Read Online Moon Rise (Twilight Shifters Book 2) by Kate Danley - Free Book Online Page B

died that some of the body parts fell off as they carried them.  Aein had to stop to empty the contents of her stomach several times.  The stench of charred, rotting, human flesh was one of the worst things she ever endured.  Lars continued on with a grim stoicism.  Here she thought she would need to be the one to lend him strength, and he was the one taking it most in stride.
    Finn returned, but they did not acknowledge him until the last body was on the fire.  The sun was hanging low in the sky by the time they were done.
    Aein and Lars grabbed clean clothes from their packs and then followed Finn to a spring which they were both already very much aware was there.  They just needed to give Finn a job while they handled his friends.
    Aein and Lars stripped, helping each other out of their armor and all three of them dove into the pond.  Between the muck from the bog and the filth Aein did not want to contemplate from the camp, the water was soon murky and brown.  Aein kept an alert eye for creatures who might try to sneak up on them.  By the time they were clean, it was almost time for the transformation.  Aein climbed out of the water followed by Finn and Lars.  They dressed in silence.  None of them made a move to go back to the campground.
    The shift came.  It was a gentle ripple.  One minute, Finn was in wolf form, and the next he was human.  His eyes were full of tears, his face full of grief.
    "Thank you for saving me in the bog," said Lars, coming forward and gripping Finn's arm.  The man nodded his head in acceptance.
    "We must decide what we need to do next," said Finn, his voice cracking.  "What is your recommendation?"
    Lars rubbed his hands through his wet, red hair.  "That we set fire to this entire swamp and call it a day?"
    Finn laughed a harsh, sad chuckle.  "I shall be the first with a torch."
    "We have to leave two here on the border," Lars stated.  There was a resigned finality to his tone.  He knew he was the best choice to stay.  "If we don't, more of what caused this will come through.  We have to hold the swamp—"
    That was all they had time for.  Just as Lars was about to continue his sentence, he faded.  Frustration crossed his face before his emotions were lost behind his muzzle and fur. 
    Finn rested his hand upon Lars's powerful shoulder. "We shall hold the border," he promised.  He directed Aein.  "You will need to ride as quickly as possible to Queen Gisla—"
    Aein cut him off.  "You mean you need to ride as quickly as possible to Queen Gisla."
    The silence between them was charged with energy.  Even the birds stopped singing.  Finn turned back to Lars and asked, "Would you give us a minute?"
    The wolf got up quickly, as if he wanted no part of this discussion.  He trotted off towards the camp without pausing to look back.
    When he was out of sight, Finn came back to Aein.  "I cannot leave you here in the swamp," argued Finn.
    "This swamp is a part of the land which I belong," Aein pointed out.  "If a soldier from Lord Arnkell's stronghold shows up here and sees you, he'll kill you.  No questions asked.  It will be a sign of war and end whatever truce, uneasy as it might be, between Queen Gisla and Lord Arnkell.  At least if I stay, there's a chance it might be someone I know and can talk some sense to them."
    "That's not an option—" Finn began.
    But Aein would not give.  She held up her hand and ticked off the points on each of her fingers.  "You are the only one who knew these men and women and you owe it to them to deliver this news to their families.  You're the only one who knows what size an army needs to be brought back.  You're the only one who can organize the troops.  And finally..." Aein glanced away.  A strange lump rose in her throat.  "I cannot lead a war."  She shrugged apologetically.  "If I came across Lord Arnkell marching with a battalion of guards, I do not know if I could tell Queen Gisla's army to attack my old friends.