Heartless

Chapter 24 - Part 32

I'm baaaaaaaaack with another chapter for you amazing readers! Enjoy, and ask any questions you have on my book, Shadow Explains, or just ask them on my Ask the Author page.

Shadow

'KARLIAH! MOVE!'

We began to run, I was treading lightly over the top of the snow, tugging Karliah along by her hand, and planning out our route as we went. The nearest town was Winterhold, but the guild would have free reign there, so I changed course and started the journey to Windhelm.

Breathing heavily, we dashed through the snow, racing towards the mountains beside us so we could hide inside a cave system if we needed to do so. I might even be able to cause an avalanche in our wake.

One of my ears angled backwards, I picked up the panting of dogs and the crunching of snow as the guild pursued us clumsily. Cursing, I picked up the pace a bit. If we were caught by the dogs, Karliah would be torn to death before I could help.

'Can't .... go much... further...' Karliah wheezed.

'Well you have to, because there are dogs back there that will tear you to shreds.'

Karliah yelped and tried to run faster through the thick snow. I spotted a dangerous route up the mountain that would stop the guild from following.

'Karliah, you know how to climb smooth rock?'

'Y-yeah.'

'Put your fingers in the dents that I create, and your feet where I put mine. Flatten yourself to the rock face and don't look down.' I ordered.

The dark elf nodded determinedly as I unsheathed my claws and sank them into the solid rock in front of me, feeling the cold stone react weirdly as I made contact with it. Looking up, I found my first foothold, and began to lead my dark elf friend up the mountain face, making sure I sank my claws into the new rock deep enough for Karliah to slip her fingers into as fingerholds.

Several times we stopped to catch our breath, but the guild didn't let up the chase. They were taking a much longer route to the top of the mountain, but that wasn't where I was off to. We kept climbing until we reached a cave near the peak of the mountain but just off the road, the only signs of inhabitants were obvious signs of hagravens, at which I groaned but dragged Karliah in anyway.

'What in oblivion are you doing?! There are HAGRAVENS in here!' Snapped Karliah, whose lips were too pale for my liking.

'Exactly my point. They're scared of silver, and I just happen to have a silver dagger on me. We'll use them as cover since Mercer won't be strong enough to take all four of them down.'

'There's four of them? Also, have you seen Mercer? He's more than capable.'

'Yes, four. Karliah, I was to be married to Mercer before I fled the guild. He's a weakling.'

'Oof.'

'Shut up.'

A familiar hagraven turned the corner, and engulfed me in a hug.

'Willow!'