“They didn’t seem to notice that the spoons were gone when they took our soup bowls, which means they don’t know we kept them.” Skye flipped the spoon over the tops of her fingers. “We’d have the element of surprise.”
I nodded without speaking, and Skye put her hand on top of mine. “I know you don’t remember it, but you were impressive when we tried to overpower them the first time. You leapt through the air and disarmed one before he even knew what was happening.”
I managed to smile at her. It was encouraging to hear this, but how could I do it again? That version of me had known his abilities. This version did not. How much would I be able to rely on muscle memory? Also, there was one important detail Skye was forgetting.
“But even with me at my best, we were defeated. You were knocked out and so was I. We both survived, but there is no guarantee we would again.”
She studied me for a moment. “I have to say that it’s odd to hear a Vandar express anything but obnoxiously arrogant confidence.”
I frowned. “Was that an insult or a compliment?”
She laughed. “You aren’t any less skilled or brave than you were then. You’re still a badass, even if you don’t remember it.”
“Then what would I have said about trying to escape using spoons as weapons?”
She grinned. “You would call the Zagrath vile creatures who had no honor. Then you would say that we would be victorious because you are a fierce Vandar warrior. You might make acomment about me being a human.” She elbowed me. “You don’t think much of humans, but you would say that we could be allies. And you might use a Vandar curse if you really wanted to make your point.”
“Tvek,” I said, drawing out the word.
She snapped her fingers. “That’s the one.Tvek. I’ll admit it feels good to say.TvekkingZagrath.”
“Was that truly the way I spoke before?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “Pretty much, but in a way gruffer voice. I could imitate you if you want.”
I held up a hand. “Please do not.”
“I will say that you inspired confidence. I fully believed that you were going to single-handedly take on three Zagrath. And you almost did.”
“Almost is not a victory.”
She held up a finger. “Not yet. See, I might not be a tough warrior, but I was a sneaky underground rebel. And we definitely learned from our mistakes and got better. Our first attempts at sabotaging ships were embarrassing. But we got better, and we never beat ourselves up over the fuck-ups because we always learned from them.”
“So, we should learn from our failed escape attempt?”
“Absolutely.” She put a hand over her mouth as she yawned. “And we have all night to figure it out since I doubt the guards will come back until morning.”
I stood. “You should take the bench. I will sleepon the floor.”
Skye looked at me and cocked her head. “Too bad. I was hoping to use you as a pillow.”
My mouth went dry as she patted the bench next to her.
Chapter
Eleven
Skye
“The Vandar defeated the Zagrath?”
I opened my eyes again and looked up into Kolt’s face. This night was not going how I’d planned, even though I had convinced him to let me rest my head on his lap while he sat back and slept with his eyes closed and arms folded. But he hadn’t slept. Not since I’d told him that the enemy we were all fighting had been defeated by his people many years earlier.
“I don’t know all the details,” I said for what felt like the tenth time, “but there were other hordes before yours who took down the Empire.”
“But theycame back?”
“Unfortunately, they are a bit like an infestation of snow beetles.” I shuddered as I thought of the disgusting insects that could withstand the frigid temperatures on Lexxona and just about anything else. “A few survive, and they come back.”
