“Last night I didn’t need it. I had it covered.”
That was a lie. Something miraculous had occurred, and if it hadn’t, then I would be dead.
“I know you did.” He paused, tone skeptical. “Lorena trapped some rabbits this morning. It’s not much, but even the smallest amount of sustenance can mean the difference between life and death. You need to eat, so come.”
My stomach must have heard his words, because it chose right then to speak. I reluctantly stood, and he followed me back to the camp.
This wasn’t the end of our conversation.
Chapter 15
“Anam reaps every soul.
If one goes missing, He will find it.”
- The Old Book
We had been riding for several hours, and all I wanted was to rest.
I had barely slept last night because of the battle.
I was scared to rest while on horseback. There was no rope tethering me anymore, and I didn’t want to fall off. That, and the first time I did, I woke up with my head on Rowan’s chest. That was not something I wanted to repeat.
“Are you still angry?” Rowan asked since I had been pointedly ignoring him.
“Yes.”
He let out a disgruntled sigh.
“If I let you ask me a question, will you speak? I don’t enjoy traveling in tense silence.”
I contemplated being spiteful, but I did have something I was curious about.
“She calls you by your first name,” I said.
“Who?”
“Renata. She calls you Rowan, not by your title or bysir.”
“That’s not a question.”
“Why can she do it, but the others can’t?”
“Renata has been in the Order much longer than I have. She’s earned it.”
“How much longer?”
They both seemed to be the same age. A number I still hadn’t learned, but would soon ask about.
He didn’t immediately answer, and I thought perhaps he was going to evade the answer under the pretense that I only got to ask one question.
But he surprised me.
“She was raised by the Order.”
“Her parents were Veilers? That explains why she’s so bloodthirsty and ruthless.”
Rowan chuckled.
