Shadow Fire (15 page)

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?

"Excuse me for a moment," Zane says, dragging his lips away from mine. "Don't move. I'll be right back."

The ferocious gleam in his dark eyes is strangely arousing. Warmth floods my body as I gaze into his eyes, my legs trembling before the mighty warrior. Turning away, he draws his sword in a smooth motion. With one swift swing, he beheads the basilisk as it approaches. The scaly green head flies through the air, landing at Oscar's feet as the lizard-like body collapses to the ground.

Without sheathing his sword he turns back and embraces me with his left arm. The fierce expression on his face leaves me swooning in his arms. His lips ravage mine again, the intensity of the kiss matching the dark fire in his eyes. When he releases me, my fingers trace along my swollen, tingling lips. Zane wipes the blood from his sword and sheathes it. For the first time I notice Oscar is staring at him, eyes wide, looking almost haunted or perhaps a touch ill.

"Wow, I'm glad he's on our side," Oscar murmurs.

I can't conceal the grin stealing across my face. Zane can be pretty scary at times. A cool breeze stirs around me and my body starts shivering, making my teeth clatter together.

"Come on, baby," Zane says embracing me from behind. "Let's get you dry."

He leads me over to the wagon. Shadow's curled up on the ground, head on his paws. When he sees me approach the wolf jumps up and pads over. Kneeling down, I bury my face in the soft fur at his neck. As I glance back up, I notice four sets of eyes peeking out the back of the wagon. A woman jumps out and heads our way. Her long blonde hair is tied back in a loose braid. Her eyes are a brilliant green. She's several inches shorter than me, and the two men tower over her.

"I'm Emma, Oscar's wife. Come, I'll help you change into some dry clothes."

She leads me to the wagon and orders the three children out, two girls and one boy; all three appear less than ten years old. Her youngest girl is the one I tried to save earlier. The children clamber out, jumping to the ground and I climb in after Emma. My pack is lying on the wooden floor of the wagon. I start peeling out of the wet clothes, and Emma's eyes widen when she sees the purple bruising on my side. Too exhausted to offer any explanation, I finish dressing in my spare clothes. Trying to smooth out my braided hair proves futile, so I decide to just leave it alone.

The back of my gauntlet is still wet from my earlier swim, and I have no choice but to put it on over my dry sleeve. My fingers are still a bit numb from the cold water, forcing me to concentrate in order to buckle my thigh sheath back in place; all the while thanking the Goddess my daggers and sword didn't get lost in the river. I place the quiver of arrows over my shoulder, attach my sword to my sash, and grab my bow. Feeling Emma's eyes on me, I glance at her.

"You're injured," she says. "You should ride in the wagon with the children and me. Let the men deal with the monsters."

I have to suppress a snicker. "Thanks but I'd rather fight."

There are quite a few things I'd like to say instead, but good manners keep me quiet. She wouldn't understand my point of view, and I don't wish to hurt her feelings. I jump from the wagon then stride up to Zane, ignoring the pain the movement causes. He already changed while I was in the wagon with Emma, now he's putting his armor back on.

"Need any help with your armor?" I offer.

"I've got it. Thanks." He finishes buckling the shoulder armor in place and proceeds to eye me. "Is it safe to assume you still refuse to ride inside the wagon?" His question is not deserving of an answer so I tilt my head and stare at him. "As you wish." He turns to Oscar. "Okay, let's head out."

Emma takes Zane's pack and follows the children into the wagon. She gives me a pointed glare, begging me to join her. I shake my head, returning her glare with a resolute one of my own. Following Oscar to the front of the wagon, I watch as he hitches up the horses, such beautiful animals, both snowy white. I walk over and pet their necks, thanking them for their part in my rescue. As I reach the other side of the wagon, I see Zane squatting on the ground talking to Shadow. I can't make out what he's saying, but he seems satisfied when Shadow bounds to the back of the wagon. He walks up and caresses my face with his fingertips.

"Are you ready?" he whispers in my ear. My body trembles in response to his touch, my face leaning into his palm. "Come. The sooner we get to the inn the sooner I can curl up with you and forget everything else."

He helps me up onto the bench at the front of the wagon then climbs up after me. Oscar snaps the reins and the horses take off at a fast walk. As the horses speed up, the bumpy ride becomes almost unbearable.
How do they stand traveling like this?
As if being thrown against multiple rocks wasn't enough, now my rear is taking a similar beating. With a quick glance at Zane, I decide his lap will hurt much less than the wooden bench. Shifting a bit, I slide myself onto his lap and wrap my arms around him. His throaty laugh envelopes me as his arms curl around my body.

The ride to the inn is anything but peaceful. Though we've moved onto the main merchant road, the ride is still quite jarring. Numerous monsters, attracted to the noise of the wagon, appear at regular intervals. So far they haven't presented much of a challenge. Zane is on fire tonight. Literally. The next pack of monsters we come across I don't recognize. They are odd plant-type things with vines dangling from their limbs. Or would it be stems — maybe branches? The horses slow down and shy away from the five monsters. I'm about to rise when a firm hand keeps me seated.

"I've got this," Zane says.

He holds out his left arm, palm facing toward the monsters. A streak of fire lights up the night as a wall of flame encircles all five monsters. For a few seconds the flames intensify then disappear. The monsters are now a pile of ash littering the dirt road, blowing away with the wind. Oscar's eyes widen, gaping at Zane, shaking his head as if in denial.

"Sorry, fire is really the only thing that works on hydrangas. Their limbs grow back immediately if hacked off," Zane says, his eyes watching the ashes blowing away.

"Zane?" I squeak out when I find my voice.

"Hmm?"

"You do realize we're traveling alongside a massive prairie, right?" I comment, my voice shaky, betraying my fear. Oscar's nodding his head in agreement.

"Huh?" he asks, head tipped in confusion. Then he breaks out in laughter. "I wasn't going to burn the plains down or anything. Whatever fire I create, I can extinguish."

I fail to see what's so funny, but Zane shows no sign of stopping his laughter. Oscar chooses to ignore him and spurs the horses forward again. Seeing my petulant expression, Zane stops laughing.

"You thought I was going to reduce the plain to cinders," he accuses, renewing his light chuckling. "Sorry, it's just funny."

"No, really it's not," I snap back. "Seemed like a logical worry at the time."

Of course when I think a bit longer, I realize he'd never do something so foolish. I suppose I should be happy he's laughing and not fuming.

"I thought you didn't use magic in front of other people," I whisper.

"Yeah, that's true," he admits, "but I had no choice. Believe me, death by hydranga is a hideous fate. They wrap their vines around their prey and slowly drain the life from it. The harder the prey struggles, the tighter the vines become, until the prey is either suffocated or sucked dry." I shudder at Zane's words, a hideous fate indeed. "Fire really is the only weakness those repulsive hydrangas possess."

"Don't worry I won't say anything," Oscar says. "For one thing, I don't agree magic should be outlawed. Besides, you keep saving us at every turn." As if on cue, more monsters appear on the road in front of us. The horses shy away from the new threat, forcing Oscar to pull on the reins and stop the wagon yet again.

"It's your turn, Ashlyn," Zane says, his eyes glinting mischievously. "I'm exhausted. I think I'll just sit this one out."

My gaze passes from him to the six large, rabid bunnies in our path. Scary fangs just don't belong in a cute bunny face. Never leaving his lap, I fit an arrow to my bowstring and pierce the closest bunny through the head. The other five release high-pitched squeals and take off running.

"Go fetch my arrow, Zane dear," I demand with a smirk. "After all, I took care of the vicious monsters." Sighing he sets me down on the bench next to Oscar. He leaps to the ground and stalks over to the prone monster.

"You want this ugly monster attached to your arrow?" he asks, dangling the monster in front of him.

"Nah, you can keep it."

He snorts and throws the carcass into the air. A black blur seizes it in midair.

"Thanks for feeding the
dog
, dear."

Zane climbs back up on the bench and nibbles my ear. Giggling, I try to push him away.

"Hold still," he admonishes. "I'm trying to remind myself why I put up with you." I push at him in earnest now. He picks me up and places me back on his lap. "Calm down. Our antics are embarrassing our host."

Face red, I glance at Oscar. He seems to find the reins in his hands immensely interesting as he flicks them, urging the horses forward. I make a concerted effort to sit still and act ladylike.

Chapter Thirteen

Zodiac Inn Leo

With the constant battling, the going is slow. It's unbelievable how many monsters are attracted to the noise of the wagon. No wonder merchants travel in groups with mercenary guards. Relief floods me when I see the outline of our destination. As we approach, I notice there's little to distinguish it from the last Zodiac Inn. The same type of massive stone wall surrounds this inn as well. A massive wooden gate has guards on duty even this late at night. After a quick inspection of the wagon and cargo, the gate creaks open and the guards usher us through. At the main building, we unload our gear from the wagon before a stable hand takes the horses and the wagon from Oscar.