There it is. The anger I’ve been looking for. The outburst.
“Just what exactly are you two doing?”
I hadn’t realized that one of the men didn’t return inside with the others. I do a double take when I recognize him and his blue robes.
It’s that scholar from the restaurant. What was his name?
“Petrik,” I say.
“Hello again!”
“None of your business,” Temra says in answer to his question.
“Can I be of further assistance?” he asks, undaunted by her tone.
“We’re fine.” Temra finds some rope from the stables and starts attaching Kellyn to the saddle. Wordlessly, I assist.
Petrik disappears back into the tavern at a run, but I don’t spare him another glance.
It’s only when Kellyn’s secure and we’re headed out of town that I say, “I’m sorry. For everything. For—”
“No. I used your own insecurities against you. I’m sorry. I needed you to go along with the plan. We’re taking Kellyn. And you have nothing to be worried about between us. I love you. This isn’t your fault. But we have to go, and we have to take him. Now let’s be off.”
She can be quite bossy.
Sometimes I forget who’s the older sister.
CHAPTER
SEVEN
The irony of the situation is not lost on me. We carry an all-powerful weapon, yet we’re running for our lives.
The broadsword might as well be useless to us. What are we supposed to do? Use it against Kymora before she’s committed any crimes?
And with my sister and me traveling together, we can’t even wield it in our defense. The sword has too long of a reach. It would be far too easy for me to slice Temra by mistake while I was trying to protect her. Such a weapon takes practice to master.
Not to mention the fact that I don’t want to kill anyone.
And Secret Eater is not the kind of weapon that injures only.
It’s a killer. Plain and simple.
Of course, all my weapons have the potential to kill. I knew this as I was making them. But how could I have foreseen that someone would want to use one for world dominance? Kymora is well-respected. She and the late king parted on good terms. There’s no way I could have predicted this would happen when I agreed to make her weapon.
These thoughts buzz in my mind as we lead Reya down the road at a trot, Temra and I jogging beside her. It’s a good thing we’re both in good physical condition, else I don’t know how we’d manage to escape. We try to be as silent as possible, but the road consists of dirt and rock, and Reya’s shoes clap against the stones.
Fir trees line the road, and I imagine large eyes staring at us, just waiting to pounce.
As if I needed that on top of worrying about whether or not we’re sufficiently outdistancing Kymora.
Oh, and her personal army.
“Wait up!” a voice calls out, and I nearly jump out of my skin. A single figure strides down the road. Both moons are out tonight, and they shine on the swishing dark robes.
Reya throws back her head at the unexpected newcomer, and Temra is all forced smiles.
“Petrik,” she says. “What are you doing here? And why do you look like you’re ready to go on a long journey?”
He hoists the backpack higher up on his shoulders. “I happened upon two girls fleeing in the dead of night. I can’t, in good conscience, let you go off alone. Let me escort you, whatever your destination.”
Temra flicks what is left of her hair over a shoulder, not that the new length comes even close to reaching it. “And maybe Ziva will want to talk about her magical abilities along the way?” She says it like an accusation.
“That would indeed be a happy bonus.”
“You’re unbelievable!” I say to him.
“I just want to help, and I won’t be a burden. I have my own food and travel supplies. Also, I bribed the tavern owner to let me into the mercenary’s room so I could gather his belongings, since I noted you two were busy with other things.”
Temra and I share a look. We hadn’t even thought to grab Kellyn’s possessions before taking him.
Temra looks the scholar up and down. “Are you hiding a weapon in there somewhere?”
“No,” he says, puzzled.
“Do you know how to use a weapon?” she asks.
“No.”
“Are you skilled in hand-to-hand combat?”
“Um, no.”
“Then how exactly are you going to help us?”
“We can help each other! Another body on the road never hurts to deter bandits, and you could help me with my book.”