Page 88 of The Demon's Fire
Kole rose, pointing. “Up there.”
Skyler put a hand above her eyes, shielding them from the glare while she fixed on the area. “I don’t see anything.”
“If we climb from here, we’ll come to a river. We’ll follow it as it snakes through a gorge. In some places, we’ll be hugging the rocky edge. When we’re lucky, we’ll be strolling on grassy inclines. The farther up, the more treacherous. Big boulders. Steep cliffs. At the top is a waterfall. Behind it, the entrance to my cave.”
Skyler sighed. “Of course it’s uphill. Does everything have to be uphill?”
“Excellent vantage point. Defense counts.”
“Okay. Up it is.”
“You’re a good sport, Frisca.”
“Do I have a choice?”
Skyler was a classic beauty. A body of elegant curves. Legs, long and shapely. Way out of his league. But her courage surprised him. He had pegged her as a whiner. She wasn’t. Her father may have made her cold, but she had made herself strong.
She slid off her perch, zipped her jacket, and started uphill. “Let’s go, Commander.”
“You lead for a while. I’ll enjoy the view.”
Over her shoulder, she quipped, “It’s only fair. I was enjoying your ass the entire morning.”
“You make me blush, Frisca.”
She adjusted her pack and kept moving in the right direction. When the terrain became rockier, steeper, Kole took point. After a while, he froze, snapping his head around. Looking downhill, he sniffed the air. “Gagans. I can smell them from here.” He pushed Skyler, growling. “Climb fast. We’re no longer out for a stroll, Frisca. Double time it.”
When they reached an outcropping of rocks, Kole threw himself behind a boulder where he had a good view to the base of the mountain.
Above him, Skyler halted. “What do you see?”
His vision was far superior to a human’s. “They’re just starting the climb, but they’ll gain ground.”
The wildings scrabbled up the grassy knoll at the bottom, the sunlight bestowing a brownish-grey cast to their skin. Four large curling claws on each hand and foot tore into the dirt, propelling them forward. Flesh was drawn tight over their faces while sharp canines poked like daggers beneath their upper lips. Tufts of hair sprang from their heads. Spines protruded down their backs, ending in long knobby tails.
“It’s a six-beast hunting crew.” Kole clutched Skyler’s shoulder. “I’ve described the cave’s location. Run for it now. To the river. Follow it until the waterfall. Up again. The cave is behind the waterfall. If I don’t join you, stay put until the Firebrands arrive.”
“I won’t abandon you. Between the two of us, we can beat them. I’ll help.”
“How? Frisca, you wouldn’t want me drafting a legal contract. I don’t want you facing gagans. In fact, if I have to worry about you, I won’t be at my best. Don’t argue with me. Run.”
“No.” Skyler’s eyes welled up.
Kole wrapped an arm around her waist, cradled her chin in his palm, and lifted it. “Tears for me, Frisca? What’s the world coming to? Maybe I’m growing on you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. If you die, I’ll be alone. Then I’ll probably die, too.”
“Attagirl.” He rubbed a calloused finger along her mouth before gently brushing his lips across hers, kissing her with a tenderness that surprised him. She let him in. He felt her quiver when his tongue stroked hers, sliding, caressing. Taking a sharp breath, he withdrew, wanting to hold onto the memory of the all-too-brief kiss.
He stepped back. “No. I think you’re starting to like me.”
Her voice wavered. “I am not.”
Kole wiped away an escaping tear from her cheek.
“For once, Frisca, obey me.” He thrust a dagger into her belt.
“No. You’ll need your weapons.”
