The Paladins of Naretia
Page 8
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Aria was beginning to miss having Edwel about and that confused her more than anything. His incessant cheeriness and talking would often drive her to distraction, not to mention his constant advice on how to be a benevolent leader, which often made her want to throw up. But now that she was alone, surrounded by creatures who would love nothing better than to slice open her neck, she missed the security of the great big, stone oaf.
"You will need to pick up your pace if you wish to reach them on time. I cannot guarantee they will still be in the same place as we left them otherwise. Daylight has a strange way of motivating you humans. It is something I will never understand. When you're on the run, why travel in daylight when it is easier to be spotted?" Luscious asked rhetorically from behind Aria.
The mountain ridges got steeper and steeper as Aria navigated the treacherously narrow path. A long line of worgen snaked behind her, each one on all fours, and each one eyeing her with vengeance clearly written in their red eyes. 'All I have to do is control the alpha and the others will follow his lead,' she thought, not truly believing that she could. 'Just until we get as far as this winged man and then, once I have killed him, I will order Luscious to kill his pack himself, before making him plummet to his death from the mountain top.'
"How much farther?" she asked.
"At your pace, another three hours."
Aria stopped and turned to look at Luscious.
"Well, you will just have to carry me then," she said matter-of-factly.
Luscious laughed hard, as did the rest of his pack behind him.
"I am not a horse, and even if I was willing to carry someone on my back, I would not foul my coat with your filth."
"Shut your mouth," Aria shouted, grabbing the amulet around her neck tightly. Almost instantly Luscious's lips closed and, as much as she could see him try, they wouldn't open again. "Now, bend down and carry me on your back, dog."
A whisper of low growls came from behind Luscious, but none of the other worgen dared move. The alpha's muscles strained under the invisible force that was pressing down on his shoulders and hips, making him crouch low to the ground. His large claws dug into the ice and snow under the pressure, almost dislodging a large chunk of it off in the process. With his head satisfactorily lowered, Aria threw a leg over the mighty beast and gripped tightly onto his coarse, black mane.
"Now run," she whispered in his ear.