But a few moments of grace weren’t enough to convince me that I should be bringing him into Centralis, all but making him into a king. It wasn’t a choice I even wanted to make. I looked after myself and my own—worked each day and slept each night. I had never desired a role beyond that.
“Maybe you’re right,” was all I said.
As if she knew the conversation was a dead end, Ana elegantly stood. “Well, I hope everything goes well. I’ll miss having you here to badger Callen and deal with North’s grumpy ass.”
“I’m sure you can handle it on your own.”
“Sure, but it’s always more fun with a friend,” she threw over hershoulder, leaving the room.
A friend? The word burrowed under my skin, feeling itchy.
I wasn’t her friend. Sure, we werefriendly, but that was all.
I was never one for friends. Marsik was probably the closest thing I had to one, but I always considered him to be more like a distant relative. In such an aged community, there were no children to grow up with, and I wasn’t interested in forming relationships—not when this world offered no space for things that distracted one from survival. With so many dying of disease, starvation, or war, friendships could only bring loss.
“That’s enough sitting. Time to get back to work,” Callen announced, pulling me from my thoughts.
I finished another pull of water and met him in the center of the room. With any luck, I’d die from exertion and be excused from Ellan’s party and the disturbing old witch.
* * *
I stood before the massive black stallion as Harthon adjusted the saddle. I was to share the horse with him, yet again.
“Can I not sit on another horse and tether the reins to yours?” I asked, observing the array of horses being readied in the torch-lit dark.
We were departing before sunrise and traveling with a small troop of nine men, most of them from our previous group. Stefano was among them, and he’d greeted me with a sincere nod. One horse would be unmanned to carry supplies, so I couldn’t see how an additional steed would be a bother. It wasn’t that riding with Harthon was terribly uncomfortable. I just wanted the independence.
“No,” he replied, effectively killing my hopes. “While this route is relatively safe, there’s always the potential for an attack. If thathappens, you need to be with me.” He dropped his hands, and I buried my foot in the stirrup, launching toward the pommel and pulling myself up.
I stifled a groan.
Soreness had lodged deep in my muscles from yesterday’s training, and while something had ached nearly every day since I left my village, I still wasn’t used to waking with such tight pain. Something told me I’d probably be getting used to it soon.
Harthon mounted behind me, his heat engulfing me like a blanket. The early morning was colder than any I’d experienced, and while the thick clothes and cloak were a strong barrier against the frigid air, my body had yet to warm the fabric.
“Do you think Koerlyn’s men would attack again?”
Harthon reached around me for the reins, his arms brushing mine, while the men around us mounted. “They would never make it that far into our Territory. I’ve been helping Ellan handle some looters in Fifth. He’s useless on his own, so the moment I leave, they quickly come back.” His annoyance with the Princeps was clear.
North and Callen emerged from the shadows, the former looking his usual amount of disgruntled as the latter said, “Safe travels, Hart.”
It was the second time I’d heard the nickname, and I was certain I’d never adopt it.Hartwas far too unassuming for the man behind me.
“And you both try not to kill each other,” he returned. “I doubt Koerlyn will try something again so soon, but if he somehow hears that I’m gone, he may underestimate you two.”
North’s lips kicked up into a bloodthirsty smile. “I would look forward to that.”
I was sure he did.
Callen’s green eyes slid to me. “Take care of Fish Eyes.”
“Always,” Harthon affirmed. For some reason, it sounded like a promise.
The two men nodded and stepped away then, and Harthon signaled to the group.
As we traversed the empty city streets, I grappled with the calm that had washed over me with his vow. It was an unusual feeling, one I only ever felt when Merelda hugged me or stroked my hair like I was still a little child. Harthon shouldn’t have conjured such an emotion within me, but some feelings were ruled by parts of the mind that we couldn’t control.
Clearly, this was one of them.
