Page 71 of Winter's Echo
“It’s smoke,” Nicco said, his voice hard. “From a chimney.”
I would not look at them.
“Bunny?” His voice was coaxing. “Did you forget to share with the group?”
Shades.
“Amarya?” he snapped, more pissed off sounding than usual.
I looked down at my feet once before I turned to meet the quizzical stare of the captain.
“They don’t like outsiders,” I told him flatly. “They would have offered no help, only hindrance.”
“You said there was no one.”
“You didn’t state specifics,” I muttered, not meeting his stare. I glanced at Baxley and caught his look. “They’re really not friendly at all. They’re more likely to eat you than share their warmth.” My eyes flicked to Larana once. “They may let you have an easier time, but only because you have a woman in the group, but I don’t think you’re willing to hand her over easily.”
“Why didn’t you just tell us that?” Marson asked me.
“Because your man was dying. Because you were eight Darysian soldiers with three mercenaries. Those mercenaries killed a Hulgrim and never even broke a sweat.” I shook myhead. “You think you are invincible. Everyone knows Darysia has the most arrogant soldiers.”
“You were protecting me?” Larana spoke for the first time.
I met her stare. “Tried to. Some of your companions have inflated egos, and think they are unbeatable.”
She grinned, but it was gone as quickly as it came.
“How many of them are there?” Baxley asked. He was not smiling. He was pissed off, and I knew why, but they didn’t understand.
“I don’t know.” I held up my hands before he could speak. “I don’tknow. I know they’re a bunch of assholes who deserve to freeze up here, but like any parasite, they survive. They work in roaming caravans. I don’t know how many there are.”
“How many are likely?” Nicco asked me, coming closer.
“More than you.”
He gave me an unimpressed look, and I returned it with one of my own.
“You’re being difficult.”
“I’mprotectingyou.”
His look was scathing. “I don’t need protection.”
“Then you’re an idiot.”
He smirked, and I wondered if I could really outrun this group, or if they’d hold me accountable for killing him.
“What do you propose, Amarya?” Captain Marson asked me.
“Avoid them at all costs.” I pointed away from the smoke. “We go this way, we don’t bother them, and they, hopefully, will not see us.”
“Too late.” They rose from the snow around us like the land itself had decided to stand.
I counted twelve before I stopped. They were dressed for it, in white furs, their faces wrapped, blending into the landscape so completely that I couldn't tell where they'd come from or how long they'd been there. They moved with the ease of peoplewho owned this cold, who'd been born into it and never once considered leaving.
Like me butmorebecause here, they thrived.
With my grip firm on my quarterstaff, my other hand went to the strap of my pack. The familiar weight of the pack against my back, the thing I reached for when I needed to think.
