Part III: Birthright
Chapter Thirteen
Taio covered Finnrey’sbody with pine boughs.He led me to the small mound—so very small compared to the large presence she’d been in my life—and handed me a wildflower to place on top.I don’t know where he’d found it, but it was lovely—a deep purple with long filaments and orange anthers.I took the velvety blossom and laid it where I thought her heart might be.My knees wobbled as I rose, but Taio’s arm came around me, holding me steady.
“We keep walking,” he said after a moment, when I seemed to have my balance back.
“It’s growing dark,” I argued.Bad enough that we were stuck in the forest another night, but now we had to worry about Gaz and Nize as well as Hollows.Walking about in the dark and practically blind was too risky.
“We won’t go far, but we cannot stay here.”
My gaze shifted back to Finnrey’s body.I didn’t want to leave her alone here, abandoned and forgotten.
“Your friends know where we are,” he said.I swallowed my sorrow as I realized he had been thinking the same thing I had.Taio wanted to make it harder for Gaz and Nize to find us.To find him.
Gaz had tried once, and now that his intentions were no longer in question, he didn’t have any reason not to attack.I’d seen Gaz train and fight.He was a skilled fighter, and though I thought Taio could best Gaz, I wasn’t sure of it.
“Mara.”I jerked my head up to look at Taio.I realized I’d been standing and staring at Finnrey’s grave for too long.
“They are no friends of mine,” I said.“We should go.”I started to turn away, but Taio put a hand on my shoulder.I looked at that hand and remembered how cool it had felt compared to Finnrey’s feverish body.
“You must decide now,” Taio said.I gave him an uncomprehending look.I was drained of all energy, and my head felt like it had been stuffed with dust balls.I didn’t understand him.
“Your countrymen will try to kill us—to kill me—again.”
I shook my head.“They might turn back—”
