“So don’t lie to me.” I lowered the tenor of my voice, an attempt to sound threatening.
“I’m not lying. Two things can be true at once.”
His group wants power, but he doesn’t. “So why join them?”
“I have my reasons.” Judging by his vague neutrality, I knew he wouldn’t comment further. Being the one with the poised weapon, I could insist he divulge the answer, but I had more important questions.
My next inclination was to probe him about his magic, but I decided against it. Didn’t want to spark a reminder of the power he could wield against me if he chose on the off chance his pain had distracted him from that possibility. If he was leading me into a trap, he probably already calculated where along this route he would make his move. It wasn’t lost on me that he held all the cards in this exchange. This outpost could have dozens of their people stationed around the perimeter like we had at Rahana. It was possible the nearest outpost was actually their settlement, and therefore, he’d walk me right into the lion’s den.
I’d already been preparing for that. I paid equal attention to the forest around us, watching for movement or glare off weapons. If that was his plan, he wouldn’t get away with it. I’d note when his body language changed. Once he knew I was behind enemy lines, he’d show it. My gut told me we were far from that point, considering he’d claimed his allies would walk for hours.
Worry grew and festered under my skin. Our pace was consistent, but slow, and I had no idea how long Alba had. My best bet was to get this man to talk. People often revealed information unintentionally if they’re forced to keep a conversation.
“So, what’s your name?” I asked, breaking the silence of our walk. I let my bow and arrow hang lazily before me, but it remained ready to use in an instant.
“Dae,” he said without hesitation.
I snickered. “Like the Sun God?”
“Yeah,” he replied with no hint of humor or boasting.
Chances were, it was a self-imposed moniker. Only someone with swagger and arrogance to spare would title themselves as such. Windguard more heavily favored the gods than Highcrest, probably a result of living under a murderous tyrant who centered such beings, often comparing himself to them.
Clinging to hope and faith became essential for people when the brutality of life became too much. It’s not like Dae’s parents would have known he’d mature into a gorgeous man whose beauty could easily rival a god’s. Even as I’d pointed my weapon over him, his beauty hadn’t been lost on me. On any other occasion, like spotting him at a tavern or at the market, I probably would have gawked.
His rich brown skin warmed the rugged features of his face, and those dark eyes were vacant of fear when they’d looked at me…
Okay, named himself after a god. Most likely Windguard born, then. Well, if he wanted to play with our rich history, then I would win.
“Call me Zyanna.” I scoffed under my breath.
For the first time since we started walking, he paused and glanced at me over his shoulder. My arrow was positioned at his heart before he finished moving.
“You’re named after the Sky Goddess?”
“No.” I offered a feral smile. “But she was the one who put an end to the Sun God, so, just thought you’d do well to associate me with her.”
Tearing his gaze away, he looked northward again, but I could have sworn an amused grin flashed on his face before he did. “Noted.” He resumed his limping strides, no attempt made to fight. “So you know the history of the gods?”
Well shit. I’d fallen for the trap I’d laid for him, revealing my knowledge and association with Windguard. “Some,” I lied. The subject was taught to Windguardian children in their youth. Nottotally a foreign subject though, so it’d be believable that I could have learned it elsewhere.
A memory caressed the edges of my mind, of my mother and father telling Tula and me bedtime stories about the gods and goddesses. I hadn’t thought about that in a really long time. The backs of my eyes burned with the promise of tears, but none came.
My attention shifted to just how dry my mouth and throat were, and I recalled how desperately I needed water. I was in worse shape than I thought if I couldn’t even produce a tear. Running on pure adrenaline, I forced myself to theorize all the ways this could end badly for me. Nothing like the fear of looming death to keep the senses sharp.
“Better make sure we don’t come across any snakes, then,” he spoke, and through the fog of thoughts in my mind, I became confused.
“Huh?”
A light but deep rumbling chuckle escaped him. “Snakes. Like the one Hypiphony, Goddess of Nature, sent after Zyanna after she killed her love, the Sun God?”
I couldn’t help the laugh that slipped from my lips. I’d meant to display dominance with my quip, but he countered my attack. Imagine taking down the God of the Sun only to be brought down by a snake.
Never underestimate your opponent. A lesson for Zyannaandme, apparently.
“Though, if we do run into any snakes, I think you’re going to have to protect me.” He motioned to his bum leg.
He’d been fairly stern and serious during our interaction so far. Was he…joking with me? A fire heated in my belly, and before I let my better judgment assess my response, I said, “But what if it’s hungry?”
