Lake Of Sins: Escape

Chapter 6

IT WAS EARLY AFTERNOON WHEN Trinity slid off Mirra's back. The trip had been fun. They'd stopped several times so Gaar could point out interesting landmarks and tell her the legends behind them.

"Mirra hunt now." The Tracker disappeared into the brush.

"Is this it?" They were still deep in the woods and there was no water in sight, but she wouldn't be surprised if the Lake of Sins was as dry as wheat chaff. Many of the landmarks that Gaar had pointed out had names that didn't make sense, such as the rock wall that she'd bumped into when she was running from the Guards. It was called Harbor Point. It wasn't near water and it certainly wasn't pointy.

"No, but we're close. We'll travel the rest of the way at a slower pace. I don't want to bump into any Guards." He winked at her. "I'd hate to have to kill them."

For a moment she'd forgotten that he was a predator, one who didn't want her around. "Aren't we going to wait for Mirra?"

He dug in his pack. "Nah. She'll catch up later."

It was just like he'd said last night. Mirra wanted to keep her, but he was stuck taking care of her. She'd prove to him that she wasn't a problem. Not because she wanted to stay with him, but because she didn't want to listen to him grumbling about what a burden she was.

He handed her a wad of cloth.

"Thanks." She turned it over in her hands, trying to figure out what she was supposed to do with it.

"Hook one end around your shoulder and the other one around your waist." He snatched it from her when she got it tangled. "You're right handed, so lift your left arm."

He looped it over her shoulder and then tied part around her waist. He reached in his pack and pulled out a knife inside a sheath. He slipped the cloth through a loop on the sheath, tightening the contraption. When he was done, the knife was secured firmly under her left arm, with easy access to the handle.

She touched the cloth that was wrapped around her shoulder. It was soft and newly stitched. It fit her perfectly. She ducked her head to hide her tears. No one, besides her parents, had ever given her anything. Maybe, he didn't really dislike her. "Thank you."

He flung his pack over his shoulders and readjusted the quiver on his back. "It's more for me than you. Mirra is always a pain to manage after something happens to one of her pets and I can't watch you every minute." He turned and headed into the brush.

That took some of the joy out of the gift, but it was still kind of cool. She gripped the knife handle and caught up with him. "I don't know how to use this. We aren't allowed to have any type of weapon."

"Lessons start now." He spun around and grabbed her by the throat. "Don't just gawk at me, defend yourself. Use the knife."

His grip wasn't tight, but her heart thumped in her ears. She reached for the knife and he grabbed her arm.

"You're dead." He dropped his hold and started walking again. "You're going to have to be a lot quicker if you want to survive."

She stared after him, eyes narrowing. He was such a jerk. She didn't know anything about this stuff. What did he expect from her? "If you hate having me around, just point me in the right direction. I'll be happy to leave."

He stopped and faced her. "I told you, Mirra wants you."

"I thought you were the Handler."

He laughed. "I learned a long time ago that to be a good Handler, you have to let most things go. Only fight for the important stuff."