Kinlear bristled and lifted a dark brow. “A difficult thing, to miss the enormous staircase in the center of the Aviary. One could say nearly impossible for anyone with a decent pair of eyes in their head.”
He adjusted his grip on his cane and stepped forward.
The Ravenminder took a step away...until she heard Zey’s voice again.
She looked utterly trapped, as if she were a deer noticed by a hunter. Her eyes wide, her lips parted as if she might scream for help.
And that gave him pause.
Surely...he hadn’t given herthatmuch to be afraid of? He’d been an ass, yes, for that was just a true talent of his.
But tofear him?
Something dark churned in his gut.
Arawn must have said something to force the reaction in her. It was the only explanation that came to mind.
“I’ve spent my life learning how to read the body language of war eagles,” Kinlear said softly, trying to fix the awkwardness between them. “Communication comes in more ways than just words.” He winked...and then immediately wondered why he was such a godsdamned idiot. He swallowed and forced himself back on track. “They’re quite similar to humans, actually. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out, Ravenminder...you’re afraid.”
She looked like she was going to throw up.
Was he truly that repulsive?
Her eyes widened even more as he reached for his flask. He might as well drink some more, for winterwine was surely the only way to solve this abhorrent moment.
“You needn’t fearme,” Kinlear said, as he watched her with a narrow gaze.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I only came to see the war eagles; I didn’t mean to?—”
And there it was.
His wayin.
“I’m glad you did,” he said suddenly. He lifted his flask and took a long pull. Let her see his secrets. At least it was better than him opening his mouth and saying something stupid all over again. “If you wanted to see the war eagles, Ravenminder... you needed only ask.”
Her eyes widened. “I asked Arawn.”
Kinlear chuckled, even as the mention of his brother’s name, onherlips, irked him. “Ask therightperson, is what I should have said. You chose wrong, if you wanted someone who’s willing to bend a few rules now and then. There are ways around them if you’re clever enough, but my brother is perhaps the most pious Sacred I’ve ever met. Even more than our father, and that’s?—”
No.
The damned cough came up just as she was softening to him, listening to him, the expression on her face no longer quite so afraid.
It was terrible, wet and rasping, and for a moment, he wondered if it was going to stop. Or if this would be yet another episode again. He didn’t want her to know what he was.
A dying man.
A weak thing on the inside.
He didn’t want her to look at him...the way Soraya eventually did. Like he was only a name stamped on a grave.
“Are you... all right?” she asked him.
I’m fine!he wanted to say.I’m not dying at all, not one bit!
Instead, he gave his best lazy grin. “I’m the prince of Lordach. I’m always all right,” Kinlear said, as he settled his breathing. “The dust inside these stalls. It gets to me.”
He could see her relaxing, could picture the way the conversation would go, how he would be able to turn things around...when he suddenly heardArawn’svoice.
