His brow lowers. “Why?”
“To rendezvous with the human boy we caught. From the spying band.” His expression hardens, and I rush to add, “Just for information. He’s very secretive about his township. Azmar, there’s a half trollis like Perg there.”
His brow releases, and he looks away in thought.
“I can’t go alone.” My pulse races as I gather courage, and I reach for Azmar’s hand, clasping it in mine. His gaze immediately falls to our entwined fingers.
“If you take me . . .” I’m so quiet I can barely hear myself. “I’ll tell you what you want to know.”
His eyes widen. He studies me, and I try not to flush under the scrutiny. One breath, two, and his hand tightens around mine.
“I’ll take you.”
Chapter 17
We set our rendezvous for evening, when it’s harder to be seen, so between the south dock and my shift with Unach, I work relentlessly, dispelling any possibility of her suspicion. After dinner, I make my way up toward the farming walls, where Azmar said he would meet me. I find him easily, and he takes me up to the bridge, tipping his head once to Homper as we go.
No one questions him. They are Deccor, and he is Centra.
I breathe deeply as we step out into the fresh air, the sun nearly set. It paints the sky with swaths of orange and pink, casting long blue shadows across the dry ground, coloring the bridge pastel and deepening the blackness of the canyon.
I walk behind Azmar, the picture of the obedient servant. He even has his toolbelt and pack with him, making him look every bit the engineer on duty. When we reach the skeletal forest, I walk beside him for a few minutes, then I step in front, blocking his path.
“You need to wait here,” I say.
He doesn’t even hesitate. “No.”
“I promised I would go alone.” I look up at him, pleading. “They might have a half trollis in their township, but they’re afraid of you, and I have to keep my word. I don’t think he’ll hurt me.”
He frowns. “They have before, Lark.”
He means Colson and the other humans in Cagmar. Shaking my head, I put my hand on his wrist and repeat, “He won’t hurt me. He’s supposed to be alone, too.”
“And if he’s not?”
I smile at his protectiveness. I’m still unused to having someone worry over me. Defend me. “Azmar, I’ve been honest with you. Just trust me.”
His jaw works, but he nods. “Quarter hour.”
I roll my eyes. “You are not my nursemaid.” I turn and head through the trees, but then I stop. “Only come for me if I scream.”
Azmar’s expression darkens, but he acquiesces, and I am undone by his trust. So I put my arms around myself, holding my pieces together, and hurry through the wood. I don’t want to miss Tayler.
He isn’t there when I arrive at the boulder that marked the spot where we’d caught up to him and his friends. Nervous, I search the forest behind me. No sign of Azmar, and no sign of any predators—it’s too difficult for them to survive here.
I wait another ten minutes or so, standing on the boulder so Tayler will see me. If he doesn’t come . . . I could leave a note, but what if someone else finds it? I’ve no idea how far off Tayler’s township is. It might not be easy travel, if he even planned to return. And I hope he returns. Tayler is hope, hope that there are more of my kind out there who might accept me for what I am, like Ritha does. If this township welcomes Baten, if he belongs and has a family . . . maybe they could spare some acceptance for me, too.
I murmur a silent prayer to the stars. As if in answer, they begin dotting the sky. Minutes later, a narrow shadow moves toward me from the east—too small to be a trollis. Stepping off the rock, I call out, “Tayler?”
The shadow takes a few more steps before snapping, “Keep it down.”
Relief cools me as I recognize his voice. He came.
He stops about four paces from me, hands shoved into his pockets. His attire differs this time—it’s darker and closer to the skin. He’s about two inches shorter than I am.
“I’m glad you came,” I say.
He shrugs, not meeting my eyes. “You spared me. I’m honor bound.”
I’ve never heard a human say such a thing. Many in the past didn’t care if I used my abilities to save their lives. “The trollis wouldn’t have killed you.” Though I cannot speak for Homper.
Tayler scoffs.
“I heard the rest of your band escaped?”