Free Emergence (Book 2) by K.L. Schwengel

inspected the creature. Its finely tapered muzzle had frozen in a snarl as it died, lips pulled back over yellowed fangs. Bolin flicked an ear with his finger and it flopped over, bent like a hound's. Not like any neerwolf he'd ever seen.
    He glanced up at Garek. "You've not run into these before tonight?"
    Garek shook his head, his red hair framing his face like a mane. "Not a lick of trouble till now. Could feel it edgin' up on us though. Seemed closer we drew to Galys Auld, the stronger the itch on the back of my neck."
    "So you had a night watch?"
    "Oh, aye." He bobbed his head toward the dead man. "That'd be him. He gave the warning right b'fore he lost his throat."
    Bolin stood and sheathed his sword. "Leave the carcasses."
    He didn't miss the quick flick of the soldiers' eyes to Garek before they complied. In their defense, Bolin didn't wear anything that suggested rank or even allegiance. He could have been a mercenary for all they knew.
    "Galys Auld's a full day's ride , and I'd just as soon be there before dark."
    "Berk." Bolin winced at Garek's bellow. Pity the recruits who had to bear the brunt of that voice. "Do we have all the horses?"
    "Aye, sir."
    Garek looked toward the wounded soldier, being helped to his feet. "Dafyd, can you ride?"
    The man looked pale, but lucid. "Aye, sir. And use my sword if need be."
    "Good man. Then mount up, gentlemen, we've got ground to cover."
    "What of Kort?"
    "Put him on a horse. We'll not leave him here for the scavengers."
    Two of the soldiers wrapped their fallen comrade in a cloak and tied his body over one of the horses. Bolin whistled and Sandeen trotted over, not taking any care to avoid stepping on wolf carcasses. Garek chuckled as Bolin swung into the saddle.
    "I'd not want to be on the bad side of that beast," Garek said. "Never seen a horse so keen for a fight in all my days."
    He heaved his bulk onto the poor mount fated to carry him and they headed out, Bolin and Garek in the lead, the rest of the guard riding two abreast behind them. Bolin recognized only two of the soldiers in the escort. Sully had been under Garek's command for over a decade. From the insignia on his uniform, he'd worked his way up to lieutenant. Deservingly so, no doubt. Garek wouldn't have him otherwise.
    He knew Berk as well. His father had served with Bolin for too many years to track. A man of honor and courage whose charm and even temperament had made him th e perfect choice to act as Imperial Ambassador to Lord Verrun of the Reaches. Bolin could only hope Berk took after his sire in more than just looks because the rest of the group looked to be fresh in the ranks.
    By the time the sun cleared the horizon, they were several leagues closer to Galys Auld. They had kept a steady pace as Bolin led them by trails few knew. At times the track narrowed, forcing them to ride single file. At a point where it widened into a broad expanse of grass Sully pushed his horse up next to Bolin .
    "Your pardon, General," he said, with a dip of his head. "I'm wondering if we could call a short halt. We've been pressing the pace and Dafyd's looking a bit pale."
    Bolin glanced over his shoulder, then nodded. "We'll stop just up the way."
    He called a halt once they were back under cover of the trees, and rode down the line to where Berk and another soldier were helping Dafyd off his horse. The man protested weakly as they lowered him to the ground. He looked pale as a summer cloud and nearly as transparent, his face covered with a fine sheen of perspiration , and his dark eyes burning bright with fever. The bandages that crossed his ribs were bled through. If his wound proved to be anything like the messenger's, the Galysian elders would have his head when he brought the escort across the border.
    Garek rode up beside him. "Do those wolves hunt during the day?"
    "I'd say no if I thought they were neerwolves," Bolin said. He sniffed, shifting in the saddle to look around. The hairs on his arm prickled, and he had