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We’re just asking for trouble remaining in one spot for too long.She didn’t know if the guild would catch up to them, but she’d rather not find out.

They likely wouldn’t rest until they punished her for her crimes: releasing a prisoner, desertion of the guild, and for the many murders she’d committed, like Wren’s. She’d also be charged as an accomplice to Lindiwe’s murders.

If Emerie was caught, she’d be up shit creek without a paddle.

She eyed the Duskwalker and knew the truth.Even if I’m caught, it was still worth it.So long as they didn’t try to use her as bait to recapture him.

She clapped her hands together. “Ready to go?”

Just as she stepped forward, he darted in her path, pointing behind her.“Let’s go this way.”

Examining the house and the clearing they were in, she really didn’t see the difference between the way she’d been intending to go around it and the way he pointed. She tried to look over his shoulder to see what he was hiding but couldn’t spot anything amiss.

Emerie shrugged.Maybe he just wants to feel in charge? It’s probably best if I don’t upset him.

If Duskwalkers had tantrums, she didn’t really want to see it.

“Aye aye, captain,” she said, saluting while spinning and then going the way he pointed. He immediately followed and came up beside her on all fours. “Yesterday I asked if you could find me some berries and mushrooms. Could you? I don’t have a lot of rations.”

She peeked at him, and he tilted his head. His orbs were back to purple – she was beginning to wonder if this was his normal colouring.

“I don’t know what they are.”

“Well... shit,” she grumbled, pushing back a few locks of hair from her face. “Then I’ll find some along the way and show you.”

A strong gust of wind pushed behind them from the right.I really wish I’d grabbed my jacket.It was the beginning of autumn, and she hoped this trip was over before the first snow fell. Otherwise, she’d need warmer clothing.

I should probably try to visit a town and buy new clothes.Considering what she’d done, she didn’t deserve to wear her Demonslayer uniform anymore.

Ingram paused while grabbing the back of her hood to still her, and she made a choking noise as she was forced to a halt. He quickly explained,“Emerie, I smell humans.”

Trailing her gaze across the clearing, she followed the direction his skull was turned, off to the right. She waited for movement in the trees, or voices, but saw and heard nothing.

“I cannot hear them,”he said, tilting his head one way and then the other, as though he was listening out.“I did not notice until now, but their scents are strange.”

Well, that sounds ominous.Her lips tightened as she scanned the forest again.

“Strange, how?”

“It smells like they are one with the forest. I cannot even be sure which direction they are, or how many.”

He finally turned his raven skull to her, only to swing further to the left and growl at whatever presence he sensed in the distance. His legs widened, and he lowered his chest to the ground as though he was readying to pounce.

She saw nothing and heard nothing in that direction either.

“Fuck,” she cursed, grabbing one of his small horns to tug at him. “Come on, we need to go.”

He didn’t budge. Instead, his spikes and scales lifted into sharp points.

“I cannot see them, but I know they are there.”

“Come on!” she shouted, groaning as she tugged.

She gave up when it seemed like he’d turned to stone, and she just ran away. The big, bad monster could deal with it and catch up later!

She pumped her arms, keeping them close to her torso, so she could gain the best speed.It’s either bandits or the guild and I’m not waiting around to find out!

Emerie’s squeal was loud when a few seconds later she was tossed over Ingram’s shoulder.