Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 97306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97306 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 324(@300wpm)
“She does not need it,” Corwin argued. “The hell hounds have no wont of her. This is the second time they did not harm her, just the opposite, they protected her. You do not know what might happen to you if you remain here with her. Do not take the chance. Leave her to do what you brought her here to do.”
“She has all she needs from this place.” Varrick did not know if that was true, but he would not leave her here alone. “We will return home tomorrow.”
“We should leave now. The snow falls heavily, and travel may be difficult tomorrow.”
“I have never known you to be so fearful, Corwin.”
He pointed to the two men on the ground, their bodies blanketed with a layer of snow. “They were dragged off by the hell hounds in front of you and yet there is not a wound on them, not an ounce of blood. This does not frighten you, my lord?”
“It disturbs me, but an adversary is an adversary. Find his weakness and you find victory,” Varrick said.
“He is the God of Death, what weakness can he have?”
“Everyone—God or man—has a weakness,” Varrick argued.
Corwin shook his head. “Not you. You have no weakness. Never had one.”
“You are right which means, nothing will stop me from seeing this settled even if I must battle the God of Death to do so… and I will walk away the victor.”
“My lord,” a warrior called out as he approached Varrick with hasty steps. “You must see this.”
Varrick followed beside the warrior as did Corwin.
The warrior stopped by a large pine tree where several warriors had gathered beneath it. They all stepped away when Varrick approached.
The warrior pointed to the ground. “One footprint, my lord, just one and the snow refuses to cover it and it does not go deep. How can someone tread so lightly that their footfall does not go deep in the snow? And where is the other footprint? How can a person stand on one leg alone without a staff to balance oneself?”
Varrick had no answer for him since he had wondered the same himself since seeing the one footprint Fia had spotted.
“Be vigilant tonight. We return home in the morning,” Varrick said and while they looked relieved, they mumbled amongst themselves. He caught a few words as he walked away.
“She must stay.”
“The witch will know.”
“Or does she help Death?”
That was what worried Varrick. If this problem lingered or grew worse, would they begin to blame Fia instead of looking to her for help? Corwin was right about Varrick having no weakness… until now.
Now he had a weakness… Fia.
Varrick returned to the shelter, dismissing the two guards at the door, and stood there not entering. Was he wise in sealing his vows with Fia? Would what he was feeling for her leave him weak? Did love do that to a man… leave him vulnerable, less bold, less brave?
What of the strange connection they had? He had heard her clearly telling him to hurry and he had answered her.
He stood tall, snow coating his hair and shoulders, and silently reached out to her.
I am here.
Barely a moment passed before the door opened.
CHAPTER 21
Fia not only spotted it in his blue eyes but felt it as well… doubt.
She stepped aside for him to enter and thinking it best they avoid what had gone on between them before Corwin had whisked him away, asked, “What happened?”
Varrick was glad she had given them pause to discuss something other than consummating their vows, though he was annoyed as well. How was it that things had gotten so difficult?
He discarded his cloak to the chest and went to the fire, holding his hands out to the heat. “It is the two men the hounds dragged away.”
Fia hurried to sit on the bench, eager to hear.
Varrick turned to her, though remained standing close to the hearth, letting the heat soak into him. “Their bodies were found.”
“Oh my! What a horrific sight that must have been.”
“It wasn’t. There was not a mark on them and not a drop of blood had been shed,” he said and watched her dark eyes widen with confusion.
“How can that be?”
Varrick shook his head. “It makes no sense. We watched them being dragged away, heard their screams and yet the way they look now, I would have assumed they died from the cold. But that is not the whole of it.”
“What else was found?”
“Another single footprint just like the one we found.”
Fia’s brow scrunched as she shook her head. “This is all too strange.”
“And troublesome to the warriors as they fight to keep fear at bay. It is not good for them to remain here, or us for that matter. We all will return home tomorrow. Whatever knowledge you have gained in your short time here will have to suffice.”