Wolfsbane Winter Read Online Free Page B

it was. Arriving on the island without weapons or armor was not going to work in their favor.
    The sun was setting and the pine-clad hills overlooking the lake were fading into the dusk. Deryn chewed her lip. Creeping across when it was dark looked to be the best bet, and the outlaws had apparently reached the same conclusion. While she had been watching, they had collected a sizeable woodpile, sufficient to keep a bonfire going through the darkest hours of the night.
    The picture of the burning tree again slipped into Deryn’s head, taunting her. How many sunrays had the demon wand been able to trap that afternoon? Could it hold them prisoner until morning, and how much damage could they do when unleashed? How much would being struck by a fireball hurt?
    A branch snapped uphill, some way behind her, accompanied by the rustle of leaves. Someone was approaching, although they were still a good thirty feet away, too far to stand any chance of spotting her, hidden in the bushes. Then a hand landed on her shoulder. Deryn’s heart leapt, even as she recognized the touch. But who else could have gotten so close without her noticing?
    Brise crouched beside her. “How’s it going?”
    “Okay.” Deryn hoped her voice did not give away how startled she had been.
    “Any sign of them getting ready for an attack on the mine?”
    “No. They’ve had supper and settled down for the night, except the two on watch.”
    “Two.” Brise repeated the number as if it was significant and the corners of her mouth twitched down in a fleeting grimace.
    “What is it? Does it affect our plans?”
    “No. We couldn’t have risked me going alone anyway.”
    “Wha…” Deryn swallowed the question. Brise had already slipped away. Not that it mattered. As an apprentice scout, Deryn would be told what she needed to know, when she needed to know it. Brise would decide on the when and what without being asked.
    A few seconds later, Deryn again heard the sound of someone approaching—someone who was very definitely not any sort of scout. Judging by the noise, a couple of oxen might be heading her way.
    Brise ducked back under the bush, with one of the miners at her side. “Paz is going to take over here.” She turned to the miner. “You’re sure you know what to do?”
    Paz looked nervous but determined. “If I spot the outlaws moving, I run like fuck until I’m near enough for you to hear when I blow this whistle.”
    “That’ll do.” Brise patted his shoulder and then nodded at Deryn. “You come with me.”
    A crease formed the shape of a V between Brise’s eyebrows and her lower lip protruded slightly. Both were signs that she was not happy. Deryn kept her own mouth tightly sealed. Disguising her own excitement would be impossible if she said anything, and it was never wise to antagonize her foster mother.
    The situation was not hard to read. Deryn knew the senior Iron Wolves had been working out their strategy. She also knew Brise would have wanted to keep her well away from any danger. This was surely the main reason why she had been dumped on lookout duty, with the original instructions that she would be there until midnight. The change in plan implied that the desperate situation had not allowed Brise the option of shielding Deryn from an active part in the battle.
    The day was fading fast. The forest was in its evening transition as the daytime animals sought their nests and burrows while the nocturnal ones stirred. Scents and sounds changed along with the light. Deryn tried to copy Brise’s silent movements, keeping all her senses alert to her surroundings. It would be stupid to worry so much about the outlaws that they walked slap into a bear.
    The entrance to the mine was in sight before Brise spoke. “We’re going to hit the outlaws as soon as it’s light enough to see where we’re sticking our swords. Hopefully it will mean we can catch them by surprise, while they’re still asleep.” She glanced Deryn’s way.