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Slayer kept a good pace, the horses’ tracks showing a slower one. He wondered if it had anything to do with Sky and if her injuries required a slower pace. He kept alert to his surroundings as he hurried along.

He almost roared with anger when the tracks divided, and he stood at the crossroads of a decision that could mean life or death for his wife. He turned his head from side to side as if each path might reveal something to him when suddenly a small red squirrel appeared on the path to the right. He released a piercing chirp and titled his head at the path as if telling him to go that way.

If his wife trusted the animals, then so could he. He looked at the squirrel and ordered, “Lead the way.”

He followed the squirrel for a good distance until he suddenly stopped not far ahead of him. He went up on his hind legs and sniffed the air, then the little fellow barked and scurried off. He remembered Sky saying that squirrels communicated by the different sounds they made. What was it she had said about a bark?Threatened.That’s what it was. The squirrel felt threatened.

Slayer tempered his steps, keeping them light and cautious, making as little sound as he could. He was about to return to his fast pace, hearing or seeing nothing, when he heard voices ahead. He crouched down, keeping out of sight until he found an area thick with foliage where he could keep himself hidden and peered carefully through the branches.

His eyes narrowed and his heart slammed in his chest, seeing at least six bodies on the ground. Only one moved and a warrior stood over him, a bloody sword in his hand and Slayer counted five more with swords in hand and there was no telling if more warriors lingered nearby.

“Where is she?” the thick warrior demanded.

“Don’t know.”

The warrior prodded the wounded man with his foot. “Lie. Where did you hide her? We know you made it to the bottom of the cliff before us.”

“She was gone,” the man said, struggling to speak.

The warrior spit on him. “Another lie. She fell off the cliff. She could not have gotten up and walked off on her own.”

Another warrior spoke up, “If he’s telling the truth then he could be leading us away from wherever she’s hiding.”

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.