Rift: A Nightshade Novel by Cremer Andrea

Author:Cremer, Andrea [Cremer, Andrea]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: PENGUIN group
Published: 2012-08-07T04:00:00+00:00

EIGHTEEN

THE COMMANDER’S prediction proved accurate. Though Ember and Barrow spent the morning winding through the forest and the afternoon traveling alongside the Rhine, they found no signs of the striga. In the course of their search they’d scared up a few deer and startled a peasant woman who was out gathering firewood, but otherwise they’d only had each other for company. No horn called them back. When the haze of sunset seeped through the pines, Barrow reined Toshach to the east.

“Let’s return to the others.”

By the time they reached their point of origin, the sun was gone. If a moon graced the night sky, its light wasn’t strong enough to push back the forest’s gloom. Ember squinted into the darkness, hoping at some point her eyes would adjust. She didn’t know how she’d fight if she was blind.

Her fears were slightly allayed when Sorcha produced a lantern, which she hung from a wooden pole. The horn panes of the lantern were barely translucent, throwing only a bit of light into the shadows.

“So it’s a hunt, then,” Kael said.

“Yes.” Lukasz passed a weary hand over his face. “We’ll have to draw it out.”

“And hope it’s hungry,” Kael added.

Sorcha shifted in her saddle and the lamplight flickered. “They’re always hungry.”

“And that works in our favor tonight,” Lukasz said, swinging out of his saddle. “We’ll leave the horses tethered here. The striga is no danger to them.”

Kael jumped down from his mount and grinned darkly. “Horseflesh can’t compare to human.”

Barrow grimaced as he dismounted. Ember slid out of the saddle, leaning her forehead against Caber’s neck and feeling regretful that she’d be leaving him behind.

When the horses were tethered, the knights walked a short distance into the forest and gathered in a tight circle.

“How do you propose we lure the striga?” Alistair asked in a hushed voice.

Ember didn’t know if whispers were necessary, but the pressing darkness and thick silence of the Black Forest did make speaking in normal tones akin to shouting.

Kael kept his voice low as well. “I’d think that would be obvious. The striga will be looking for a meal.”

Barrow nodded, and Ember’s skin began to crawl.

“The villagers have begun to avoid the forest after dark,” Lukasz said. “We should be the only prey available tonight. And with the forest folk hiding in their houses, the night flyer should be getting desperate for fresh meat.”

“Ember is the obvious choice,” Sorcha said. “She’s the smallest of us, and if she rids herself of her weapons and tabard, she’ll appear vulnerable.”

Alistair bristled. “We’re not using Lady Morrow as bait. I’ll do it.”

“I’m not afraid,” Ember protested, though she had to push the words out of her closing throat. “I can make do with a dagger. Just tell me what to do.”

“No,” Barrow told her. “He’s right. Revenants are vile foes, but a striga is a truly vicious and cunning monster. Your first mission is not the one in which to take such a dangerous role.”

Lukasz nodded. “Alistair is as fine an option as Ember.

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