Chapter Eleven
Aleks traps us a hare and I don’t make any faces about Runa getting the most meat. We ride until high-day before the hot springs are reached. No danger dares touch us. It skulks in the trees, peevishly watching us as we make swift progress with ice-spikes fitted to our horse’s hooves. It is as if all the evils of the place can feel the excited energy coming off me. They wouldn’t stand a chance!
There is no cover of trees around the hot pools, just black rocks thrusting up from the barren surround of grass and snow. We cannot safely all go in at once, that is for sure. Runa is shy to strip with Aleks present—that’s down to her stupid God of the Cross. I’m almost eager to flaunt myself in front of him. Anyway, he decides: I am look-out for Runa; she for me; Aleks can look ou
