“Oh, all right,” Gisele said, reluctantly leaving the pool and meandering over to her pile of discarded clothes.
Cora had on her shift and petticoats. She bent down to retrieve her bodice—
That was when the echo of footsteps reached her ears, pounding down the tunnel toward them. She glanced over at Maiya, who was fully dressed aside from the undone laces of her bodice. Gisele quickly threw on her shift.
Just then, three figures entered the cave. James brought up the rear, a frantic look on his face. The men stopped when they noticed Cora and her friends. The tallest stepped forward, a cruel grin twisting his lips. “Well, now, what pretty beasts do we have here?”
8
The three newcomers were dressed in the same style of greatcoat James wore, with Duke Morkai’s sigil marking their right sleeves. All but James appeared at least ten years older than Cora. Their appearances were far more rugged too, with mud-splattered boots, bushy beards, and wild, unkempt hair. One carried a spear while another held what looked like a coiled leather whip covered in metal barbs. The tallest—who Cora assumed was their leader—palmed the hilt of one of the daggers sheathed in his bandolier.
James shuffled to the front of the group and faced the three men with raised palms. “Gringe, it isn’t what it looks like.”
The man named Gringe scoffed. “And what exactly do you think it looks like?” James stammered for words, but Gringe cut him off before he could reply. “You left your post. Not only that, but you left to dally with three women and didn’t think to share.” His cold eyes wandered from Cora to Maiya, then Gisele. Cora’s heart hammered against her ribs, her stomach roiling as the man assessed them like livestock.
“I’m sorry I left my post,” James said. “I shouldn’t have, but I figured it was safe to come for a quick soak. And they…” He cast a helpless glance over his shoulder at the girls before returning his attention to Gringe. “They were here by coincidence.”
“So you don’t know them?”
“No.”
“Then I suppose you won’t mind if we…get to know them ourselves.”
James stiffened. The three other hunters erupted with laughter. With their attention on James, Cora took the opportunity to dip down and retrieve her belted dagger. As soon as her fingers met leather, she stood and pulled it behind her back, just as Gringe’s eyes shot to her.
His expression hardened. “You. Where are you from? The closest village is miles away.”
Cora’s mind raced to come up with an answer, but Gisele spoke first. Batting her lashes, she said, “We’re from Palovore, sir. We made the trip here just for Beltane. These caves are famous, you know. Everyone comes to the hot springs during the holidays.”
“Then why are you the only ones here?”
Cora stepped forward, purposefully edging closer to Maiya. “We’re just the first to arrive,” she hurried to say. “Dozens more are coming. My…my husband will be here. My brother too.” She hated having to use the threat of another male for protection, but right now she was willing to say anything to keep the hunters at bay. Besides, better they thought she was a helpless female who needed a man to fight her battles than a girl with a dagger in her hand. If only she could retrieve her bow without them noticing.
“Dozens,” Gringe echoed. His smirk said he wasn’t falling for her bluff.
“Please, just leave them be,” James said.
Gringe sneered at the man. “Who are you to give me orders?”
James shifted from foot to foot. “It was…more of a suggestion.”
“Did you tell them?”
“Tell them?”
“About our…prey?”
James shook his head. “They know nothing, I swear.”
Cora stepped closer to Maiya until their shoulders brushed. “Count to thirty,” she whispered, “then take Gisele and run for the tunnel.”
“What? No! We’re not leaving you.”
“I’m just giving you a head start.”
“Are you crazy?”
“Count to thirty.”
