Path of the Paladin by Melissa McShane

Author:Melissa McShane [McShane, Melissa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Night Harbor Publishing
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter

Fifteen

Ginnevra and Eodan waited in silence for the ferry to take them and the last members of their party across. Ginnevra kept her eyes fixed on the werewolf pack, committing faces to memory, though she knew she would likely fight them in their wolf forms. It was something to do that kept her from anticipating the future, which was counter to the Goddess’s teachings. The future was what you made it, one moment at a time, but she couldn’t help wishing she could make her future right now by slaughtering every werewolf in that pack.

Which was foolish. There was no reason to believe those werewolves represented their entire pack, given that there were only twelve of them. Even Cennfalad’s death wouldn’t guarantee the rest of the werewolves wouldn’t attack later. But Ginnevra stared them down, one at a time, willing them to see her readiness to hurt them. Most of the werewolves were male, but there were three females—she refused to think of them as men and women—who were as tall and blonde as their counterparts. Later, she would ask Eodan if the ratio was typical.

Finally, finally, the ferry touched the frozen ground with a crunch of wood against hard earth and stiff, bristly weeds, and Ginnevra guided Dauntless toward it. She made sure she was the last to board, and after dismounting, she again turned to glare at the werewolves, in case any of them got ideas about trying to follow. Cennfalad regarded her with his mocking smile. Ginnevra no longer found it infuriating. She would not be drawn by him again.

As the ferry made its slow progress across the choppy water of the river, the werewolves drifted to positions near the dock, spreading out to circle it as if preparing to attack the ferry when it returned. Ginnevra stood beside Dauntless with her hand on her sword, watching their figures become tiny with distance.

She realized Eodan stood at her left hand just as he said, “They won’t attack immediately.”

“I imagine they’ll wait until we’re well into the badlands.” Ginnevra’s hand closed more tightly on her sword’s hilt. “But not because they care about witnesses. They’ll harry us for miles, heightening our tension and putting us under strain so we’ll be weakened by the constant need for vigilance. They hope.”

“My pack never hunted humans, but that sounds like a reasonable strategy. In the absolute sense, not because I approve. If you know what I mean.”

“I do.” Ginnevra wished she could take his hand, but with the werewolves still watching, she didn’t want to do anything that might indicate uncertainty.

They stood together, watching the werewolves, until another soft crunch told them they’d arrived. Then they led their horses off the ferry and walked them to where they could join the others. Buonnane, who’d gone across with Giulliomocte and the other Revereds, had gotten their caravan organized and everyone pointed in the right direction. Ginnevra mounted Dauntless and steered him to the captain’s side.

“We’re going to have company,” she said in a low voice.

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