Page 12 of The Anointed's Paladin

I grinned at her, and this close to the lantern’s light I was sure she’d see what most people missed, especially in the dark. Two sets of long canines, sharp enough to draw blood.

Her eyes went wide and she stumbled backwards, sending a thrill through my veins. She looked around, but there was nothing but miles of woods and the starless sky to watch.

“What are you?” She took another step backwards.

I pouted, and took a step towards her. I could hear the heart hammering in her chest.

“Oh, come now darling. No guesses? No-one ever warned you never to ask a stranger for help?”

She must have figured it out because she turned and ran. Which was a rather stupid thing to do, but people never make their best decisions while scared.

“Let’s have a bit of fun, then.” I said, slipping into thin air and starting after her. I could hear her loud breathing and the sound of her feet crashing through the underbrush.

I ran, too, silently and quietly in the night, amusement pushing me forward until I decided I’d had enough. Didn’t want to get too sweaty.

“Stop.” I called, compulsion lacing my tone. Ahead of me, the footfalls halted. I could still hear her breathing as she stood still, eyes darting around. I was still invisible as I approached her. After so long being completely powerless,thiswas something else. I walked up behind her, brushing her hair from her neck. She sucked in a breath, but still couldn’t move away from my touch.

“I’m afraid running doesn’t work. I tried that, you know.”

“Please.” She said, eyes wet with tears. “Please let me go.”

“Begging. Also futile.” I let my invisibility drop, and stepped in front of her. “See, I’ve already decided what I need from you and I’m hardly going to let you change my mind.”

“What are you going to do?” She asked. It was a good question. The possibilities were nearly endless. I should know. I had three hundred years to experience them.

“We’re going back to your wagon, and we’re going to keep doing exactly what we were doing before. Minus all the chatter. Let’s go.”

I waved a hand at her and she turned around, starting to make her way back the way we came. Her eyes kept darting to me, but she didn’t speak. Couldn’t speak, actually.

Thank the blessed and cursed gods for silence. Finally.

I dozed as we travelled down the road.

It was a long, quiet journey, but I enjoyed it.

When we pulled in at our destination, I climbed out of the back. I briefly glanced at my driver. Should I take her with me? At this point I could make the bond permanent by sealing it with her blood. I desperately needed a bonded companion for this trip. I was just too vulnerable right now with the whole death if I go into the sunlight thing.

But little miss boring seemed like she’d be too much work. I needed a someone a little more capable who I didn’t have to worry about dying in a fight or needing me to provide food. She met my eyes, hers still shining with tears. I swallowed.

“So I’m going to leave now. Once I’m gone, you are to forget you left with me.”

She looked at me, confused.

“As far as you know, we didn’t leave together tonight. You went outside to meet me, but I never showed up. You were ready to go, anyway, so decided to make the journey. Understand?”

She nodded mutely.

Hopefully, that would cover my tracks enough that Cassandra wouldn’t find me by poking around. She’d eventually make her way to Ajax and bargain with him to find me, but that would take time.

I sighed and released her contract.

The sky was growing less dark, and I stuck my hands into my pockets and hurried on to find a safe place to stay before the sun rose.

I located a barn. Not the cleanest place, but I knew the storage at the top was unlikely to be disturbed. Except by rats.

I scaled the side and entered through an open window at the top. It was dim and musty, but I found a place where the sunlight wouldn’t reach and settled down. Not really to sleep. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d properly slept. The last time I’d woken well-rested or refreshed. Just like with everything else, I’d take what I could get and make it work. The alternative was death.

7

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