you have an opening, go grab the child and take it to safety." He looks at me and I nod my assent. "Be careful."
My bow appears useless so I tie it onto my pack and drop both to the ground along with my cloak. Taking a few deep breaths I mentally prepare myself. The bridge is wide enough for two wagons abreast so I should be able to get around the goblars once they're distracted. My eyes focus on my goal huddled on the bridge, a small pile hidden by a veil of dark brown hair. Zane leaps forward and attacks the goblars with a ferocity I haven't seen before. The monsters swarm around him. I try not to worry about him as I sprint toward the child. Shadow races by me in a blur, tackling a goblar who strays too close.
When I reach the child, I notice it's a little girl. Gently turning her face up, I scan her body, taking note of a few small injuries. Her eyes are closed but her breathing is steady. Perhaps she just fainted from shock. Scooping her up in my arms, I start running toward the wagon. The man's shout alerts me to the impending danger, and I spin back around. A goblar is almost on top of us, sword raised to strike.
I manage to throw up my left arm in time to deflect the sword with my gauntlet. But there's great power behind the swing, and I fall to the ground still clutching the young girl in my right arm. Unable to break my fall, I collapse on my back, smashing my right elbow into the wooden planks of the bridge. My head is spinning from the impacts on both arms and my back. The goblar is about to swing his sword at my head when Shadow tackles him from behind. Shadow's attack sends the monster flying over my body and sliding toward the open side of the bridge. My eyes widen in horror when the goblar grabs my ankle trying to stop his momentum. I release the child right before I'm dragged over the side of the bridge into the raging river belo
w.
The icy coldness of the water is so shocking that I barely feel the pain from the impact. My legs crash on the bottom of the riverbed, sharp rocks bruising my skin. Pushing up from the bottom, I swim to what I hope is the surface. The water is churning so fast it's difficult to see anything. Gasping, I break the surface and cough out some water. I can hear Zane screaming my name, but I can't catch my breath to respond. The fast flowing water is carrying me downstream. Too late, I remember the jagged rocks I was admiring earlier. A sharp pain tears through my left side as I collide with one of those rocks.
For better or worse, I'm stuck on the large boulder. I manage to climb up onto the slippery surface to escape the roiling water. Lying down on the rock, I try to get my breathing back under control. When I attempt to sit up to get my bearings, I almost collapse again as my head spins and tiny black spots swim in my vision. The water around me is dark red with my blood, and so cold my body is beginning to go numb. I need to make a decision now. There's no way to know how much blood I've lost. I won't be able to cling to this rock if I pass out. The shoreline appears about thirty yards away.
My mind screams: Swim to shore or you'll drown!
Just as I'm about to throw myself from the rock, my rational mind kicks in. There's no way I can swim ashore in my condition. My left arm is numb and hangs useless at my side. I try to scan the shoreline for Zane. In the twilight I can't even make out the bridge from which I fell. I have no idea how far downstream I drifted before colliding with the giant rock.
Frantic howls reach my ears as Shadow's familiar form appears on the riverbank. My throat constricts when I try to call out, and I'm unable to make a sound. Shadow races back the way he came. All I can do is hope he saw me and went to get Zane. I don't have long to wait before Shadow returns with Zane close behind.
"Ashlyn!" Zane yells. "Don't move. I'm going to come get you."
How's he going to manage that? The water will just sweep him away. I shake my head at him, begging him to stay out of the water. The sound of hoof beats echoes through the evening air. Two white horses appear out of the darkness. The horses stop next to Zane and a man dismounts. It's hard to see what's happening in the waning light. They appear deep in conversation for a few moments before heading farther upstream and disappearing from view.
I don't know whether to feel relief or regret that Zane has abandoned his rescue attempt. Feeling scared, cold, and alone, I curl up on my right side on the rock, staring at the shadowed riverbank. Hard shivers wrack my weakened body, fresh pain stabbing through my left side with each one. I feel so sleepy.
The pain will disappear if I just close my eyes and drift… NO! If I faint, I'll slip off the rock and drown. Ashamed of myself, I find new strength and continue to cling to consciousness. I have faith in Zane; he'll come up with a plan, I just know it.
"Ashlyn!"
I can hear Zane yell my name again from farther upstream. Sitting up on the boulder, I search the bank for his form. The sun has fallen below the horizon making it difficult to see anything in the dim moonlight.
"Ashlyn, I'm coming!" he shouts again.
"No, Zane!" I manage to scream through my aching throat. "It's too dangerous." My plea is met with silence. Either he didn't hear me or is choosing to ignore me.
"Keep talking so I can follow your voice," he demands. My pulse races as I search the water. Do I dare hope he isn’t foolish enough to try to swim to me?
"Zane, please don't come in after me." My throat is raw from my earlier fit of coughing, but I continue my raspy plea. "The current is too swift. If I hadn't crashed into this rock I'd have been carried away downriver." I see his form in the dark water just before he collides with the rock I'm perched on.
"Oh, ouch," he groans, clinging to the rock. "Told you I was coming. But couldn't you have found a smoother rock to land on?" he asks, his features contorted in a grimace.
"Are you okay?" When he nods, all my anger at him resurfaces. "How dare you do this to me?" I screech. He flinches a bit at my tone. "I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you!" Several tears fall from my eyes, searing a hot path down my icy cheek. Now we're both trapped on this rock in the cold.
"And that's exactly why I'm here," he snaps back. At my confused expression he adds, "I don't know what I'd do if something happened to you!" While I don't appreciate having my words thrown back at me, his stricken gaze leaves me silent. "Now shut up and wrap your arms around my neck. Hold on tightly."
I do as he commands, gripping my numb left arm with my right hand and watch as he pulls at a rope I hadn't noticed before. It's wrapped around his chest then disappears under the dark water.
"Are you ready?" he asks. I nod, burying my face in the warm skin at his neck. Zane yanks several times on the rope before winding it around both of his hands behind my back. "It's gonna be a bumpy ride."
Gradually the rope becomes taut and we start moving through the river toward the shore. After about twenty feet or so, we crash into another boulder. Zane manages to turn himself to absorb most of the blow from the impact.
"Are you all right?" I ask in a raspy whisper.
He nods and I cling tighter to him. My fingers trail down his back feeling for injuries. When my hand doesn't come back bloody, I breathe a sigh of relief.
"I think that was the last rock between us and the shore," he says. My arms have lost almost all feeling. It's becoming harder and harder to cling to his neck. As if sensing my dilemma he whispers, "Just hang on a little bit longer."
The rope continues to drag us to shore. When we're within a few feet of the riverbank and away from the faster currents, a man comes splashing up to us. He's tall and thin with messy short brown hair. I recognize him as the man on the bridge earlier.
"Thank the Goddess!" the man says. "Here let me help you."
He drags me away from Zane onto the grass lining the riverbank. Zane manages to stumble after him and collapse down next to me. Now that I’m out of the water, the feeling begins to return to my arms. A slight tingling morphs into sharp, prickling pain, and I rub my arms to hasten the warming process.
"I'll go corral the horses. Be right back." He hands Zane his sword before walking away.
"I need to check your injuries," Zane says, his breathing reduced to soft pants. He lifts my shirt and checks the gash in my side. "It looks like the bleeding stopped. The water also did a nice job cleaning it." A bright blue glow fills the darkness around us. "There. I healed the gash with magic but I can't do anything for the bruising. Sorry."
While he's checking for any additional injuries, the man returns with a lantern, placing it on the ground next to me. Zane reexamines my wound in the soft glow from the lantern. The gash is gone, my torn, bloody clothes the only evidence it was ever there. Reaching out, I caress his cheek in a silent thank you.
"My name's Oscar," the man says, sitting down in the grass next to me. "Thank you for saving my family earlier. They're waiting in the wagon and are excited to meet you. I'm glad you're okay now." I glance at him and nod, still a bit winded from the ordeal. "Are we going to stay here tonight or try to make it to the inn?" he asks Zane.
"We can't stay here. It's too dangerous," Zane says. "We'll put Ashlyn in the wagon with your family and make a break for the inn. If I'm not mistaken, we're only about an hour away."
"Zane, where's Shadow? Is he okay?"
"He's at the wagon guarding Oscar's family. He's fine, I promise," Zane answers with a reassuring smile. He sits up, probing the injury on his left side with his fingers, wincing several times. "Are you ready for me to carry you to the wagon?"
"I can walk," I insist. "You'll need my help tonight."
"Hmph," he mutters. "If you can make it to the wagon on your own, I'll consider it."
Ah, I see Mr. Attitude is back. Ignoring the hand he extends to help me up, I push my aching body up on my own. My side is stiff but there's only a little pain. Of course, with all the battering my body endured, I'll be quite bruised tomorrow. Zane
turns away from me and attaches his sword to the belt at his waist. Oscar is watching our nonverbal exchange, his lips pulled in a taut line like he's trying not to laugh. It's nice to know I can provide entertainment for others at my expense.
"Thanks for helping Zane rescue me," I say to Oscar. "Whose idea was it to use the horses to pull the rope?"
"It was Zane's idea. He's got a really sharp head on his shoulders." His praise makes Zane turn away, most likely in embarrassment. "Come, my dear, the wagon's this way."
Glancing back at Zane, I hold out my hand to him. I'm rewarded with a smile as he takes my hand. This sweet Zane is preferable to Mr. Attitude, but I know I haven't seen the last of him tonight. A dull throb begins to spread through my head, and I feel my body tensing in response to several worsening aches. Zane's thumb caresses the back of my hand. The stress I'm feeling starts leeching away under his tender touch. When he releases my hand and snakes his arm around me, I melt into him. His small grunt of pain has me once again probing his injury.
"I'm okay, Ashlyn," he mumbles, "just a bruised rib or two. Don't worry."
Standing on my toes, I place a gentle kiss on his lips. When I start to pull away, he grabs my braid, holding me against him. His kiss is desperate, like he's trying to devour me.
"I thought I lost you," he murmurs into my lips. "It was unbearable."
His arms are gentle around me, avoiding my injured side. His lips on the other hand are consuming me in a fiery passion. Everything disappears until all I feel is his mouth on mine. I bury one hand in his wet hair and wrap the other around his neck. He pulls me tighter against his body and tips my head to deepen the kiss.
"Uh, Zane?" I can hear Oscar's voice in the background but couldn't care less. Zane also chooses to ignore him. "There's a basilisk approaching rather quickly."
Zane shifts his right hand to his sword but doesn't pull away from my lips. I'm too wrapped up in the heady sensation of his kiss to care. How bad could one basilisk be?
Shadow Fire Page 11