Read Online Heart's Lair by Kathleen Morgan - Free Book Online Page A

slipped a pair of loose, ankle-high boots. She twisted her still damp hair into a single braid down her back, then stomped over to resume making her bread.
    Karic eased himself into a nearby chair, already battling the encroaching weariness. "How long will that take?"
    She briskly stirred the liquid into the flour, not bothering to look up at him. "An hora or so. I plan to make journey bread. It takes a little longer to dry in the baking."
    Hostile blue eyes were raised to him. "Have you any objections?"
    It was the only kind of bread that would travel and keep well, though he had never been particularly fond of its flat, crunchy texture. Karic shook his head.
    "No, none at all. What else do you have to take along? I can begin gathering it." "No dried meat sticks, if that's what you're wanting. You'll have to catch game along the way. But there's plenty of cerasa fruit and some fermented uva wine."
    "That'll do." Karic tiredly rose from the chair. "Do you have any bags to pack it all in?"
    She pointed with a flour-coated hand. "Over in the bottom drawer of that chest are two domare hide bags." She resumed her forceful kneading of the dough. "Anything else?"
    He caught the hostile sarcasm in Liane's voice but decided it was not worth making an issue over. She was being more cooperative than he'd dared hope, and for that he was thankful. He couldn't spare the strength for another protracted battle.
    Liane slapped the dough about a few more times and then began to roll it out into a flat rectangle. She'd noticed the slump to Karic's shoulders and the absence of any spring in his step. He was tired.
    She stifled a grin of triumph. Let him drag her through the forest for a sol. She'd easily escape him this nocte and make her way back to the safety of Primasedes. He wouldn't dare follow into that well-guarded fortress. After a few more horas of his exasperating presence, she'd be free of him forever.
    It was near midsol when they finally set out. With her hands tied behind her and a lead rope around her waist binding her to Karic's, Liane followed behind, the lighter of the two packs on her back. The brief rest while the bread baked had refreshed him, but Liane knew its effects would not last long. She watched him closely for the first signs of weakness.
    The forest was huge, a good two sols journey in any direction to clear it. Liane took careful note of the direction they were headed in, north by north- west if the sun peeking through the treetops was any indication. She would use the stars to orient herself back this nocte.
    Barely an hora had passed when a wild baying floated to their ears. It came from behind them. Search canus were on their trail.
    Karic swung around and grabbed Liane by the waist, pulling her to his side. ''Can you run?"
    She shot him a quizzical glance. "Well, yes."
    "Then you'd better runand fast."
    He took off, her body tightly clasped against him. Liane almost stumbled before she could match her pace to his. They sped through the forest, nimbly dodging the trees. For a while, the baying grew fainter.
    Liane valiantly tried to keep up as long as she could, but she hadn't Karic's speed nor stamina. She tired.
    "Karic!" Liane panted, her lungs starving for air. "II've got to walk a bit."
    He wanted to go on and put as much distance between them and their trackers while he still had the strength, but he knew Liane was too winded. Karic's pace slowed to an easy trot. Still, Liane could barely keep up.
    "Please. I'll only slow you down. Leave me." Liane tripped over a tree root and fell.
    He was barely able to pull her up before she hit the ground. He gave a harsh laugh. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?"
    Karic stopped, his head cocking in concentration. All Liane could hear was the baying of the search canus, drawing near again.
    "What is it?" she asked.
    "Water." He turned her to the right and began a purposeful, rapid walk through the trees in that direction. "We need to cover our scent. I hear running