Page 36 of Elf Shot

Layla sighed and stared up at the sky. "What a fucking mess this is turning into."

"We will get to the stronghold tomorrow, so we just need to focus on the next thing and then the next thing," Tor said and patted her on the back. "For you, that's going to sleep with your new spider friends."

"Thanks a lot," Layla scoffed. She moved back to her bedroll. "Maybe don't mention to Ciara that I told you about her family."

"I won't. I value my nuts where they are," Tor replied, making her smother her laugh. "Thanks for telling me anyway."

"No problem. Just don't take any of her bullshit too seriously. It's not you she hates," Layla replied with a yawn.

She curled up on her side and was drifting off when she heard Tor move. She cracked open an eye and watched him stand over a dreaming Ciara, a frown on his face. With a soft growl, he grabbed his blanket and draped it over her before going back to the fire. Layla smiled a little, and finally went to sleep.

15

They reached the mountain the following afternoon. Tor had become increasingly paranoid, so they had stayed off any paths and had crept through the trees like shadows.

"There should be more guards or patrols than this," Ciara whispered.

"Not if you're not afraid of being attacked. No one would be stupid enough to try and fight Vili on his own ground," Tor replied and then winked at Layla. "Except for you maybe."

"I'm not going to fight him. I'm going to steal Arne back and get the hell out of here," she replied.

They were hiding up on a small ridge and could see a group of warriors standing outside of an entrance carved into the rock. Layla lifted her binoculars again and tried to see what was going on.

"There's got to be another way in. A back entrance. Vili wouldn't be dumb enough to only have one way in or out," she said.

Tor let out a soft growl. "I'll go and do a scout. You two stay here until I get back. I'll move faster alone and as a wolf." He started to strip off and Layla got an unexpected eyeful of a ripped chest covered in Viking tattoos and fine dark blonde hair.

"Gods, Torsten, warn us, will you?" Ciara muttered, quickly turning and hitting Layla to do the same.

"If I had known you were shy about nudity, I would have. Who knew a big fierce hunter was afraid of a little skin?" Tor teased.

Ciara's ears went red. "It's common decency."

"I thought it was pretty decent," Layla said and Ciara hit her again.

There was a snapping, growling sound, and Tor's big furry head bumped against Layla. His gray eyes were huge as they stared down at her. He was as big as a bear, and she would have wet herself if she didn't know him.

"Yes, yes, we'll stay here," she said, patting his silvery fur. "Off you go."

Tor pawed the ground once and then bolted off through the trees.

"Here's hoping he doesn't get seen in that form. He's hard to miss," Ciara commented.

"We are in a magical world. Maybe big ass wolves are common enough that people wouldn't look twice." Layla lifted her binoculars again and tried to see anything of interest.

There was a light glowing inside the cavern entrance, torches now being lit to prepare for the coming darkness. The warriors were all as big as Tor, with black leather armor. Vili was already gathering an army to him, that much was for certain. There was no way to tell how many warriors were in the fortress. They would be going in completely blind.

"Having second thoughts?" Ciara asked.

"No," Layla replied stubbornly. "We need Arne back. If Bron could live inside Morrigan's fortress in Tir Na Nog for a month, we can find a way to rescue one prince."

"We aren't Bron, Layla."

"No shit. But we will have to do the best we can." Layla opened her pack and took out the pouch of magical tricks Charlotte had packed for her. Charlotte was so much better with her magic now thanks to the Greatdrakes teaching and library. The magical objects she was making for her sisters were more effective, longer lasting, and convenient.

Layla flicked through the patches, reading the labels on the small plastic bags they were packed in. Charlotte was nothing if not organized with them.

"Ah! Here we are. I knew she would have some glamor patches in here," she said, pulling them out. "We can use these."

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