“We can’t fight it. We can’t get anywhere near it.”
He would never agree to it, but she had to convince him to free her. She could use her bow and arrows. She wouldn’t miss.
“Where’s my weapon?”
“That was the first thing I got rid of when I grabbed you.”
“Dammit! I could have shot it.”
“Your arrows would have melted like ice.”
“We can still find a way to fight. You need to cut my hands loose.”
She felt the negative shake of his head even though she couldn’t see him. “That’s not going to happen.”
“Rise! We’re going to have to face that creature. You need my help.”
He was silent, but as she looked behind them once more, there was no doubt in her mind that the heliskrat was closer.
His words seemed forced as he asked, “Can you use your sorcery on the beast?”
She had never wanted to lie so badly in her entire life. If she just told him yes, he would cut her loose and give her the chance she needed to escape. But she couldn’t.
“I can’t. The minute I weave my magic, my father will know exactly where to find me.”
“Then, bring him to us. I’ll find a way to get my vengeance against him here in this place.”
“I’m not ready to see him yet.”
Waves of heat began to pulse over them, making it clear the creature was almost upon them.
“Did you do something to disappoint daddy?”
“Yeah. You could say that.” She shook her head. He wouldn’t believe a word of what she had to say, but it was worth a try. “I disappointed him the day I was born.”
“Couldn’t live up to his impossible standards?”
“No, it wasn’t that. The fact that I drew breath at all was what disappointed him. So much so that, the minute he sees me, I’m dead.”
“In a metaphorical sense?”
“No. There’s nothing metaphorical about it. He wants me dead.”
“I don’t get it. You’re his daughter.”
“The only way he can be killed is when three of his offspring unite. My sister and I were on a mission to do just that. It failed. We were working on Plan B when you came along.”
They came upon a small, rocky outcropping. Rise halted the horse and dismounted quickly. He slid her down beside him and pulled his knives. He cut her hands free, pulled his bag from the horse, and slapped the horse on the rear, sending it away from their hiding place.
Liv rubbed her wrists and arms, trying to get the feeling to return to them. “Are you sure you trust me not to stab you in the back?”
He pulled her bow from his bag and handed her a few arrows. “Show me what you can do, bullseye.”
6
The first arrow hit the charging heliskrat and immediately disintegrated. Yet, she tried again and got the same result, only seeming to anger the roaring creature more.
“You’re right. Arrow shots aren’t going to do the job. What else we got?”
