Page 22 of Trapped By Vengeance

“Over here!” Eloise calls through the dense foliage. “I found a cave!”

I close the distance between us and find her at the base of the hill, happily gesturing to a cave formed within.

“Stay here,” I order, stooping into the cave and sensing if there are sources of blood lurking within.

“What are you doing?” Eloise asks, nearly breaking my concentration.

“Checking for wild animals.” I turn from her to reach deeper into the cave.

“From all the way out here?”

I slowly turn to Eloise and find her watching me over crossed arms. Even the bird on her shoulder looks like it’s judging me.

Forcing a smile I’m sure looks far from pleasant, I gesture for her to remain where she is. Then I duck into the cave to make more of a show of searching.

I detect no life, and then I feel the stone wall of the cave marking its end. Back here is far enough from the entrance that the shadows disguise the wall completely from view.

It’s terribly demeaning, but I have to crawl back out. Eloise might be able to stand upright in the cave, but I cannot. It is long enough for her, Konrad, and me to all be able to lie vertically and horizontally and find a modicum of comfort.

Emerging, I nod. “It’s safe.”

“Of course it is.” Eloise skips inside, and I was right about her not needing to duck. “I wouldn’t lead you to danger.”

I nod sagely. “You’d only lead me into abduction.”

Eloise startles and then turns to plant her hands on her tiny hips. “It’s nothing personal.”

“Just vengeance,” I agree, my words and tone agreeing with her even though my attitude does not. “That’sneverpersonal.”

Eloise huffs and points at a cluster of bushes just within sight of the cave. “I think I see huckleberries. Thankfully for you, I know which plants are edible and which are not.”

“That sounds like a threat, but be my guest.” I gesture toward the bushes. “Just don’t wander too far.”

“I can wander wherever I please. You aren’t my mother.”

“Just your captive, I know.”

Eloise sticks her tongue out at me. Then she saunters toward the bushes, that pigeon still perched on her shoulder.

I stick my tongue out at her retreating form. Konrad must have the patience of a saint.

Konrad!

Since Eloise is distracted inspecting the deep blue clusters growing in the bushes, I make a dash back toward the beach. Konrad’s coat flows behind me.

Thankfully, the sand strip is not long. It’s not difficult at all to locate the half-naked man lying face down on the shore.

Since he is now in mortal form instead of a wolf, I slide the open saber into the belt of my dress and approach. “Well, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?”

Konrad groans and lifts his face enough to stare blearily at me. Sand sticks to his wet beard. “Valda?”

“Not you as a person, of course, considering you abducted me against my will and placed me in mortal danger, but . . .” I let my gaze trail over the muscles of his broad, exposed back and the tattered remnants of breeches barely covering his upper legs. “But your body is certainly a sight.”

He groans and looks ready to collapse face-first on the sand again. “Eloise . . .”

“Is picking berries. We found a cave to shelter us for the night.” I glance up, noticing the dark storm clouds gathering above us. “It looks like we’ll need it.” Then I glance toward the outline of the ship. “Will we be followed?”Did you devour them all?

“Only if they are mad fools.” Konrad wearily points at his coat.

---