Ilona's Wolf: by Lyndi Lamont & Linda McLaughlin

Author:Lyndi Lamont & Linda McLaughlin [Lamont, Lyndi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Linda McLaughlin
Published: 2013-11-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

Aquilo Pass lived up to its reputation.

Dread crawling up her spine, Ilona stared at the narrow gap in the mountains. They’d climbed steadily all yesterday and were now above the tree line. Rolf had called a brief halt on a small ridge to rest the horses before entering the pass. A cold wind blew from the north, chilling her despite the July sunlight. She looked back at the path they’d taken, and wished she hadn’t. A wave of dizziness washed over her. Wrenching her gaze to the path ahead, she took in deep, calming breaths. Don’t look down, don’t look down, don’t look down.

Rolf moved to stand beside her, a worried look on his face. “Are you all right?”

She managed a smile. “I’ve never been fond of heights.”

“That must have been a problem growing up at Castle Novita.”

She shrugged. “Not as long as I stayed off the ramparts and away from the window. We’d best get moving.”

“It will be single file from here on through the pass,” Rolf warned. “I’ll take the lead.”

“Let me do it, sir,” Antal said. “My horse is sure-footed and lighter than your stallion.”

“Very well,” Rolf agreed. “Val, you’re next, then Ilona. I’ll bring up the rear. Keep some space between you, just in case.”

Rolf helped Ilona to mount, his hand lingering on her leg as he secured her foot in the stirrup, reminding her of his hands on her naked body that last night at Klosterlupe. She leaned down to caress his tousled hair.

“Be careful,” he said.

She nodded. “It was good of you to let Antal go first. I think he needs to feel useful.”

Rolf chuckled. “I wouldn’t have agreed if he didn’t have a good point. His horse is sure-footed.”

He walked back to Orion and mounted as Antal led the way into the narrow gorge, his horse picking its way carefully on the stony path. A glance upward showed towering cliffs studded with rocks that appeared ready to tumble down at a moment’s notice onto any creature foolish enough to venture through the gorge. The wind increased, buffeting the riders.

Ilona forced herself to hold the reins loosely, despite the tension in her arms and shoulders. The trail wound along the side of one slope, but there was a deep cleft between the cliffs. She kept her gaze straight ahead, ignoring the sheer drop off to her left. Her uneasiness increased the higher they rode. Her inner senses were screaming about danger ahead, but she knew not where it came from or when it might strike.

She closed her eyes and focused inward. In her mind she saw the trail widen ahead. That was good, but just as Antal reached the spot she’d foreseen, she saw a rock come loose, hurtle down the slope and knock Antal off his horse.

Heart pounding, she opened her eyes and searched the area, but sighed when she realized they had yet to reach that part of the trail. “Antal,” she called softly. “Be on guard. Danger lies ahead.”

He pulled his horse to a stop and turned to look backwards.

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