“All right. Lead the way.”
“We have to hide them first,” he said, gesturing to the three lifeless men.
“Fine.”
CHAPTER 43
Marshen’s promise to be my eyes, my nose, and my ears was what made me agree to bargain with him. He was right, he had the keen senses I lacked to survive out here, especially if I were to encounter otherfriendlyNaari men. But it seemed that hisI would hear them long before they would hear usjustification, made him painfully chatty.
“Which part of Ramel are you from? I’ve never been there myself, but I do know a thing or two about its cities. I’ve met a few people from Sharlam.” His grin told me that the memories he shared with the people he spoke of were ones of pleasure.
“I lived in Sharlam.”
“Ah, the king’s city. You’re one of Princess Yosefa’s equestrian warriors, aren’t you?”
“Sand Warriors,” I corrected him.
“Right. I could tell from your attire. I had the pleasure of meeting Princess Yosefa some years back. We both had business in Sijar. But don’t mention me the next time you see her. I might have broken the heart of one of her girls, possibly two of them. Wait, did she send you here?”
“No.”
“Where did you two meet?”
“Who? Princess Yosefa?”
He let out a low chuckle. “No, I meant you and Prince Aegir.”
“Oh.” I lowered my gaze to the trail of crunchy, leafy terrain.
“So you won’t tell me. Did he send you here?”
“No.”
“Does he know you’re here?” I didn’t reply. “Where is he right now? Is he in Ramel, in Sharlam?”
Gods, he wouldn’t just shut up. I could feel the start of a headache.
“You’re a woman of few words,” he commented, after a few awkward hours of trekking in an earthy scent of moss and trees. Each breath felt different here—fresh and full of life. Ironic, I thought, considering how more than half of it was burned to the ground, now still slowly healing.
“Mmm,” was my only reply.
But then I realised that perhaps I should make something out of his loquacity. I would be a good listener, and answer as close to the truth as possible, and then I would askhimquestions. At least I would learn a thing or two about him. I was especially curious about his mission, and not only about what it entailed, but I was also itching to know why King Ryvar particularly sent him on a solo mission on their sister Land.
“Dunehaven.”
“What?”
“If you ever visit Ramel, I suggest you visit the Sunday market in Dunehaven.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“I’m down to my last waterskin,” I told him, squeezing out the last few drops.
“There’s a stream farther down. And there are caves up along that path,” he said, pointing somewhere in front of us.
The cave’s concealed entrance deceived its grand interior. By grand, I meant a very high ceiling and enough space for both of us and then some.
“There’s no one around. Stay here. I have fishing nets close by; I’ll be back shortly.”
