“Death is inevitable sometimes.”
“You are so contradictory, and I’m done trying to understand why.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t try to. Maybe you won’t like what you learn if you do.”
“I already know that you’re a Veiler, and that’s about the worst thing that there is.”
“Maybe,” he shrugged.
“This entire conversation is pointless and not worth my time.”
He stepped closer.
“Last time I checked, you were directly disobeying orders. Shouldn’t you be in your tent with the others? By the way, smart move having that boy make a run for it as a distraction.”
“Not quite smart enough,” I muttered. “I got caught.”
“Whatwasyour plan? To run off in the middle of the night without food, water, or a blanket?”
“Is that what you think I was doing?” I crossed my arms and glared at him.
“Is it not?”
“No, it wasn’t. I left to find you.”
Rowan stared at me for several moments, trying to decipher whether what I told him was the truth. When he found what he was looking for, he started back toward the camp.
“Follow,” he clipped.
I hurried after him, rushing to keep up with his quick pace.
“Aren’t you going to take my weapon?” I said, clasping the knife tightly at my side.
“How do you expect to fight without one?”
When I didn’t reply, he let out a small sigh and stopped to look at me.
“You won it, so keep it.”
“Aren’t you afraid that I’ll use it?”
“I expect you to.”
Chapter 13
“There will always be deceivers among you.
Heed not the loudest cry, but the truest whisper.”
- The Old Book
When we reached Rowan’s tent, a group of Veilers were standing outside, murmuring and glaring. Rowan didn’t seem to care or pay any mind to the scornful stares, but I was consumed by them.
I rolled my shoulders back and stood as tall as my height would allow. I wasn’t short, but I felt like a mouse standing next to Rowan.
Rowan lifted the tent flap and gestured me inside. Gasps rippled through the crowd. He gave the Veilers a withering glance, and they scurried away.
Once they were gone, he turned to me and asked, “How do your visions work?”
