Masques (Sianim #1)(56)

"Plague it, Wolf! One of these days, you are going to do that and I'll knife you by mistake. Then I'll have to live all my life with the guilt of your death on my hands," she snapped.

Her threat didn't seem to bother him much as he caught her and lowered her to her chair as her legs collapsed under her. "It's time for lunch. You are too thin," he said with disapproval, and then added, "Speaking of knives, Myr recovered your sword and brought it here while you were sleeping. I put it under the couch."

Her face lit with a smile. "Really? I thought that it was gone for good when Talor knocked it out of my hand." She retrieved the sword and returned to her chair, where she could inspect the blade for damage. "I don't know why I'm so attached to the plaguing thing when I'm such an inept idiot with a sword."

She was interrupted by the sound of running feet. Stanis popped into the room at a dead run. Having run the better part of the mile or so of tunnel that connected the library to the living quarters of the rest of the camp, he only had breath to gasp out one word: "Uriah!" But that was enough.

Aralorn tangled with her chair when she tried to push it out of the way too fast, but kept from falling with the aid of a firm hand on her arm. She was again helped back into her seat.

Wolf, who had somehow donned his mask again, looked her straight in the eye and said, "You stay here." His voice left no room for argument. He shifted into the wolf and melted into the tunnel.

Just because she hadn't argued didn't mean that she intended to obey him. She waited until he was safely gone before stumbling for the sofa to grab the sword belt and scabbard.

"Aren't you going to do what he says?" Stanis asked. He wasn't one for following the rules, but he knew that if Wolf ever told him to do anything in that tone of voice he would do it, fast.

Aralorn glanced up as she sheathed the sword. "It's written on my file in Ren's office at Sianim: 'Does not take orders well, will occasionally listen to suggestions.' Did it sound like he was suggesting anything to you?"

Stanis shook his head; then, noticing that she was adjusting the position of the sheath and not looking at him, said, "No."

Finished, she shrugged. "Then I'm not going to do what he said."

Stanis led her through the tunnels, because the way was not marked. With her hand on his shoulder for support, she kept their speed to a brisk walk.

As she swung over the barricade erected to keep people from wandering the tunnels, Wolf and Myr were talking on the far side of the large cave. As far as she could tell, all the people were gathered in this room, the largest of the occupied caves, From what Stanis had told her, it was furthest from the outside. Even here she could hear the enraged howls of the Uriah.

For the most part the people in the cave were silent, the children huddled in a far corner, except Stanis, who was standing behind her. After taking a quick look around, she stalked leisurely toward the conferring men.

"... why they aren't just coming in, I don't know how long they've been there. A couple of hunters went out an hour ago, and they weren't there then. The first time that we knew anything about them was when they started that howling. That's when I sent Stanis to get you." Myr's hands flexed on the hilt of his sword, and then gripped it white-knuckled. "I've brought all the rest of us to this cave, as it's furthest from the outside. The opening is narrow enough that they can only come in one or two at a time."

Aralorn broke in, ignoring Wolf. "If we stack the bodies back in the opening, we'll buy ourselves some time. If won't take many to block the entrance, and then they'll have to eat their way through before any more can attack." There was a horrified gasp from someone in the huddled masses and she realized belatedly that "force" would have been a better choice than "eat," if less accurate.

Wolf, apparently saving his lecture for later, spoke. "It's interesting that they haven't already come in. By the sound of it, they are standing right outside the entrance and howling. They are not notorious for their patience. The ward on the entrance that I've reinforced would not be enough to keep them out, only make it difficult for them to find."

"Edom couldn't go into the caves," Aralorn commented.

"But that was just fear of closed-in spaces." Myr's tone grew less assured as he talked.

"Perhaps." Wolf's tone was thoughtful. "There are wards that will keep out specific animals - such a spell could be altered to keep out beings who exhibited certain emotions or types of magic. There is another explanation as well. Aralorn said that one of the Uriah talked to her - the Uriah that I have seen were not capable of it. The ae'Magi must have altered them in some way. If he has made them more intelligent, it is possible that they are waiting for something before they attack."

"Wolf, do you know of any exit from the caves that opens to another side of the mountain?" Myr asked.

Wolf nodded. "Yes, I've thought of that. We could send most of the people through and leave a few fighters to slow the pack. Once across the river they would be safe, at least until the Uriah found a place to cross."

"It's better than nothing," agreed Aralorn. She waited until they were engrossed in the planning before she slithered around them. Once in the tunnel she drew her sword and held it in a fighter's grip. Someone had painted signs on the walls of the tunnels to facilitate travel, and it was a simple matter to follow the arrows to the outside by the magelight she held cupped in one hand.