Page 90 of Dark Elves of Ardani

His arms tightened around her, pulling her closer.

Warmth thrummed through her. She had an urge to say something to him, to tell him how happy she’d been with him for these past few nights. The words perched on the edge of her tongue, ready to be spoken, but she said nothing. When she imagined herself saying things like that, it sounded foolish.

They were patrolling the area for signs of bounty hunters or Paladins, but Zara had grown used to seeing nothing on their rides. Most of the time, they were completely alone. So she was surprised when she saw a figure walking through the sprinkling of snow ahead of them, illuminated in the bright moonlight.

Hearing their approach, the figure turned, knees bent as if preparing to run. Wide eyes looked fearfully back at them. It took Zara a second to decipher the shape of messy black hair, golden-brown skin, and a dirty red cloak.

“Naika?” Zara gasped.

Naika stared, confused, and then she seemed to recognize them. She wore no armor or weapons, and there was a thick metal collar around her neck—a magic-suppressing device to keep her from using her magic. The Paladins must have put it on her after her refusal to torture Zara. But where were the other Paladins?

Zara jumped down from Changa and ran to her. “Goddess, I thought they might have killed you.” For once, Naika seemed genuinely relieved to see her. Zara heard Changa’s hooves lightly hitting the ground as Nero trotted up behind her. Naika looked up at him apprehensively.

“What happened?” Zara asked. “Where are… Did you run?”

Naika nodded.

“Are you alone?”

Another nod.

“Are you all right? Hurt?”

She shook her head, then jerked her chin toward Zara.

“I am fine now,” Zara assured her.

Naika had no supplies. Not so much as a bag or a bedroll. Her skin was stained with dirt and blood and her hair was tangled and plastered to her skin with sweat. Zara couldn’t imagine what had happened to her in the past week, if that was how long it had been since she’d escaped.

She got a waterskin from the saddlebag and handed it to Naika, who took it without question and drank deeply.

Zara looked up at Nero. He was watching Naika suspiciously. “We have to take her back home,” she said.

His eyebrows lowered. “Toourhome?”

“Yes.”

Nero started to argue, but then Naika held up her hands to get their attention. She pointed to something in the distance behind her. Then she signed,Come.

Zara exchanged a glance with Nero. “What is it?” she asked Naika, but knew she couldn’t answer. Naika fluttered her hands, trying to describe whatever it was in gestures, and gave up in a huff of frustration.Come, she signed again and again, angry desperation in her motions and her expression. She folded her hands together as if in prayer. She mouthed the word as she signed.Please.

“Yes,” Zara said finally, motioning for her to guide the way. “Show us.” Naika immediately turned and strode into the night. Zara followed, and she heard Nero following behind her.

They walked for several minutes before Naika came to a stop at the top of a ridge. Below them were several figures walking together on the road, lit by torchlight. Zara saw three men wearing armor, a woman with a cloud of frizzy hair, and a child.

“Basira and Farhana,” Zara said quietly. Naika nodded grimly. “What are they doing here?”

As she watched, Farhana’s steps slowed and one of the Paladins came forward to push her into a faster pace. Basira snapped something at the Paladin, tucking Farhana close to her hip. It was clear from the body language of everyone involved that they were being escorted by the Paladins against their will.

Zara looked up at Nero, catching the soft glow of his eyes in the moonlight. He’d not carried a bow with him that day, but that wouldn’t matter. It was dark, and they had a half-Varai on their side. “We can take them,” Zara said.

“I hope by ‘take’ you mean ‘kill,’” Nero said, looking at Naika as he dismounted. “Because we might have a disagreement, otherwise.”

“I mean to kill them,” Zara said. She looked at Naika, who offered no argument.

They quickly discussed a plan of attack. Zara drew the daggers Nero had given her to replace Tahir’s. She handed one of them to Naika, who tucked it into her belt beneath her cloak. She started down the slope toward the road.

Nero took Zara’s hand and faded them both, and they circled around to approach the Paladins.

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