Treasures of Fantasy - Margaret Weis [108]
They could travel only as fast as the litter-bearers could walk the streets, and they went slowly and cautiously. The streets were paved with large, fitted stones laid over a layer of rock, and although the roads were kept in good condition, sometimes a stone would crack or shift, causing the unwary pedestrian to stumble. No slave wanted to bring down the wrath of Acronis by tripping and dropping Chloe’s litter.
They were deep in the heart of the city when Skylan became aware that they were being followed. He hadn’t been certain at first. It was hard to hear the sounds of running feet over the tromp of the soldiers, the jingling and clanking of their armor, and the horses’ hooves ringing on the stone. He’d first heard the sounds soon after they left the palace, and though the feet stopped sometimes, they always kept coming.
Skylan looked around to see if anyone else had heard. Acronis was riding with his head bowed, deep in thought, probably mulling over the news from the Priest-General and wondering how he could defend a city that, in Skylan’s view, was indefensible. Keeper plodded along at the horse’s side, shaking his head groggily, trying to stay awake. Ogres required a lot of sleep and he was not used to staying up late. Neither Zahakis nor the soldiers gave any sign that they noticed anything out of the ordinary.
Skylan continued to hear the footfalls, and he began to keep a lookout, hoping to catch sight of this person who was taking such an interest in them. Skylan was more curious than concerned. A single person would hardly attack well-armed, well-trained soldiers.
He heard the footfalls coming from side streets, moving parallel to them. The times he couldn’t hear them, he came to realize the person was taking a circuitous route or circling around a building, yet always coming back to find them again.
The procession was coming up on the intersection of two major thoroughfares. Both streets were wide and Skylan calculated the person dogging their steps would have to move out into the open. He watched closely, hoping their pursuer would be near enough to be seen in the torchlight.
To Skylan’s surprise, the person not only drew near; he jumped deliberately into the torchlight, becoming a head of shaggy hair, a thin body, eyes that flared yellow-red, and a frantically waving hand.
“Wulfe!” Skylan cried, and ran after him.
Seeing Skylan suddenly flee into the night, Zahakis shouted orders. He left two men with the litter while he and two other soldiers dashed after Skylan. Acronis reined in his horse and shook his head over the young firebrand, who was apparently making a bid for freedom. The slaves bearing the litter came to a halt that jolted the occupant. Chloe woke up with a start. She was confused, with no idea where she was. She called for Rosa, who was too terrified to answer.
Skylan had a jump on the soldiers and he reached Wulfe before Zahakis managed to reach him. Skylan didn’t know whether to hug the boy or punch him for having caused him so much worry. Before he could do either, Wulfe grabbed hold of Skylan’s arm with pinching fingers.
“They’re coming for you!” Wulfe cried shrilly. “They’re coming!”
Skylan was opening his mouth to ask who was coming when he saw.
Wolves, the largest wolves he’d ever seen—the size of mountain lions. And these wolves were not only the largest, they were the strangest and most terrifying. Their fur was dark, blending in with the shadows. Their eyes burned with a fiery yellow-red glow that lit the alley. Their tongues lolled, their fangs gleamed. Saliva flew from their mouths. The wolves were grinning with the joy of the hunt.
Skylan caught hold of Wulfe around the waist and turned and almost ran headlong into Zahakis and the two soldiers. Due to a slight curve in the road, they could not see what was coming.
The soldiers latched hold