Chapter 14: Phantom Step
'Come on, Velren—think... think!'
His mind raced as he crouched lower behind the underbrush, flickering his gaze between the rocky shelter and the lone guard outside. Recklessness would only get him killed. He needed a plan... and fast.
'What should I do...?'
The most obvious solution came immediately: Find Sköll. Get help.
But as soon as the thought formed, Velren clenched his jaw. No. That wasn't a good idea. Not now.
First of all, backtracking through the forest would cost time—too much of it. By the time he retraced his steps and found Sköll, let alone explained the situation, those mercenaries might've already vanished—or worse—carried out their threat. An hour. That's all the time they'd given themselves before killing the girl. Velren doubted he could even make it halfway back in that window, let alone return here with backup.
Second... what if Sköll was still fighting the other mercenaries? Interrupting that fight could put both of them at risk. If things went south, they'd end up dead—and the girl with them. As for Fenrir? Sure, the one-eyed wolf was powerful, but tracking him down in this sprawling forest was like searching for a needle in a haystack—one that could bite you if you weren't careful.
He squeezed his eyes shut, raking a hand through his hair.
Rushing in headfirst was suicide. Going back for help would take too long. So what did that leave him with?
Velren's mind raced.
Maybe... his Ka?