Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 101336 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 507(@200wpm)___ 405(@250wpm)___ 338(@300wpm)
The thick warrior prodded the wounded man with his foot again, though stronger this time and the man cried out in pain. “Are you doing that? Leading us away from her?”
Speaking in short breaths, the wounded man said, “Never. Saw. Her.”
“He’s going to be mighty angry if we don’t find her,” one warrior said.
“He’ll kill one or more of us for failing to find her,” another said.
“Then we better find her,” the thick warrior warned. “We will backtrack and see where we can pick up her tracks.”
“What about him?” a warrior asked, pointing his sword at the wounded man.
“Leave him,” the thick warrior commanded. “He deserves a slow, painful death for not helping us.”
Slayer remained where he was until the group of six warriors disappeared into the woods before he, silently as possible, approached the wounded man. He was shocked to see it was Lester, the man who had escaped him.
Lester’s eyes went wide when Slayer crouched down beside him. “Find her. Before they do.”
“You didn’t see her?”
“Nay. Gone. When we got there.” Lester cringed, shutting his eyes for a moment. “Found footprints. Covered them. Alive. She must be alive.”
“Did you mean her harm?” Slayer asked to determine the man’s fate.
“Never. Sky—” He cringed in pain again. “Daughter of the Wolf clan.”
That surprised Slayer and he knew it would thrill Sky to learn about her origin. “There is much I want to ask you, but I have no time. I need to find Sky.”
“Aye. Go. Keep her safe. Do not let him get her. Blames her,” Lester fought to say, “Revenge.”
“Stay alive,” Slayer ordered. “You have much to tell me. My men will be here soon. Tell them we spoke, and you are to be kept safe.” He went to stand, and the man managed to lay his hand on Slayer’s arm.
“Wo-wol-wolves.”
The man’s eyes closed, but there was still breath to him. Slayer tore off a strip of cloth from the hem of Lester’s garment and wrapped the wound on his side to try and stop the bleeding. There was a chance he would survive if his men reached him in time.
Slayer stood and gave Lester’s last word thought.
Wolves.
There had been no wolves in the ravine, but there had been paw prints. Had they guided Sky to safety? But where would that be? Where would the wolves take her?
Slayer shook his head at how easily he understood. The wolves would have taken his wife to their den.
Sky examined her ankle. The walk here had not helped it. It had swelled, though not badly but it did hurt her. It was her only injury from what she could tell. Her body ached but she had found no other wounds except for the scratch on her face she had felt after feeling it sting there. She had been lucky. She could have suffered far worse wounds or died from the fall. It had not been easy getting here with her ankle hurting her and her own worry about trusting the wolves, but they had proved to be trustworthy, especially when they offered their den as protection for her.
The incident of when she faked an ankle injury came to mind and she wished she felt her husband’s tender touch on her ankle once again. He was no doubt already searching for her and his skilled trackers were sure to locate her. However, she worried that whoever else was searching would find her first. She hoped the wolves were enough to deter them and hoped no wolf lost his life protecting her.
Sky’s head shot up. She heard something. Growls. The two wolves outside the cave-like dwelling were growling. Someone approached.
The space was not tall enough for her to stand, so she shifted herself along her bottom to reach the entrance and peer out. Aches and pains attacked her body, but she did her best to ignore them, needing to find out if friend or foe approached.
But wouldn’t a foe have already killed the wolves so they could reach her? Hope had her stomach fluttering, and she was careful to peer out the opening to look, though not be seen.
“Sky!”
She rushed her hand to her chest at the sound of her husband’s voice and called out softly so as not to alarm the wolves, “Slayer.”
“Curb the wolves,” he called back.
“Friend. He is a friend. Here to help me. Friend,” she repeated in a gentle tone.
She spotted her husband then, bravely stepping forward to show himself and approach the cave.
“Friend. Friend,” Sky kept repeating as she made her way out of the wolf’s den, worried they would not allow a dominant male to enter their home.
Relief so strong hit Slayer that he thought for a moment his legs would buckle as he watched his wife emerge from the cave. He forced himself to remain where he stood and forced strength to return to his legs. Though he desperately wanted to rush to her and take her in his arms, especially when he saw how she struggled to get to her feet. But he knew if he rushed toward her the wolves would view it as a threat and attack.