A soft chuckle escaped Alexandru. His shoulder jerked up, trying to push away whatever was tickling his ear. It disappeared for a moment, before returning. This time it felt like someone was sticking a warm, damp washcloth into his ear. A shudder ran through him and his eyes popped open.
Turning his head, he found himself now nose-to-nose with one of the animals he had awoken to yesterday. A look of distaste crossed his face when the wolfhound ran its tongue up his chin to his nose. Alexandru’s hands instinctively rose to push the animal away.
It scooted back and sat down. Alexandru sat up and looked around him. There was only the one wolfhound. The woman and the other two were gone. The small remnants of a fire burned low in a circle of rocks. Next to him was a cloth-covered bag.
“It i
