Page 23 of Bryce

8

Amazing, really, the way Leslie’s bubbly nature had calmed in the two days since we’d left the cave. She’d gone from being practically effervescent to only somewhat upbeat. Now, on day three, she was as flat as a glass of soda which had been left out in the open.

I could live with it. The fact was, her chatter had begun to wear my nerves thin, and the closer we came to the compound, the more important for us to listen to our surroundings.

“We should come across the place today, shouldn’t we?” Gate asked, the two of us hiking in front of the others.

Logan occasionally offered a lighthearted comment to make the girls chuckle, but he, too, had quieted after two solid days of rugged terrain.

“It seems that way. We studied the satellite footage of the area surrounding the compound. It looked like it might have been one of those old robber baron castles from the Industrial era. An absolute monstrosity, nestled in the center of acres upon acres of land. There was quite a bit of tree cover, but we could make out what appeared to be outbuildings all around, you know, caretaker cottages and the like. I suspect we’ll come across those smaller buildings first.”

“You didn’t see a wall or fence of any kind?”

“Nothing visible from above, I’m sorry to say. The remnants of a few stone walls, but they looked to be crumbling away.”

“That strikes me as odd. Doesn’t it strike you as odd? If they’re as secretive as one would imagine, why would they leave themselves open to trespassers?”

I had my suspicions. “There are two possible answers I can think up off the top of my head. One involves sorcery, naturally. The grounds might be protected by spells. Your mountains are, after all. I understand the woods surrounding the peak in Scotland are heavily guarded by spells which leave humans confused and unable to reach the cave mouth.”

“That is so,” he murmured, thoughtful.

“The second answer is a bit more grim.” I glanced over my shoulder, checking to see if the women were listening. It was a mystery, why I felt I should keep this from them. They were with us for a reason, weren’t they? My desire to protect Isla in spite of her impossible nature overrode everything else.

“What is it?”

“They might have set up barriers. Obstacles.”

“Traps,” he grunted. “Aye, that’s quite grim.”

“You see why I didn’t want the others to hear. They won’t want to hear this, but I’ve been thinking.” Another look over my shoulder. “It might be best for them if they stayed behind while we investigate, once we reach the grounds of the estate.”

He snorted with humorless laughter. “And you think they’ll agree to that?”

“I think they’ll have to if we don’t give them any other choice. It’s for their own good.”

He winced. “With all due respect, it seems as though you don’t have much experience with women. Again, with all respect.”

I shrugged. “Guilty as charged.”

“If they want to come along, they will.” He paused to pick up a long, smooth limb and tested its weight and strength between his hands.

“What is that for?”

“I thought I might use it once we’re nearer the compound.” He held it out straight, where it stretched roughly ten feet away. He then changed from an overhand grip to underhanded and pulled his arm back before throwing it like a javelin. It landed a hundred feet away, perhaps more.

“Practicing for the Olympic games?” Leslie teased, joining us.

“Hardly,” he smiled. “Trying my hand at tripping any—”

I cleared my throat. He realized he’d said too much.

But it was too late.

“Tripping any what?” Isla asked, folding her arms. “What are you two conspiring? It’s clear you are, by the way, so do not bother telling me otherwise.”

“Why must you insist on being difficult and suspicious?” I asked. “There is no conspiracy taking place here. I could just as easily accuse you of the same thing, the three of you conspiring behind us. But I know that isn’t the case and won’t be foolish.”

We’d hardly said a word to each other since the confrontation and the kiss. A kiss which had lingered at the forefront of my mind ever since. A kiss my lion refused to let me forget.

---