Her mouth fell open. “Bu—but you must ask for something. The God of Urn’s Holy Law demands I repay my debt or I surrender my life in service to you. Please, I don’t wish to become a life-servant.”
Cassiel scowled at her. The entire concept of theholylife-debt was sickening. Such a foul belief was invented by humans. Save the life of another and they became indentured for the rest of their life if they didn’t have the means to repay the debt with a suitable offering. People owning people and branding them like cattle.
He would never keep a slave, much less a human one. Nonetheless, Hilos didn’t allow life-debts. But she didn’t know that.
The longer Cassiel glared at her, the more she squirmed. She pushed the worn satchel hanging on her shoulder behind her and shifted her stance to hide it. Not that he cared. She was a peasant and wouldn’t have anything of value.
“I relieve you of your debt, Dynalya,” he said, acknowledging her name at last. It surprised him how easily it rolled off his tongue and the pleasing sound of it.
She sighed in visible relief. The phrase released her of any obligation to him and once said, he couldn’t retract his decision. She was free.
“Thank you, and please call me Dyna, if you will. May I know your name?”
“No.”
Dyna huffed in slight indignation. “Very well. If you have relieved me, then I must be on my way. Good day to you.” She gave him another curtsy and turned to leave.
“I have not dismissed you. Explain why you have intruded on our lands.”
“I’m searching for my cousin, Zev. He lives in Lykos Peak.” She pointed at the dense woodland beyond the cliff.
She must be joking. Cassiel was about to say so but she was already walking away. “You cannot go there,” he sputtered.
Dyna called over her shoulder. “But I must.”
She continued her brisk walk along the perimeter of the cliff and disappeared past a tall hedge. Cassiel stared in the direction she went. Well, that was it then. It was time he returned to the castle and provided an explanation. The High King was surely waiting for one.
But Cassiel couldn’t make himself go. Indecision and confusion keeping him there. This had nothing to do with him. He did his part in saving her life already. The human was nothing to him.
He muttered a curse and flew after her.
Dyna lingered ahead in the dusk, standing by a fallen tree lying across the two cliffs. It was massive, the exposed, desiccated roots as sharp as talons.
He circled over the unexpected tree-bridge. Who placed it here? The Watchers avoided patrolling close to the Lykos border, so this happened when they were unaware.
She tested the roots then climbed up. “This must be how Zev ventures across.”
Cassiel crossed his arms. “Should you fall again, do not expect me to catch you.”
“I’ll be fine, Your Highness,” she grunted as she reached the top.
He scoffed. “Is that so?”
Dyna stopped in the twilight and gave him a soft smile. “My good fortune truly came with our meeting. I wouldn’t have survived this day if not for you, and I believe the fates are not finished with us yet.”
Cassiel was too dumbfounded to respond. Who was this girl that she thought his presence meant something?
Her light laughter followed his reaction, and the delightful sound vibrated through him in a way it shouldn’t have. She looked at him with such undeserved reverence that for a moment her smile gave worth to his crime of sparing her life.
Dyna crossed the wide girth of the tree, arms held out for balance. He jolted, instinctively reaching out to catch her again, but she reached the other end without incident and hopped down. Slowly, she walked to the dense tree line, pausing there.
“Will you accompany me?” Dyna asked him. Traces of fear lingered beneath her inquiring expression.
Cassiel arched an eyebrow. “No.”
“All right…” She took a deep breath and faced the woods of Lykos Peak. Surely, she wouldn’t risk going there on her own—
Dyna ran inside.
