Page 76 of A Dagger of Ice and Intrigue
I ran.
The boots hit the cobblestones with a vengeance as I raced down the alleys, desperately trying to remember which path was frozen over. If I fell on my ass, I’d be easy prey for these beasts barreling after me.
Like the crater was done watching and had finally barred its teeth.
But beyond their huge paws thumping after me and their angry barks, I heard frantic steps, as fast as mine.
I chanced a look behind me only to see the girl running.
Was she–was she hunting me down with the wolves?
The Commander had rescinded his promise or this girl was going rogue.
Either way, I was screwed.
Out of breath, starting to panic, and screwed.
My body was still too frail to keep up this pace and the fortress was too far away.
I made a sharp right turn, rushing down the first alley, and getting lost in a maze of paths and buildings that felt like they would cave over me at a sharp gust.
The vicious barks and haunting steps followed.
Too many turns later, I felt right back in that blasted maze that took so much away from me.
The images of blood, arrows, and olive trees clouded my vision.
No.
I would not fall again.
The Protectorate needed me.
An icy patch shimmered in front of me.
Shit.
Another sharp turn and I found myself staring at a gate at least twice as tall as me–but I’d scaled taller trees.
I jumped, feet pushing against the wall and using it as leverage. My palms grasped the top of the wooden gate.
Barely.
My body was fighting me, tired beyond reason.
I managed to pull myself up through sheer force of will and the strong grip years of handling a bow had given me.
I’d already straddled the gate when the girl ran down the same alley. My knife was already gripped and ready when I noticed her eyes.
Her scared gaze was jumping around, searching for a point of leverage.
She was being hunted down, too.
“The wall, use the wall,” I said quickly. “Jump, one leg pressed against it and reach up.”
If she wanted to gut me, she could try to do it safely from this side of the gate. I wouldn’t stand by and let her get torn to shreds when I could help.
“What, so you can impale that knife in my eye when I jump?” she asked.
