“You know you don’t have to do this, right?” His face turns serious, eyebrows knitting, jaw setting.
“Yes, I do. I refuse to let my sister die.”
“That minotaur woman is right.” Thane blows a breath, standing close enough to block the sun from my view. “Taking this journey with me at your sideisdeadly—”
“Yeah,” I scoff. “I learned that back in Redclaw.”
“It’sdeadlyfor the people who cross me,” he finishes. I meet his gaze. His eyes aren’t as serious as usual. There is a tenderness to them. Possibly a touch of sincerity. Or maybe I’m just imagining it, just like I had in the bunker, and hours before that, when he was using his whispershade. “I won’t let anyone or anything hurt you during this journey, Quinlocke.”
With a hard swallow, I ask, “How can I be sure of that?”
“Because I wouldn’t have agreed to do this if I didn’t think I could succeed. If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that Ihatefailing.”
I purse my lips together while staring at my lap. My clothes have so many holes and rips in them now. It’s all a sheer reminder of the chaos surrounding me. I definitely need a bath. And possibly a nap. My adrenaline is slowly seeping away, leaving behind only weariness.
“Can I ask you something?” My voice comes out softer than expected.
He lifts a brow of approval.
“You seem really determined to make it to Elphar, and I know it’s not just for my sake. Is there something there that you’re after, too? Do you want treasure like Algar?”
He’s quiet for a second, eyes drifting to focus on a cluster of trees in the distance. “There is one thing.”
I perk up a bit. “What is it?”
He seems to contemplate telling me. “The Tome of Azidel.”
“Thewhat?”
He sighs. “It’s a book of spells written by the firstborn sorcerer.”
“Oh.” I pause. “Why do you want it?”
“Because there are spells in there that can increase the power of my magic.”
I chew on the corner of my bottom lip. “You seem pretty powerful already. Why do you want to increase it?”
“I have my reasons.”
I wait expectantly for him to continue.
“I don’t care to explain them right now.”
“Of course not,” I mumble. “It would be nice to know, though. Might make this journey of ours a bit easier.”
“How so?” he asks, lowering those amber eyes to me again.
“Because we both want the same thing, and that’s to reach the temple for something we desire. Better to workwitheach other than against, right?”
“Hmm.” I can’t tell if that’s a positive or a dismissive “hmm.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I still loathe that I’m doinganyof this with a person likeyou,” I say, teasing, “but if it’s my only option, I may as well accept it.”
“You’re basically saying you hate me.”
“Hate is too strong of a term.”
His mouth twitches at the corners.
