Alternative Life Read online

  Eleanor-ilooked-idown-iat-ihis-ihand-iand-iwinced.-i"Sorry.-iForgot-iabout-ithat."-iShe-ireached-iinto-ithe-ismall-ipouch-ion-iher-iside,-ipulled-iout-ia-iwhite-ifeather,-iand-iran-iit-iacross-iher-itongue-ibefore-itracing-iit-ithrough-ithe-icenter-iof-ihis-ipalm-ias-ishe-ichanted-isomething-iunder-iher-ibreath.-iHe-iwatched-ias-isomething-iflashed-igolden-ifor-ia-imoment,-iand-ithe-ipain-iin-ihis-ihand-ivanished.-iHe-ilooked-idown-ito-isee-iit-igood-ias-inew,-iand-ithe-ifeather-igone.

  "Better?"-iEleanor-iasked.

  "Yeah,-ithank-iyou."-iJames-isaid.

  "Okay-igood.-iNow-icome-ion!"-iShe-isaid,-imotioning-ifor-ihim-ito-ifollow-ias-ishe-iran-ion-itowards-ithe-ivillage-icenter.

  James-iswallowed,-iand-ilooked-itowards-ithe-iblazing-ibuildings-istanding-iin-ithe-idistance.-iWell,-iI-imean,-ihe-idid-iask-ifor-iadventure.-iGuess-iyou-ialways-iget-iwhat-iyou-iask-ifor.

  He-iran-iafter-ithem.-iWhat-ikind-iof-ihero-iwould-ihe-ibe-iif-ihe-ididn't?

  ###-iChapter-i27-i--iPlanning-ito-iAct

  Once-ithey-imade-iwithin-ithe-ioutskirts-iof-itown,-iRose-isignaled-ifor-ithem-ito-islow,-iand-iheld-iher-ifinger-ito-iher-ilips-ito-isignal-ithem-ito-ibe-iquiet.-iShe-iled-ithem-islowly-iand-icarefully-ifrom-ibehind-ione-ipiece-iof-icover-ito-ithe-inext,-ithis-ione-ia-icart,-ithis-ione-ia-ismall-igarden-iwall,-ithe-inext-ia-ifew-ibarrels-ibeside-ia-ilarger-ibuilding.-iAfter-iflitting-ifrom-ispot-ito-ispot,-ithey-ifinally-igot-iclose-ienough-ito-ipeer-iinto-ithe-ivillage-isquare.

  All-iof-ithe-ibuildings-isurrounding-ithe-isquare-ion-ithe-iother-ithree-isides-ifrom-itheirs-iwere-ion-ifire,-iand-ieven-iat-ia-idecent-idistance,-ithe-iheat-iwas-ialmost-itoo-iintense-ifor-iJames-ito-ibear.-iStanding-iin-ithe-imiddle-iof-ithe-isquare-iwere-iabout-ia-idozen-ihumanoid-ishapes,-idecidedly-italler-iand-ilarger-ithan-ia-ihuman,-iwith-ione-istanding-isignificantly-italler-ithan-ithe-irest.-iWhile-iit-iwasn't-ipossible-ito-imake-iout-iall-iof-ithe-idetails,-ithe-icreatures-ihad-ihunched-ipostures-iand-ihyena-like-ifaces,-ithe-itips-iof-itheir-ihands-iand-ifeet-iending-iin-ipowerful-iclaws.-iThey-iall-iheld-iweapons-iof-isome-ivariety-iand-iwore-iarmor,-iwith-ithe-iexception-iof-ithe-ilargest,-iwhich-iwas-idraped-iin-ilong-irobes-iand-iheld-iwhat-ilooked-ilike-ithe-itrunk-iof-ia-ismall-itree,-iroots-iup,-ias-ia-istaff.

  James-irecognized-ithe-ispecies-iimmediately,-iand-iRose-iconfirmed-ihe-iwas-iright.

  "Gnolls.-iAnd-iled-iby-ia-ipack-ishaman,-iby-ithe-ilooks-iof-ithings."-iShe-isaid.-iShe-imotioned-ifor-ieveryone-ito-itake-icover-iback-ibehind-ithe-ibarricade-ithey-iwere-ipeering-iaround.

  "There-iare-i10-iof-ithe-ifighters,-iplus-ithe-ibig-ione-iwho's-idefinitely-ia-ispellcaster.-iHow-ido-iwe-iwant-ito-ido-ithis?"-iShe-iasked.

  "Well,-iI-ithink-iyou-iand-iI-ican-itake-ithe-ifighters,-iif-iEllie-ican-ihandle-ithe-ishaman."-iJames-isaid.

  "I-iagree.-iDo-iyou-ithink-iyou-ican-ihandle-ithe-ibig-ione,-iEl?"-iRose-iasked.

  Eleanor-inodded,-ialthough-iJames-inoted-ia-ivague-isense-iof-iunease-ishe-iwas-itrying-ivery-ihard-ito-ihide.-i"I-ithink-iso.-iI-ican-icertainly-itry."

  "Be-icareful.-iDon't-ibe-istupid-iand-iget-iyourself-ikilled.-iIf-iyou-ineed-ihelp,-icall-ifor-iit."-iRose-isaid,-iand-iJames-inodded-iin-iagreement.

  "There's-ino-ireason-ito-iact-itough-iif-iyou-ican't-ido-iit-ialone.-iI'm-iscared-ishitless,-ibut-iI-iwon't-ilet-ianything-ihappen-ito-iyou-iif-iI-ican-ihelp-iit"-iHe-isaid.

  "I'll-ihelp-iwith-ithe-ibig-ione."-iMadeleine-ispoke-iup.

  "No,-ino-iyou-iwill-inot.-iYou're-inot-ia-ifighter.-iYou-istay-ihere-iand-ihide."-iRose-isaid,-ishaking-iher-ihead.

  "I-iwasn't-iasking-ifor-ipermission.-iI-iwas-itelling-iyou-iwhat-iI-iam-igoing-ito-ido."-iMadeleine-isaid-isimply,-iand-ilooked-iat-iRose-iwith-ia-iflat-iexpression-ithat-iseemed-ito-iunnerve-ithe-ilarger-isister.

  "You-icould-iget-iseriously-ihurt,-iMaddy.-iWe-ican't-ikeep-iyou-isafe-iif-iyou-iwon't-istay-iout-iof-isight."-iEleanor-isaid.

  "No-ione-iwill-isee-ime.-iI-ipromise."-iMadeleine-isaid,-iher-iface-istill-ia-iblank-imask.-iFor-isome-istrange-ireason,-iJames-iabsolutely-ibelieved-iher.

  "I-isay-ilet-iher.-iI-ibelieve-iin-iher.-iShe's-ia-ismart-igirl.-iSmart-ienough-inot-ito-ido-ianything-istupid,-ianyways."-iJames-isaid,-icausing-iEleanor-iand-iRose-ito-iboth-igive-ihim-ilooks-ithat-iindicated-ihe-iclearly-iwasn't-ihelping-iright-inow.

  "What?-iI'm-inot-iwrong."-iHe-isaid.

  Finally,-iafter-ia-ilong-isigh,-iRose-irelented,-iand-ishrugged.

  "Fine.-iDo-iwhatever-iyou-iwant,-iMaddy.-iJust-ibe-icareful,-iokay?-iI-ican't-ipromise-iyou-iwe-ican-ikeep-iyou-isafe-iif-iyou're-iout-ithere."-iShe-isaid.

  "I-iknow."-iMadeleine-isaid.

  "Okay,-iso-iwe-iknow-iwho-iis-idoing-iwhat.-iWhat's-iour-iactual-iplan?"-iJames-iasked.

  "We-ineed-ito-iget-ithe-ijump-ion-ithem.-iKill-ias-imany-iof-ithem-ias-iwe-ican-ibefore-ithe-ifight-istarts.-iOtherwise-ithis-icould-igo-ivery-ibadly-ifor-ius."

  "I-ithink-iI've-igot-ian-iidea..."-iJames-isaid,-imotioning-ithe-iother-ithree-icloser.

  After-ia-ifew-imoments-iof-iexplanation,-iRose-inodded-iand-iturned-itowards-iMadeleine.

  "Are-iyou-isure-iyou'd-ibe-iokay-iwith-idoing-ithis?-iIt'll-ibe-idangerous,-iand-iyou-icould-iget-iseriously-ihurt-iif-isomething-igoes-iwrong",-ishe-isaid,-ilooking-iat-iher-isister-iwith-ia-imixture-iof-iuncertainty-iand-iconcern.

  "I'll-ibe-ifine."-iMadeleine-isaid-isimply.-i"They-iwon't-ibe-iable-ito-icatch-ime."

  "Are-iyou-isure?-iIf-ithey-ido..."

  Madeleine-igrabbed-iRose's-ihand-iand-ileaned-iin-itowards-iher,-iher-iface-iintense.-i"That-iwon't-ihappen.-iTrust-ime."

  "Okay.-iIf-iyou're-icertain."-iRose-isaid.-iShe-iturned-ito-iJames.

  "Let's-ido-iit."

  James-inodded.

  "Alright-ithen.-iPlaces,-ieveryone!"

  ###-iChapter-i28-i--iThe-iShaman's-iEyes

  Rawgh'faz-isurveyed-ihis-isurroundings,-itaking-iin-ithe-isights,-isounds-iand-ismells-iof-ithe-iburning-ibuildings-iof-ithe-ivillage-iaround-ihim-ias-ihis-iclansmen-iset-iabout-ilooting-ithe-iunburned-ihouses-iand-isetting-ithem-iablaze.-iAt-ithis-ipoint,-ithe-ivillage-iseemed-ito-ibe-iempty.-iThey'd-ionly-imanaged-ito-ikill-ia-ifew-ibefore-ithe-irest-imanaged-ito-iflee-iinto-ithe-ihillside,-imuch-ito-ihis-ifrustration.-iHe'd-ihave-ito-icontent-ihimself-iwith-ileaving-ithem-iwithout-ifood-ior-ishelter.

  Raiding-ihad-inever-ibeen-ithe-imost-iprofitable-iwork-ifor-ithe-itribes,-ithough-ihe-iwas-iluckier-ithan-imost.-iThe-iFanged-iGod-ihad-iseen-ifit-ito-igive-ihim-iThe-iGift,-ias-iwell-ias-ia-istature-ifar-iabove-ithat-iof-ihis-ipeers.-iThat-ialone-imade-iit-ipossible-ito-ipillage-ilocations-ithat-iwould-iotherwise-ieasily-ithrow-iback-ignoll-ibands.

  He-ihad-iplans-ifor-ihis-iwarband.-iBig-iplans.-i

  Though,-iwhy-ihe-ihad-ibeen-icommanded-ito-icome-iraid-ithis-itiny,-iout-of-the-way-ivillage-iwith-ino-imeaningful-iresources-iwas-ibeyond-ihim.-iThere-iwas-inothing-ito-ibe-igained,-ioutside-iof-iperhaps-ia-ifearful-ireputation-iand-isome-ifood,-iboth-iof-iwhich-icould-ibe-igenerated-iin-ifar-igreater-iabundance-ielsewhere.-iHe-ihad-ienough-iscouts-iand-ifighters-ito-ieven-isack-ione-iof-ithe-ilarger-ioutlying-iwalled-icities-iof-ithe-ikingdom.-iHe'd-ieven-ilaid-iplans-ifor-itaking-ithe-ifight-iinto-ithe-iinterior.

  But-ihere-ihe-iwas,-iputting-ithe-itorch-ito-ithe-imiddle-iof-inowhere-iinstead.

  The-iemissary-ihad-igiven-ithe-iorder,-iand-iRawgh'faz-ihad-iobeyed.-iHe-iknew-ibetter-ithan-ito-idare-iquestion-ithe-iorder.-iHe'd-ireplaced-ithe-isplattered-icorpse-iof-ilast-ichieftain-iwho'd-imade-ithat-imistake.

  He-icould-ionly-idetermine-ithat-ithere-iwas-ia-imeaning-iof-iimportance-ihe-iwasn't-iaware-iof-ito-ithis-iout-iof-ithe-iway-ispot.-iAnd-ithat-iwould-ihave-ito-ibe-ienough.

  He-iturned-itowards-ithe-inearest-igroup-iof-ibuildings,-iwhere-ithe-imajority-iof-ihis-iraiding-iparty-iwere-itearing-iapart-ithe-iinterior.

  "Hurry-iit-iup,-iyou-iscum!-iNothing-iin-ithis-iworthless-ishithole-iis-iworth-itaking-ithat-ilong-ito-ifind!"-iHe-ibarked-iloudly-iin-itheir-idirection.

  He-iturned-ito-isurvey-ithe-irest-iof-ihis-iimmediate-isurroundings-iagain,-iand-ithat's-iwhen-ihis-inose-ipricked-
iup-iby-ia-isudden-inew-ismell.-iHis-ieyes-idarted-iin-iits-idirection,-iwhich-iwas-isomewhere-ibetween-ior-ibeyond-ia-icouple-iof-ithe-ibuildings-iin-ione-iof-ithe-inearer-isections-iof-ithe-isquare.

  He-isniffed-istrongly-ia-ifew-itimes.-iIt-iwas-idefinitely-ia-iliving-ismell.-iNot-ihuman,-ibut-inot-ianimal-ior-iplant,-ieither.-iIt-iwas-itoo-iclean-ito-ibe-igreenskin,-ibut-itoo-iearthy-ito-ibe-ian-ielf.-i

  What-iWAS-iit?

  As-iif-ion-icue-ito-ihis-iquestion,-ia-ismall-ihumanoid-ishape-iwalked-iout-ifrom-ibetween-itwo-iof-ithe-ibuildings,-ilooking-iaround-ias-iif-ilost.-iIt-ilooked-ilike-ia-ismall-ihuman-igirl,-ia-ichild-ieven.-iShe-iwandered-iout-iinto-ithe-iedge-iof-ithe-isquare,-iseeming-iat-ifirst-ito-inot-inotice-ihim.

  He-ifelt-ia-ichuckle-iof-isadistic-iamusement-irattle-ihis-ichest.-iPoor-ilittle-ithing.-iShe-ihad-ino-iidea-ishe-iwas-iabout-ito-ibe-ihis-inew-iplaything.

  He-iturned-ihis-ihead-iback-itowards-ihis-iransacking-iclanmates-iand-ishouted-ia-ifew-isharp-iyaps,-iand-iimmediately-ithe-ilot-iof-ithem-iscrambled-iout-iof-ithe-ibuilding-iin-ia-imass-iof-ilimbs-iand-isinged-ifur,-itheir-itongues-ilolling-iout-iof-itheir-imouths-ifrom-ithe-iintense-iheat.

  As-iif-ion-icue,-ithe-igirl's-iattention-ishot-itowards-ithem,-iand-ishe-ifroze-iin-ia-ilook-iof-ipanic,-iseemingly-iunsure-iof-iwhat-ito-ido.

  "Grab-ithe-igirl!-iShe'll-imake-ia-igood-iaddition-ito-imy-icollection!"-iHe-ibarked,-iand-ion-icue,-ithe-ignolls-ibounded-itowards-iher.-iThe-igirl-iscreamed,-iand-iturned-iand-iran-idown-ithe-isquare-iaway-ifrom-ithem,-iheadlong-iinto-ione-iof-ithe-ivillage's-iside-istreets.-i

  ###-iChapter-i29-i--iThe-iDuel-iBegins

  The-idozen-imembers-iof-iRawgh'faz's-iraiding-iparty-itore-iafter-ithe-igirl,-ihalf-irunning-iand-ihalf-iloping-ion-iall-ifours-ias-ithey-ichased-iher-iout-iof-ithe-isquare,-isnapping-iand-isnarling-iand-ihurling-ivarious-ithreatening-ijeers-iafter-iher-ias-ithey-ichased.

  Rawgh'faz-iwalked-icasually-iafter-ithem.-iHe-ihad-iplenty-iof-itime-ito-icatch-iup,-iand-ihis-iwarband-iknew-ibetter-ithan-ito-idare-icrossing-ihim-iand-iharming-isomething-ihe'd-iclaimed-ifor-ihimself.-i

  As-ihe-ilooked-iabout,-ihe-icouldn't-ihelp-ibut-ifeel-ia-isense-iof-isatisfaction-ias-ihe-ilooked-iupon-ithe-idestruction-ithey'd-icaused.-iThere-itruly-iwas-inothing-ibetter-ithan-ia-igood-isacking.

  Except-ifor-ibreaking-ithe-ispirits-iof-ithose-ihe-itook-ifor-ihimself.

  That...-ithat-iwas-ithe-ipurest-ipleasure.

  Out-iof-inowhere,-ihis-ithoughts-iwere-iinterrupted-iby-ifaint-irustle-istirred-isomething-ibehind-ihim,-iand-ia-isudden-isharp-itang-iof-iheat-iand-iperfume-istruck-ihis-inose.-iHe-ispun-iaround,-iholding-ihis-istaff-iout-iin-ifront-iof-ihim,-isnarling-iat-ithis-isudden-iunexpected-iintruder.

  Eleanor-istepped-iout-iof-ithe-ishadows-iof-ithe-ismall-ialleyway-ibehind-ihim,-iholding-iher-istaff-iloosely-iin-iher-ileft-ihand,-iand-igesturing-ilightly-iin-ithe-iair-iwith-iher-iright,-ileaving-ia-itrail-iof-iglowing-isigils-iin-ithe-iair-ibehind-iher.-i

  Rawgh'faz-ibarked-irapidly,-ievoking-ithe-inames-iof-iprotection-ispirits-ias-ihe-ispun-ihis-istaff-iaround,-ithrowing-iup-ia-ibarrier-ijust-ias-ia-ijet-iof-iblue-iflame-ierupted-ifrom-ithe-itiefling's-ihand.-iHe-ithrew-ithe-iray-ito-ithe-iside,-iand-icalling-iup-ianother-iname,-idrug-ithe-itip-iof-ihis-istaff-iacross-ithe-iground,-ishooting-iout-ia-iblast-iof-istone-ishards-itowards-iher-iat-ilightning-ispeed,-ionly-ito-ibury-ithemselves-iharmlessly-iin-ia-iwall-iof-iice-ithat'd-inot-ibeen-ithere-ionly-imoments-ibefore.-iHis-ieyes-ishot-iupwards-ito-isee-iEleanor-isailing-iover-ihis-ihead,-ia-iswath-iof-iglowing-ienergy-isymbols-iamassing-iaround-ithe-itip-iof-iher-istaff.-iAs-ihe-iwent-ito-ithrow-iup-ianother-ibarrier,-ia-iblast-iof-iinvisible-iforce-islammed-iinto-ihis-ichest-iunexpectedly,-iknocking-ihim-iflying-ibackwards-itoward-ithe-iice-iwall,-inow-icovered-iwith-istone-ispines.-iThinking-ifast,-ihe-ithrew-ithe-iprepared-ibarrier-iup-ibetween-ihim-iand-ithe-iwall-ijust-iin-itime-ifor-ithe-iimpact,-ipreventing-ibeing-iimpaled,-ibut-iblasting-ithrough-ithe-iwall-iwith-isuch-iforce-ithat-ihe-ilost-ihis-ibreath-iand-inearly-iblacked-iout-ifrom-ithe-iimpact.

  Eleanor-ilanded-ilightly-ion-iher-ifeet-ia-idozen-iyards-ifrom-ithe-ignoll,-ispinning-iher-istaff-iaround-iinto-ia-idefensive-istance,-iand-itaking-ia-ibrief-imoment-ito-icatch-iher-ibreath.

  "You-iwanna-icall-iit-ia-iday?-iI'll-ispare-iyou-ithe-ibeating-iif-iyou-itake-ithe-irest-iof-iyour-idogs-iand-ileave."-iShe-icalled-iout-ito-iRawgh'faz.

  The-ignoll-ilaughed,-ia-inasty-ihyena-icackle-ithat-istood-iup-ithe-ihairs-ion-ithe-iback-iof-iEleanor's-ineck-ion-iend-ias-ihe-istood-ito-ihis-ifeet-iamidst-ithe-iice-iand-istone.-iHe-iadjusted-ihis-ineck-iwith-ia-iresounding-icrack,-iand-ibegan-iwalking-itowards-iher,-ichanting-irhythmically-iin-isnaps-iand-isnarls.

  "I'll-itake-ithat-ias-ia-ino."-iEleanor-isaid,-ishifting-iher-iweight-islightly-ias-ishe-ireached-iinto-ithe-ipouch-itied-ito-iher-ibelt-iand-iwrapped-iher-ifingers-iaround-ione-iof-ithe-iobjects-iinside.

  Rawgh'faz-iburst-iinto-ia-isprint,-ihis-ichant-irising-ito-ia-ishout,-ibefore-ileaping-iinto-ithe-iair-iand-ihurling-ia-ihandful-iof-idark-ishapes-idown-itowards-ithe-iground-iaround-iher.-iA-ifew-ifeet-ibefore-ithey-icollided-iwith-ithe-istone,-ithey-iburst,-ireforming-iinto-ithe-ishape-iof-isnarling-idogs-ithat-irushed-iEleanor,-icharging-iat-iher-ifrom-ifive-idifferent-idirections,-iclosing-ithe-igap-ibetween-ithem-iand-ithe-itiefling-iwithin-ia-imoment.-iThe-ifive-ishapes-ileapt-ionto-iher,-itheir-iteeth-ibared-ito-isnap-iaround-iher-ilimbs-iand-ineck,-ionly-ito-ipass-iright-ithrough-iand-icollide-iwith-ieach-iother-iin-imid-air.-iRawgh'faz-ilanded-iin-ifront-iof-ithe-idogpile-ias-iit-istruggled-ito-iits-ifeet,-iand-iwatched-ias-ithe-iillusion-idissipated-iin-ia-icloud-iof-ismoke-iand-idust.-i

  ###-iChapter-i30-i--iThe-iDuel-iContinues

  Rawgh'faz-icurse-iand-isnarled,-ithrowing-ihis-igaze-iback-iand-iforth-iin-iall-idirections,-ilooking-ifor-isome-isign-iof-ithe-itiefling-igirl-ias-ihis-idogs-itumbled-iback-ito-itheir-ifeet-iand-iset-iabout-isniffing-iaround-ifor-isome-isign-iof-itheir-iintended-iprey.

  She-iwas-igood,-ihe-ihad-ito-igive-iher-ithat.-iShe'd-imanaged-ito-inot-ionly-icreate-ia-irealistic,-imoving-iillusion-iwithout-iusing-iverbal-icomponents,-ibut-ihad-imanaged-ito-ido-iso-iat-ithe-isame-imoment-ishe-irendering-iher-iown-ifull-iform-iinvisible,-imasking-iall-iof-iits-isounds-ias-iwell-ias-ishe-irepositioned.-iAnd-isince-ithe-idogs-icouldn't-ifind-iher-iscent,-ishe-iapparently-imasked-ithat,-ias-iwell.

  Very,-ivery-iimpressive.-i

  Breaking-iher-ispirit-iwould-ibe-iquite-ithe-itreat-iindeed,-iif-ishe-imanaged-ito-isurvive-ithis.-iHe-irelished-ithe-ithought.

  Rawgh'faz-icentered-ihimself,-iclosing-ihis-ieyes,-iand-idrawing-ia-ideep-ibreath-iinwards.-iShe-icould-ihide-iall-iof-iher-iphysical-iattributes,-ibut-icould-ishe-ihide-ithe-ispiritual-iones-ias-iwell?-iThat,-ihe-idoubted.

  Starting-ias-ia-ilow-irumble-iin-ihis-ibelly,-ihe-ibegan-iintoning-ia-ifamiliar's-iname,-islowly-iand-ideeply,-iand-iallowed-ihis-ispirit-ito-ishift-iinto-ithe-iethereal-iplane-ifar-ienough-ito-istep-ioutside-iof-ihis-iphysical-iform.

  As-isoon-ias-ihe-idid-iso,-ithe-idark-iforms-iof-ihis-isummoned-idogs-iburst-iinto-irelief-ias-iglowing-iwhite-ishapes-iagainst-ithe-iunstable,-ighostly-idark-igray-iforms-iof-ithe-icobblestones-iaround-ithem.-iThey-iwere-isniffing-ithe-iground-iwhere-ithe-igirl's-iillusion-ihad-istood-ionly-iseconds-ibefore.-iGround-ithat-iwas-ilit-inot-ionly-iby-ithe-ifaint-iglowing-ipaw-iprints,-ibut-iby-ia-ipair-iof-ifaint-ihuman-ifootprints-ithat-iwere-iworking-itheir-iway-iaround-ihim-iin-ia-iwide-iarc,-islowly-iand-icarefully,-ione-istep-iat-ia-itime.

  She'd-ihad-ithe-iforethought-ito-imask-iher-iethereal-iform-ias-iwell.-iClever-igirl.

  Too-ibad-ifor-iher-ithat-ishe-ieither-iforgot-ior-iwasn't-iaware-iof-ithe-iimpressions-ileft-ibehind-iby-imaterial-imovement-iin-ithe-iethereal-iplane.

  Rawgh'faz-ishifted-iback-iinto-ihis-imaterial-iform,-iand-iopened-ihis-ieyes-iwith-ia-islow-ibreath.-iShe-iwould-ibe-inearly-ibehind-ihim,-iby-ithis-ipoint,-iprobably-iplanning-ion-ian-iambush-iwhen-ishe-iexpected-ihe'd-ilost-iher.-i

  He-ismiled-ifaintly-ito-ihimself.-iWho-iwas-ihe-ito-iruin-ithe-isurprise?

  With-ia-iwave-iof-ihis-ih
and,-ihe-igave-ipermission-ifor-ithe-idogs-ito-idepart,-iand-ithey-ivanished-iinto-iclouds-iof-iblack-iash-ipicked-iup-iand-icarried-iaway-iby-ithe-ihot-iair-iswirling-iall-iaround-ithem.-iThen,-imaking-ia-ipoint-iof-iintentionally-ilowering-ihis-iguard,-ihe-iresumed-ihis-iwalk-iback-itowards-ithe-irest-iof-ihis-ipack,-ikeeping-ithe-iattention-iof-ihis-iears-iand-inose-ifirmly-ibehind-ihim.-iShe-iwould-ihave-ito-idrop-iher-imasking-iefforts-iin-iorder-ito-ibe-iable-ito-icast-iany-ioffensive-ispells,-iand-ithat-iwould-imean-ia-imoment-ifor-ihim-ito-ireact.-iThe-ionly-imoment-ihe-iwould-ineed.

  Then,-iunexpectedly,-isomething-ihard-icollided-isuddenly-iwith-ithe-iback-iof-ihis-ihead-iwith-ienough-iforce-ito-isend-ihim-isprawing-ia-ifew-ifew-ifeet-iforward-ionto-ithe-iground-iand-iknocking-ihim-idizzy-ifor-ia-imoment.-iNo-isooner-ihad-ihe-istarted-itrying-ito-iregain-ihis-ifeet-ithan-ia-isecond-iblow-ipummeled-ihim-isquare-iin-ithe-ispine,-iknocking-ihim-iflat-ito-ithe-iground-iand-ipounding-ithe-iwind-iout-iof-ihis-ichest.

  She-iwasn't-igoing-ito-ireveal-iherself.-iShe-iknew-ibetter.-iBut-ithat-imeant...

  Rawgh'faz-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-ifelt-ia-itwinge-iof-ifear.-iHad-ishe-ibaited-ihim?-iBut-ihow-icould-ishe-ihave-iknown?

  As-iif-ion-icue-ito-ihis-ithoughts,-ithe-igirl's-ivoice-isounded-iout-iin-ispace-isomewhere-iabove-ihim.

  "Same-ioffer,-idog.-iTake-iyour-ipack-iand-ileave,-iand-iI'll-ilet-iyou-ikeep-iall-iof-iyour-iteeth.-iWhat-ido-iyou-isay?"-i

  ###-iChapter-i31-i--iThe-iAmbush

  James-iand-iRose-isat-ihunched-iin-ialleyways-ion-iopposite-isides-iof-ithe-istreet-iMadeleine-iwould-ibe-itrying-ito-itrick-ithe-ignolls-iinto-ichasing-iher-idown.-iRose-ipressed-iherself-iflat-iagainst-ithe-inear-iside-iwall,-ithe-ired-iof-iher-iskin-ilost-iagainst-ithe-iflickering-ifirelight-iand-ired-brown-iclay-iof-ithe-iwall-iplaster.