Page 1 of The Wolf and Her Shadows

Chapter One

Vannaria

Rolling onto my left shoulder, I narrowly escape decapitation as the blade of a large axe sinks several inches into the ground where my head had just been. There’s a brief moment of silence, then a man’s screams pierce the air, drowning out my heavy sigh.

This isn’t at all how I’d been hoping tonight would go. Although I suppose I can’t say I’m entirely surprised by this turn of events either. Rayne does have an unfortunate habit of starting fights, after all. And leaving me to finish them.

Ah, well, I suppose it is fortunate for the fellow at the other end of the axe, however, because if she’d still been in my place just now, he’d likely be losing more than just his eye. Which now has the tip of a small dagger lodged in it. The same one that had fallen out of my boot when he knocked me to the ground a moment ago. Foolish mistake on his part, I’m not a fan of being sprawled out on my back in filthy pissed soaked alleys either. Usually.

While the oaf of a man flails and flutters his hands around his head, attempting to find some way to remove the blade without his eye coming with it, I climb to my feet with a small grunt.

“Would you like me to remove that for you?” I call out, wiping away a bit of dark blood from beneath my nose, courtesy of the man’s fist colliding with my face a few moments ago. “Or would you prefer to do it yourself?”

“Fuck off, ya worthless cunt! Stay the hells away from me!”

“Fair enough.”

With the asshole occupied, I’m able to take my time gathering the contents of our coin purse. Thank the gods for our shadowsight, or I’d likely never be able to locate it all. The details of the start of the fight are hazy, so I’m a bit unsure why all of the belongings we’d had on our person are currently strewn around the dark alleyway we’re in.

Perhaps Rayne had beaten him at a card game? Perhaps he hadn’t taken too kindly to her taking his coin and had foolishly attempted to steal it back? Or perhaps she’d simply thrown them at his head for some reason or another. Honestly, it doesn't truly matter. At least we’re still standing, limbs intact.

This time.

*Rayne, could you please refrain from picking any more fights for a while?* I ask my mental companion, licking away more blood that’s trailed from our nose down to our lips. *This is getting a bit tiring.*

*Nope,* she immediately replies, without a single shred of remorse. *He started it. You should be glad I let you finish it, Vann. Figured you’d appreciate not spending another night in a cell.*

*Hmm. Quite right. Appreciate the courtesy.* My own reply is filled with plenty of sarcasm.

My head snaps in the direction of the main thoroughfare at the sound of several sets of boots headed our way. “Godsdammit.”

Taking quick stock of the area around me, I spot an old barrel at the furthest end of the alley. Whispering yet another curse under my breath, I run towards it and leap, planting one foot on the barrel to propel myself up onto the roof of the seedy tavern we’re meant to spend the night in. My fingertips just barely latch onto the edge of the wooden shingles, and my grunt of pain unfortunately echoes throughout the alley as my boots scramble for purchase on the building’s slick stone wall.

Fairly certain at least one of our ribs might be bruised, if not broken. Luckily, I still manage to drag our battered body up and hopefully out of sight mere moments before a group of city guards come charging into the alley, spears raised.

While the guards question the man we’d left behind, our other mental companion Aren comments, *Well, that certainly was a close one, wasn’t it?*

*You’re right. Too damn close.* I let out a near-audible sigh of relief as they begin escorting the asshole away from the tavern. *We’ve gotten sloppy. Too much time in the forest lately, it seems.*

*Perhaps you’re right. Fortunate, then, that our next bounty is here in this very city, isn’t it?*

I narrow our eyes. *Would’ve been nice to know before being seen out in public.*

*It’s not as if anyone notable would recognize you.*

*Hmm. Fair point. Seems you are good for something after all,* I tease, trying to spot a way into our rented room from the outside.

*Yeah, for being a killjoy,* Rayne remarks, her tone equally mocking.

My accidental snort of laughter is blessedly drowned out by the loud caw of a nearby raven. Seems we were not the only one on this rooftop. Nodding my head at the beast, I carefully make my way to the opposite side of the roof. Due to our mind’s lingering haziness, I’d apparently mistaken the location of our room.

Oh good, Rayne had been even more of a fool and had also left our window wide open. Here’s hoping that no one else has noticed, it would be quite irritating if any of our belongings were stolen.

Grumbling to myself, I begin the treacherous climb down off the roof. Our rope is still in our room, along with the rest of our traveling gear. Rookie mistake, it seems. Next time, we’ll just have to lug it all with us whenever we go anywhere for a quick drink.

*Now now, don’t be so hasty. It was just a quick spat. No reason to start being all paranoid,* Rayne taunts, interrupting my private musing.

*Stay out of my thoughts, Rayne.*