"And that's that tonight," panted Hardan, wiping his swords mechanically of the blood that smirched their keen blades.
In the darkness Ylda's soft hands ran over his arms and chest searching for wounds. His blood ran hot as her soft flesh met his.
"You're untouched!" she cried, unbelieving.
"Had all the advantage," Hardan scoffed. "But if we're here when the sun rises again—we won't be so lucky."
Ylda peered out, her eyes reading the purpose of the three fires. Placed so they effectively ruled out any escape in the darkness, the Drylanders on guard would see instantly any movement atop the rock. Her breath caught in her throat and she clung to Hardan's sweat-damp body.
"We'll try the cave," Hardan told her thickly, very conscious of her intimate nearness. "It may have another entrance higher or beyond the cliff."
Roughly he broke away from the girl and started back into the darkness, his swords probing the gloom. And behind him he heard the girl following. The floor was uneven, rough patches of rock, and so, she stumbled before she had come a dozen paces.
After that her hand clung to his crossed sword-belts as the way climbed gradually higher.
Echoes of their passage grew more distant. The cavern roof and walls must be drawing away on all sides. Hardan licked his dry lips and the parched dryness of his vurth-padded body sapped his strength. They halted for a moment to finish the last of their water bags and munch a tough strip of dried ulfo meat before pushing on.
"We must find water soon," whispered Ylda faintly, "or I am finished."