7
AftermathGaidel was tired of walking but knew she had to push on. Her legs ached with the effort of pulling them through the thigh deep water. They should have been resting by now, but she needed to put as much distance as possible between them and where they fought the swamp cats. What other troubles had the noise of battle attracted?
She looked back at Riff. He was trudging along stoically. He must have felt he was being watched because he looked up from his efforts and gave her a quick smile and a wink, even though the strain of keeping pace was plain on his face.
She turned before he could see her face redden. How the man infuriated her! He had turned that fire of his on three of the swamp cats before the others finally broke off their attack. The smell of burnt hair still clung
