“What?” Iver asked in mock surprise.
“Both you and Edda burrow under his skin to no end. You are both lucky to still have your heads attached to your necks.”
Iver’s teeth flashed with a smile. “He could never hope to separate my head from the rest of my beautiful body.”
I smashed my hand on my forehead, knowing Kole likely heard everything and was fuming even more. Iver chuckled. The sound grew quieter until all we heard were the distant crickets and the periodic breeze sweeping through blades of grass and rustling the leaves still attached to the trees. Slowly, I drifted off to sleep. Thankfully, it was void of dreams.
The gentle and distant sound of bickering eased me out of sleep. Edda and Kole were back at it, with Edda driving the oversized Lysian mad without care. Was it time to get up already?
“Ariana,” Erik’s voice from nearby forced my heavy eyelids to finally open.
He was crouched down in the grass beside me.
“Oh.” I sat straight up, which was challenging with how the blanket wrapped thoroughly around me. “Hi.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say.
He smiled. “It’s time to go.”
“Okay.”
“If you’re feeling well, then you may ride on your own. Kole will be fine riding with Edda.”
I glanced behind Erik to Kole. His shoulders tensed. Even fromthat distance, it was clear. Though he did not look at us, I knew he likely was listening.
“No, it’s fine. I’d like to finish this trip with you if that’s alright,” I said to Erik, but caught the easing of Kole’s shoulders in the background. He wasdefinitelylistening.
I also needed them to find comfort in Edda riding on her own. So this was good exposure for her.
“Very well.” His lips inched up at the corners. Erik rose to his full height and walked over to his brother, who was fast asleep a few feet from me. He nudged Iver’s side with his foot once. When Iver did not stir awake, Erik nudged him again, harder that time.
Iver growled. “Bloody ashes. What is the matter with you?”
“It’s time to go,” Erik stated, voice void of warmth.
Iver groaned, sounding like he was speaking without opening his mouth. It was unintelligible.
Erik sighed, head tilted to the sky, eyes closing as if saying a prayer to the Spirit. The way the sun glistened against his dark hair, it was as if the edges had an ethereal golden glow. “If you’re not up and saddled by the time everyone else is ready, then we will leave you here,” he warned as he stalked away to join the other Lysians.
I quickly rose, smoothed out my clothing, folded the blanket, gathered the pillow, and was ready to go while Iver still lay motionless on the ground. The other Lysians were nearly finished deconstructing and putting away the tent. Half the horses were already saddled and ready to go.
“Hey, Iver. We need to go,” I urged, but he did not move. Had he fallen back asleep? “Iver!” I contemplated physically waking him but did not want to startle a Lysian with predator instincts, so I kept a safe distance and chucked my pillow at his face. When he did not move, I turned towards the others.
Two steps later, I was shoved forward by something soft,thrown with force. At my feet was a pillow. I twisted around, yet Iver still lay on the ground as if he had not moved a single muscle.
Picking up the pillow, I chucked it at him once more.
He did not react.
I took a cautious step backward. Nothing. Four more steps and still nothing. He remained still as the dead. Turning, I made it a couple of feet before the wind was nearly knocked out of me, and I dropped the blanket I was holding. Never had I thought a pillow could have such strength, though never had I seen it thrown by a Lysian before.
I spun around, but he was gone.
“It isn’t nice to attack someone while they sleep.” Iver’s voice came from behind me.
With a sharp but silent inhale, I spun again, meeting his gray eyes with my own. He stood right behind me and holding the blanket I dropped. It was alarming how silently he moved and at such speed. It almost seemed like magic. Was it a conjuring ability of some sort? The thought made my throat tighten.
“I was just making sure you didn’t get left behind.” I stepped around him, shaking off my surprise and leaving him holding the blanket. Iver trailed me with a smile as we joined the others.
32
