“Cut it out, you two,” I said. Whenever these two got together, they reverted back to being five, but with bigger egos.“It’s a mix of both. It makes tactical sense and we have to depend on them.”
That sounded logical enough. No emotions. Those had no place in a world with so much at risk.
Dara hummed. “Alright.”
“If you weren’t sure, why did you even bother with all of this?” Dax gestured at the stones.
“Because Allie asked me to,” she said. “And I trust her.”
He didn’t have a reply for that. He trusted me, too. Too much, perhaps.
For my part, I needed to be worthy of all the faith they placed in me–and I knew I couldn’t rise to their expectations. Not without the crown.
“If the runes are alright, I have to leave,” she said.
“Where?” Dax asked, and I heard the worry behind the annoyance.
“West, near the lakes.”
“Fine. And then?”
“We’ll see,” she said evenly, as if she was trying to give her brother the same forehead vein he’d spotted on Ryker.
“You let me know as soon as you arrive,” he said, already knowing he’d lost this battle.
They squabbled for a few more minutes about the proper way to hide while out on the road before they mercifully closed the palaver.
“She can be so impossible.” Dax groaned. “Can you believe her? Going off by herself without letting anyone know where she is?”
“Yes, that does get annoying, doesn’t it?” I said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You do the same thing,” I said. “You run off on your missions and leave us in the dark.”
“At least you know why I am gone.”
“Hardly.” I raised my brows at him. “And we know why Dara travels.”
“Because she hates standing still for even five minutes.”
“Because runes are her passion.” I stared at the crate. If placed just right, they could protect the entire Blood Brotherhood army camp. “A very, very powerful passion.”
“Not as powerful as something else we could use.” He gave me a pointed look, before shaking his head and busying himself with the mountains of pages we’d sifted through, only to find nothing important. Again. “But these runes will have to do, I suppose. Best not tell your Commander where they come from.”
A tinge of anger burned at the edges of my vision. Everyone had secrets they wanted Ryker and I to keep, and we somehow ended up carrying the weight of them.
But I understood. Dax only wanted to protect his sister.
“Don’t worry, her secret’s safe with me.” Hopefully, this one wouldn’t lead to another fight. “He suspects you, though.”
Dax’s hand froze over the parchment he’d written this morning. “Does he know I’m–”
“No. No, no.” Dax’s skills might have slipped between the cracks of his mask, but nobody would ever suspect who he truly was. “But he knows you’re better than you want people to realize.”
“Did you tell him anything?”
“I didn’t have to. You’re too smart for your own good. Literally.” I bristled at the accusation. The deep breath I inhaled did nothing to abate it. “I’ve kept your secret all these years, don’t plan on changing that.”
