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“Wait! Where ye headed?”
Autumn was going to hate me. “We are searching for Mondu.”
The dwarf stared blankly at me for a moment. His long beard had braids and beads, and his eyes were a pale brown. I couldn’t gauge his age because dwarves' features were different. He was brawny and fought well. Not a terrible choice to accompany us. Aside from the sexist remarks, of course. However, Autumn could knock sense into him. It would do the dwarf some good.
“Ye searchin’ ferMondu?“ He raised a bushy brow. “Why?”
“It’s a rather long story.”
“But ye nah dwarves.”
“No fucking shit,” Autumn muttered, and my lips kicked up, and I noticed the dwarf’s did too. Thiscouldwork.
“We’re looking for a dwarven stronghold to get answers about Mondu. Do you know of it?”
“I’m a dwarf, aren' I? Of course, I know of it!”
“Could you take us there?” I didn’t spare a glance at Autumn, but I heard her annoyed huff. She said nothing against my request, though. She knew this might be our only chance to find a dwarf.
Another howl slewed the darkness, shivering against my spine. This howl sounded much closer.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here, shall we?”
The dwarf glanced between us, then gave a curt nod. “Follow me.”
Autumn rolled her eyes, but she followed him regardless.
We made it only ten yards before six wolves stepped from the thread of shadow around us. It was as if the others were the scouts sent to check out threats because these guys were thefighters. Silvery scars littered their hides, ears were closer to their scalp, and their frames were more bulk and muscle.
I took a quick breath as the others readied their weapons.
“Maybe the lady should—”
Autumn made a very unladylike sound, but it suited the fierce set of her features, the tenseness of her stance. “I assure you; I know how to use this bow and sword easily and have no issue taking off your head or sending an arrow through your neck. You’ve not shown us howyoucan be useful on this journey. You’ve been a giant pain in the ass so far.”
“Well, then. I s’pose I’ll jus’ shut me mouth and let ye womanly prowess prove me wrong.”
“What a fantastic idea.”
The dwarf seemed surprised by her answer and twirled the dark golden ax in his hands as he stared at her. Then a slow grin spread over his mouth, which Autumn answered. My lips kicked up at the glimmer of challenge between them.
A tense howl cut through the night, echoing in the overgrown forest. Another howl, far closer than I was comfortable with, answered. The wolves had cornered their prey, and they were joyous.
I heard Autumn suck a lungful of air and slowly release it. She grabbed an arrow from her worn quiver. I copied her breathing and flexed my fingers on my sword hilt. Its glow was ominous against the darkness.
Four more wolves stepped in at the back of the group.
We were severely outnumbered. I clenched my sword and bent my arms, readying for battle.
The dwarf glanced at us. He looked formidable despite his size, and that battle-ax was indeed an epic piece of weaponry. Autumn was her calm self, already down on one knee with her arrow aimed at her target. I swung my sword again, twisting my fingers and grip on the blade to loosen up more muscles.
“Ready,” I said between my teeth. For Autumn, to synchronize our timing, she gave me a terse nod.
“Fire.”
She did. Repeatedly. She was giving us a good advantage. With her unmatchable archery skill, Autumn felled four wolves in a matter of seconds. If she had not already awed me, this would have done it.
Autumn fired at a fifth wolf, and her arrow caught it on the shoulder before she disregarded her bow. She stood quickly and drew her short sword. The dwarf gave her a cursory, appraising glance that made me smirk. Autumn had redeemed all human women in the eyes of the dwarf with those shots.
