“Itmeans, Delia, thatIowe a not-yet-named favour to Lord Aegir Hailin, andyou—you smell just like him. I’m fairly certain that escorting his human lady, ensuring her safety, would repay the favour just fine.”
“I’m not his lady.” Yet as the bitter words left my mouth, I still found myself lowering the bow at my side.
“Well, your scent surely says otherwise.”
My brows remained furrowed. “What are you doing here?” I pressed.
“I’m here because I was sent on a mission, ordered by your brother-in-law himself, King Ryvar Hailin.”
“My—he’s—what kind of mission?”
“Thatstill remains confidential. But I can tell you that I’m here with good intentions.”
My gaze shifted towards the fallen men. “You consider killing three men a good intention?”
“Well, that saved your life, didn’t it? And I believe I killed just two.”
He would have died anyway.
I remembered that the map to the Falls was earlier turned into ash, so I asked, “Do you have a map of Ilma?”
“No, but—”
“Then I don’t need your help. Good day, sir.”
I was about to turn on my heel when he said, “That doesn’t mean I don’t know the way, Delia. I’m not only offering you my charming company, you know? I’m offering you my eyes, myears, and my nose. Protection against the Naari soldiers, which I could just now tell you, two of them are not very far. I suggest you help me dump these bodies in that ditch over there and then get the jolly fuck away from here.” He pointed towards the bodies, then at the ditch.
I hesitated. I was in no condition to place my trust in anyone, especially in a male. My burning heart wouldn’t allow me. But he was right, I did need what he was offering me. And besides, he needed me just as much as I needed him, did he not?Thiswas not about trust at all.Thiswas simply a bargain within a bargain.
“Fine. But if you try anything funny, I promise you I will shoot an arrow through your head.”
“Then I have no reason to fear your promise, as I am only at your disposal, milady,” Marshen said, gesturing with a low bow. “I heard you say you were looking for someone?”
I almost stiffened. “Have you been following me?”
“No,” he replied, scrunching his face.
“No?” My brow rose.
“Well, in my defence, I thought I was following Aegir.”
I restrained an eye roll. “Do you know the way to Riptide Falls?” I asked, my tone assertive, expecting from him nothing but a direct answer.
“I do. Why?” he dared ask, arching a brow.
“Take me there.”
“That’s an odd location to venture to. Why are you risking your life to go there?”
“Because I have to go there, all right. You can either join me or don’t. I don’t care. But if you do, and if you swear to protect me, I promise to make sure that your end of the bargain with Aegir is resolved to your liking.”
We were silent for a short while, staring each other down.
“But I thought you said you weren’t his lady,” he finally said. It seemed that trust was on neither of our menus.
“But I thought you said my scent says otherwise.”
He snorted. His hand went to his chin before replying, “All right. I’ll take you to the Falls, for whatever reason that is.”
