“We need to rest,” he called out, and the men obediently returned. Karn bounced through a deep drift of snow towards them.
“Thanks,” Lori said quietly.
“Here...” Lephas dropped his pack from his shoulder and pulled his water skin from the leather tie that held it in place.
Lori took it greedily, refreshed as ice cold water slid down her throat. As she drank, she watched Lephas pull another of the linen food parcels out.
The demon waited patiently for Lori to finish drinking. When she finally came up for air, he took the water skin and handed her the food parcel instead.
Haros caught Lephas's eye and motioned him over. The two men spoke in hushed tones, their heads together.
Lori couldn't hear them over the loud crunching of her biscuit, but she knew they were talking about her. Haros pointed out into the forest a few times and asked Lephas a question. The two men glanced across at her momentarily before returning to their conversation.
Lephas looked troubled, frowning in thought. He shrugged and motioned to himself, then to the pack he held in his hands. Haros nodded and Lephas hooked the pack over his chest, rather than his back.
Haros leant in and muttered something. Lori deciphered that it must have been some sort of lewd comment based on Haros's grin and the scathing look Lephas shot him. The commander stalked back towards her through the snow.
She popped another small square of biscuit into her mouth. Though they were harder than any she had eaten before, they had a pleasant sweet and buttery taste to them.
“These aren't half bad, you know. They're better than those berries.”
“At least it’s not all over your face, I suppose.” Lephas grinned, clearly recalling the evening prior.
Lori shot him a playfully sour look.
“So, what's the plan?” she asked through a mouthful of food. “I presume you two have some sort of scheme going on. Why are you wearing your bag like that?”
“I can't carry thisandyou on my back at the same time for any great distance,” the commander replied, pausing as if to gauge her reaction.
“Why would you be carrying me?” She finished off the last of the biscuit and brushed the crumbs from her lap.
Karn sat a short distance away, eyeing the strip of jerky that was left in the linen food parcel with great interest. She picked up the tough meat and caught the wolf's eye before taking a big bite out of it spitefully.
Karn simply licked his lips and snapped his sharp teeth together.
“I'm going to have to carry you. You're already starting to tire and we need to get back to Banesteppe tonight. It's doable, but not at the rate we're going,” Lephas reasoned.
“Hm, not so keen on these!” Lori wrinkled her nose, holding up the strip of jerky. She flung it in Karn's direction, where it was enthusiastically received. The wolf made short work of the tough meat.
“Alright, but I'm not being flung over your shoulder like a sack of potatoes this time.” Lori got to her feet, stretching her back with a yawn. “And no funny business. Keep those hands to yourself!”
“It was an accident, I swear!” Lephas spluttered, taken aback.
“Hm, whatever,” Lori teased.
Suddenly Karn's ears pricked and the wolf stood to attention. He stared intently into the woods and yelped. The short, sharp noise echoed through the snowy forest. A warning?
Lephas and the others were immediately on their feet. Lori's heart began to race as she watched Lephas's hand drop to the sword at his side.
“What is it?” Haros whispered.
All demons had their eyes fixed on the woods in the direction the wolf was looking. The dark pines swayed and snow swirled up into the air as the wind continued to bluster around them.
“I'm not sure,” Lephas replied. “But we need to go –now.”
Karn let out a short howl, lips curling off his fangs. The playful sparkle in his eyes had vanished and the thick fur along his back stood up in spikes.
“What is it? What has he seen?” Lori swallowed, adrenaline coursing through her veins.
